Hardy plants with an exotic look

Dear all

I am gardening in the Midlands and need to establish marginal plants around a small lake. The client wants to recreate an exotic feel, so I'm facing the not easy challenge to grow plants that will look tropical and colourful but at the same time enduring the harsh winters.
Any suggestion is most welcomed...

Best wishes
G

 

Gunnera manicata (giant rhubarb) is my first suggestion - spectacular huge leaves. Will need to be mulched in the winter: Gunnera manicata | Chilean rhubarb/RHS Gardening

Bog bean (menyanthes trifoliata) looks very exotic and should be hardy, I think. Menyanthes trifoliata | bogbean/RHS Gardening

Hopefully others will chime in with some more ideas for you!

 

Yellow wax bell.

 

Thanks to everyone who gave a suggestion...

So, for the moment, we have listed:

Gunnera manicata (Brazilian giant rhubarb)
Kirengeshoma palmata (yellow wax bells) ...fantastic thing!
Equisetum japonicum (Japanese horsetail)
Zantedetschia aethiopica (arum lily)
Anemopsis californica
Pontederia lanceolata (lance leaved pickeral plant)
Menyanthes trifoliata (bog bean)

I would also say... Rheum palmatum 'Atrosanguineum'

Any other suggestion please?
Mind, the hardier the better. It is a bloody cold spot.

list

 

Difficult brief exotic feel to me could be anything from palm tree to banana's etc. Bit more info like big leaves ? flowers ?

What about some of the Rodgersia variety's - Ligulaira the rocket / przewalskii are quite spectacular on mass nice leaves beautiful yellow spikes or britt marie crawford have dark round leaves with yellow flowers. Iris family ? I like lythums as well but exotic I am not so sure. Lobelia cardinals like queen victoria and tanna / tanna sister etc are nice but not the hardest but survive here so for the past 2 years, I would assume the climate here a bit harsher than the midlands. Its just a thought maybe some will be of use.

 

have to look this one up.

 

have two of these. been in my garden for about 15 years +++, and they come back strong each time. I am amazed how they can go down to nothing in the winter, a crusty brown round dead looking circle on the ground, and in spring the plant starts appearing, come around June its up past my hips for height, and then August starts the beautiful yellow bells. the leaves are a nice shape also. and the hummers like the flowers. I am in zone 5 or 6, get lots of snow and many time below freezing . all is well with them. they like some shade, not direct sun, soft sun, and some shade. I don't fuss with watering, let nature do it for them.

 

I agree about Ligulaira The Rocket but like Kiringeshoma it needs a reasonable amount of shade.
Paulownia tomentosa stooled for big leaves plus one that is allowed to grow into a mature tree as a backdrop.
Is there any degree of banking and/or shade?

 

Lysichiton americanus is a must have marginal..................
Lysichiton americanus by longk48, on Flickr

Euphorbia griffithii "Fireglow"................
Euphorbia griffithii "Fireglow" by longk48, on Flickr

Iris pseudacorus is a bit cottagey but yellow is a hot colour and it is a stone cold hardy marginal/aquatic Iris...............
Iris pseudacorus by longk48, on Flickr

 

Can't remember the programme a few weeks ago , but someone was saying that it is now illegal to plant Lysichiton americanus near to riverbanks . Think it's OK in gardens though .

 

Thank you everybody for your suggestions and comments.
I have now a list of plants and am quite excited about all of them!
G

 

Carex Pendula.
Carex Evergold.
Flag Iris.
Bog Bean.
Bulrush. Typhia Latifolia.
Skunk Cabbage. (If you can get it now.) Banned for sale.
Flowering Rush.
Lobelia Queen Victoria.
Marsh Marigold.
Canary Reed Grass. (Stunning.)
Cortaderia Richardii.
Loddon Lily.
Primula Candelabra.
Osmunda fern.
Arum Lily.

All these have been perfectly hardy for years in and around my Water Garden.