Tropical blend

Transform your garden into a lush exotic paradise with Ashley Edwards's top plant choices, inspiration and care tips

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Tropical plants have always fascinated me - I love their architectural leaves and vibrant colours. I have vivid memories of visiting the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as a child and feeling like a tiny ant under the huge palm fronds. I would never have guessed that I would end up working in that very same Palm House as a Kew Diploma student.

Although you may not think exotic plants will grow successfully in the UK, many subtropical and tender plants do well with the right care and placement. Here I would like to share some tips on choosing plants that give the effect of a tropical garden, the best locations to plant them in and how to care for them. You don’t need to have a huge glasshouse or a garden in full sun to grow plants that give a tropical vibe. By choosing the right leaf shapes and colours, you can create the same effect in a container or a shady area of your garden.

When we think of tropical plants, what comes to mind? It’s usually large leaves, perhaps with variegation or even rich purple or blue-green hues. Deeply divided or lobed foliage also tends to provide a tropical look, and creates the perfect foil for the dazzling floral colours - reds, oranges, yellows and purples - that add the vibrancy found in the tropics.

Unlike the traditional English cottage-garden style, which often includes many pastel hues and has a soft airy effect, tropical planting is dense and bold in both textures and colours.