Updated 10/04/25
Tropical gardens are becoming increasingly popular in Britain. Their relaxing presence makes us feel like we’re on holiday without even leaving home.
The plants are impactful and contemporary, but the overall feel is timeless, and they’re also really low maintenance.
Many tropical plants are hardier than you might think and will survive cold temperatures well. However, they cannot bear drought, so it’s important to keep them well-watered, especially in the first year.
The trick to getting tropical plants to work in your garden is to mix them with naturalised British plants. Create a framework using diverse varieties, and fill them in with plants like Carex, Astrantias, Miscanthus, Hostas, Dahlias and Japanese anemone.
Plant tropical varieties in spring, so their roots have time to get established before winter. Here are my top 10 tropical-style plants:
1. Trachycarpus wagnerianus (dwarf Chusan palm)
A handsome palm, closely related to the more common T. fortunei, but with much smaller leaves. This not only keeps its upright form but also withstands damage by wind much better than T. fortunei does. It’s also extremely tough and will not require protection over winter. Ultimate height and spread 500cm by 200cm, well worth asking your local plant nursery or Garden Centre to source one.
• Sun – Partial shade or full sun
• Position – West, South or East-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Well-drained
• Soil – Sand, chalk, or loam
2. Chamaerops humilis (dwarf fan palm)
This is a shrubby palm brings a good architectural angle to tropical planting. And they can be happily grown in a container or even as a houseplant in bright, indirect light.
• Sun – Partial shade
• Position – North or East-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Well-drained
• Soil – Loam
3. Dryopteris filix-mas (male fern)
This is a great variety of woodland fern, that is fully hardy and will survive everything except hot, direct sunlight. Also, it can be used as underplanting of shrubs or as ground cover under trees.
• Sun – Full sun or partial shade
• Position – North, West, East or South-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Poorly-drained or moist but well-drained
• Soil – Sheltered
4. Cordyline australis (cabbage palm)
A popular plant, like a palm but with singular leaves. It is a woody shrub but it can be made into a tree shape by cutting out the lower leaves. Alternatively wait for it to mature and it will naturally shed most of its leaves on the stem leaving a top knot of upper leaves. Plus, protect with straw and horticultural fleece if the winter is very cold.
• Sun – Full sun or partial shade
• Position – South or West-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Well-drained or moist but well-drained
• Soil – Sand, clay, loam, or chalk
5. Hedychium (Ginger lily)
These super-charged, tropical treasures are ideal plants to include in a tropical style garden for a burst of late summer colour. They produce sturdy, tall, upright stems with leaves that resemble banana plant leaves. Come late summer, early autumn, highly scented flowers appear in shades of orange or yellow depending upon which species and cultivar you choose. The other great thing about them is, although they’re relatively tall (average height 200cm) they don’t bulk out much so won’t take up too much space in the border. Having said that they’re best planted in groups for the best effect.
• Sun – Full sun or partial shade
• Position – West, North, East-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered and may need frost protection
• Moisture – Moist but well-drained
• Soil – Will grow well in most soil types
6. Carex comans (bronze New Zealand hair sedge)
This is a hardy fine-leaved grass available in a range of colours, from green and white to rusty red. Used in drifts, it gives beds an ethereal effect as it moves in the wind, bringing a soothing soundtrack.
• Sun – Full sun or partial shade
• Position – West, East, South or North
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Well-drained or moist but well-drained
• Soil – Clay, loam, sand, or chalk
7. Athyrium (lady fern) ‘Ghost’
A great shade plant with soft, silver foliage. Plus, its colour helps to break up dense green planting and it tolerates dry conditions better than a lot of other ferns.
• Sun – Full shade or partial shade
• Position – North or East-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Moist but well-drained
• Soil – Sand, clay, or loam
8. Dicksonia antarctica (soft-tree fern)
This soft tree fern originates from Australia. They are usually evergreen, but the leaves may die back in cold areas. Finally, protect the crown with straw held in place with wire over winter.
• Sun – Full shade or partial shade
• Position – South, West or East-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Moist but well-drained
• Soil – Sand or loam
9. Zantedeschia aethiopica (arum lily)
The striking white spathes contrast beautifully with the glossy green foliage. Plus, this will grow well in a Mediterranean style garden either in flower beds and borders or in a container. Also, mulch in autumn when it starts to fade.
