January is when we all dream of some sunshine, and gardeners are no different! Have you always hoped for a lush, exotic garden, but you’re worried about London’s unpredictable climate? With clever plant selection and expert design, you can enjoy a hardy tropical garden that thrives all year round – no greenhouse required! Our team here at Town and Country Gardens specialise in transforming ordinary outdoor spaces into dramatic, jungle-style retreats filled with bold foliage, rich textures, and architectural impact. We know all about using plants tough enough to cope with British winters.
Designing the Tropical Look
A successful hardy tropical garden starts with structure and layers. We combine tall, dramatic focal plants with mid-level textures and lush ground covers to recreate the dense, vibrant look of a tropical rainforest. The goal is to blend form, contrast, and movement. This is key to delivering year-round visual interest, even when temperatures drop.
Key Hardy Tropical Garden Plants
Some of the most impressive tropical-style plants are surprisingly frost-tolerant. The Schefflera Taiwaniana and Schefflera rhododendrifolia bring striking, umbrella-like foliage that adds instant drama while withstanding London’s winters. The Tetrapanax Papyrifer ‘Rex,’ often called the rice paper plant, is a showstopper with its enormous, palmate leaves that create a bold, architectural statement.
Schefflera plant
For texture and colour, hardy gingers (Hedychium species) provide exotic blooms and lush foliage through summer, while Fatsia japonica offers glossy leaves and structural strength in shade. To enhance the tropical effect, we often include Trachycarpus fortunei, the hardy windmill palm, and Chamaerops humilis, the Mediterranean fan palm, Dicksonia Antarctica, the giant tree fern, Yucca Filamentosa or Rostrata, Banana both Japanese and Ethiopian, Echiums, Japanese Yuzu oranges and of course lemons, all resilient enough for London gardens. Ferns, such as Dryopteris and Woodwardia, complete the layered jungle feel, thriving in the city’s sheltered microclimates.
Tetrapanax Papyrifer. © Citron / CC BY-SA 3.0
Expert Installation and Maintenance
At Town and Country Gardens, we design, build, and maintain hardy tropical gardens tailored to each site. From improving soil drainage to positioning plants for shelter and light, our team is highly trained to ensure long-term success and minimal winter damage.
Let us create a lush, low-maintenance tropical oasis in your London garden. Think bold, beautiful, and built to thrive through every season.
