Tropical plants for UK garden.

Looking for suggestions for growing large tropical plants for southern uk garden.

 

I don't think you will have many problems, provided you check your soil pH. A visit to a local nursery/garden center will give some idea of what is popular in that area.

Where are you located?

 

@tangham As Mike said whereabouts are you, also what is the soil like and how sheltered is your garden. Do you want to buy large tropical looking plants or do you want to grow from seed or small plants?
This company is fairly close to me Exotic & Tropical Plants UK - Desert to Jungle This one is in Richmond The Palm Centre - Palm trees and other exotic plants online
Have a look here design services for some more ideas and links.

 

A few books that may help with choosing plants :

Hot plants for cool climates

Exotic gardening in cool climates

Big leaves for exotic effect

 

As for boooks here are two I have and enjoyed.
Colour for Adventurous Gardeners
and
Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners
both by Christopher Lloyd who gardened at Great Dixter Garden | Great Dixter

 

Some good suggestions re the books. Do some research.
Also a Tropical section of the Forum. Some informative threads there.

But briefly:
Tree Ferns - Dicksonia antarctica
Bamboo - Phyllostachus, Borinda etc
Palms - Trachycarpus, Chamearops, Butia etc

 

Location is the main factor in growing exotics. I live a few miles from the south coast which would normally mean a good place for them but I live in a frost pocket and suffer more damage than folk living further North like @ARMANDII.
Most of what we grow are sub tropical, tender or half hardy and not true tropicals.

 

Tetrapanax papifera Rex looks really tropical but copes with quite a lot...

 

Agree very much with @ARMANDII and @strongylodon the microclimate in your garden and immediate area is very important. I live about a mile from the sea, on the south coast, plenty of rain, but my plot is wide open to the east, has shallow soil and slopes, so drains well but in summer can be too dry. Being exposed to the east, cold easterly winds coming off the sea can easily kill off new growth in spring and scorch many plants at other times.The result is I get little frost and can grow many frost tender plants, but they have to be fairly tough to withstand dry summers and cold winds; this rules out many plants with decorative foliage.
If you are in the South East you will benefit from the hotter summers and the plenty of sunlight at the cost of colder winters and less rain. In the South West the sunlight is definitely less and the temperatures less extreme.

 

Tropical or tropical looking/exotic? Very few true tropical plants will do anything much in any part of the UK outdoors but there are plenty of exotics which will do well. If you visit Notting Hill Gate there are large Agave (americana I think) growing quite happily in an exposed spot on the central reservation. Yes, it is London but they are not in a sheltered spot.

A few unusual exotics that survive even here in the Cotswolds;
Furcraea...............
Furcraea? by longk48, on Flickr

Furcraea? by longk48, on Flickr

Furcraea? by longk48, on Flickr

Unknown Furcraea by longk48, on Flickr

Its close cousin Beschorneria................
Beschorneria yuccoides by longk48, on Flickr

Beschorneria septentrionalis by longk48, on Flickr

Another relative, Manfreda elongata..............
Manfreda elongata by longk48, on Flickr

Manfreda elongata by longk48, on Flickr

I've had varying success with Puya as far as hardiness goes but worth a punt if your area is mild...............

Puya

Aloe striatula is perfectly hardy..............
Aloe striatula by longk48, on Flickr

Aloe striatula by longk48, on Flickr

Bomarea edulis is a hardy climber.................
Bomarea edulis by longk48, on Flickr

Bomarea edulis by longk48, on Flickr

Crinum moorei growing outdoors in a sheltered spot.................
Crinum moorei by longk48, on Flickr

Diverging from the original question, if you have a conservatory you should try Tacca chantrieri (Bat Flower) which is a true tropical...............
Tacca chantrieri - Bat Flower by longk48, on Flickr

Tacca chantrieri - Bat Flower by longk48, on Flickr

 

So much depends on whether the OP is intending to create an overall 'picture' giving an impression of lush tropicality, or just to grow a few tender, architectural plants. As NigelJ said, cold winds, harsh sun and an exposed site limit the options considerably, because most true tropicals have big, tender leaves. Here are a few more ideas that give an impression of the tropics. If some shade and/or shelter are provided, so much the better
Zantedeschia aethiopica, Colocasia, Alocasia, Arum italicum, large-leaved Hostas, Polystichum setiferum, Canna 'Wyoming'.