Have you ever wanted a garden a little out of the ordinary, a lush jungle or perhaps something with a sub-tropical feel, but were daunted by the prospect of looking after plants that don't like the British climate?

This website has grown out of my efforts to achieve just this kind of exotic look using hardy and fairly low maintenance plants. Please bear in mind though, that I'm still learning myself, so if you spot any bloopers or can share any of your own experience, I'd love to hear from you. In addition, if you are going to invest large sums of money in rare or mature plants, please make sure that you seek independant advice first.

Bright colours, 'hot' colours, unusual shapes and lush foliage all help to give a garden an exotic feel and I've prepared this site with exactly this in mind. Apart from that, I've given a lot of focus to evergreens, as they tend to involve less maintenance than herbaceous or deciduous plants, which die back or at least shed their leaves in winter, and may need to be cut back annually. However, no garden can ever be maintenance free: plants may need watering in dry spells, some need pruning, and some need to be tidied up. Even so, I have tried to avoid plants which must be pruned annually, as well as those that need a lot of moisture, are prone to diseases or need regular feeding.

This site is a work in progress. Groups yet to be covered include ferns, grasses, climbers and tender perennials, and I welcome feedback on anything and everything I've written. The plant information is divided into sections according to plant type and characteristics, and I've tried to include as much care information as possible for each plant suggested. External links are also provided where possible.

The Plants
Evergreen shrubs
Deciduous shrubs
Evergreen groundcover plants
Other evergreen perennials
Herbaceous and semi-evergreen groundcover plants
Other herbaceous and semi-evergreen perennials
Bulbs, corms and tubers
Bamboos

Plants for the more adventurous
Hardy plants needing moisture
Hardy plants liked by slugs
Borderline and half-hardy plants

Links:
Feedback
Recommended books
Gardening advice and suppliers

Walmart