• Sun – Full sun or partial shade
• Position – West or South-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Poorly-drained
• Soil – Clay or loam
10. Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax)
A great strap-leaved plant that is evergreen and can grow to 4m tall and 2.5m wide. And it originates from New Zealand and is hardy in most places throughout the UK.
• Sun – Partial shade or full sun
• Position – South, North, East or West-facing
• Exposure – Sheltered
• Moisture – Well-drained or moist but well-drained
• Soil – Sand or loam
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Frequently Asked Questions
1 – Can I grow a tropical garden in the UK climate?
Yes, absolutely. Surprisingly, many tropical-looking plants are hardier than expected and can survive UK winters with the right care.
2 – Do tropical plants need full sun to thrive?
Not always. In fact, many tolerate partial shade well, especially if they receive at least four hours of sunlight daily.
3 – What’s the best time to plant tropical-style plants?
Spring is ideal. This gives roots time to establish before winter arrives, boosting their long-term health and survival.
4 – Can I grow tropical plants in containers?
Yes. For instance, Chamaerops humilis and Cordyline australis thrive in large pots, making them perfect for patios or balconies.
5 – How do I keep tropical plants safe in winter?
To begin with, mulch well around roots. Also, use horticultural fleece or straw to protect crowns from frost damage.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Very nice indeed.
Can you recommend a tropical looking hedge alternative that can withstand the British weather?
How tall would you want the hedge to be?
Hi David,
Around 6 foot in height that is easily maintained and keeps its shape.
That’s a tough one, most tropical plants are fairly informal. For a low-maintenance, structured hedge, you’d need a traditional one. For something more tropical looking but less sturdy, try bamboo. But bear in mind that it’s invasive and sends runners out through the ground and shoots will pop up all over the place. You can put a barrier in to stop this, but it needs to be deep (60cm) and solid (metal or paving stones). Alternatively you can buy special root barrier fabric. Hope that helps!
I really do need some guidance! I’m starting from scratch and the only things already in my south east facing back garden are a 7 foot high wooden fence (ugly garage peering over the top!) a lovely – but lonely, red robin tree and a fairly large patio! I’ve fallen in love with the idea of a tropical looking informal garden but have no idea where to start with planning the layout let alone the planting and it’s so daunting! Can you give me any guidance?
Hi Angie, Designing a garden is all about personal taste, but the best advice I can give you for success is to research as much as possible! Check your soil type – no gardener can grow plants that hate the soil. Check light levels too. When looking for plants, always check they are suited to the spot and soil before buying. And measure everything. Draw it out on a piece of paper and make a few plans of where plants can go. Check you have space for the plants at their full size, not just the size they are when you buy. Make regular trips to the garden centre and buy things that look good all year round – no use buying all your plants in June because the garden will look bare from Sep to April. Hope that helps, and have fun! Designing a new garden is fantastic fun.
The clumping bamboo variety are not invasive, unlike the running bamboo which are thugs and will eventually end up in your neighbours garden – Heaven forbid!
Hi, I would like to put a hardy large tropical plant to put straight into the ground, I already have a potted one and it is gorgeous,are there any large leaf ones out there to buy, I love the one I have as I do nothing other than to water it occasionally…it just gets on with the winter months..I want something like that..thank you
Hi Candy, any established tropical-style plant should be fine. The larger they are, the less susceptible they are to frost. I’d recommend fatsia japonica for large foliage.
Hi,
I am a new gardener and I am wanting to do a border in a straight line alone the front of my lawn.
I have purchased the edging a modern looking one and now want to plant some all weather type plants which look exotic and modern.
Do you know what they are called and could you reccomend any?
They need to be small as there is a fence behind and the border is around 10inches wide and goes along 5 metres in length.
thank you very much
Hi Katy
Try using this link, if unhelpful come back to me and I will give you a list of plants that you may want to consider https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-form
David
HI Katy
Can you send me a picture so I can help you further?
David
Hi David ,
I’m trying to create a tropical style garden and want a climber to grow up a bamboo screen fence, I’d love it to have quite big leaves and large bright flowers. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks mark
Hi Mark,
Thank’s for your comment. I would recommend planting Hedera algeriensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’, for big leaves, Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ for big leaves and colourful purple flowers.
Another great option for large foliage and beautiful flowers is the Campsis × tagliabuana ‘Tarantella’, which will give your bamboo fence an amazing tropical aesthetic!
I hope this helps!
great advice, thank you for it all