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Welcome to Hardy Tropicals

If you answer yes to any of the following questions then this site is definitely for you! If not why not have a look around you might find something interests you!
Q: Are you interested in a more tropical looking garden?
Q: Do you want to learn about exotic looking plants and how to grow them in the UK? or similar climate
Q: Do you have a wealth of knowledge of growing exotics and want to share your experiences with others?

The purpose of this website and forum is to promote exotic gardening in general, and the use of exotic plants in general gardening. With the rise in popularity in the UK, exotic gardens are becoming ever more common, although many people do not know how to get the best from the plants they have bought, and mislabelling is rife. However, there are a great many exotic looking plants that are hardy in much of the UK, and others that can be with a little more management.

The forum is now a read only resource for anyone looking for advice, to view forums click the Forum tab above, or follow THIS LINK to some of the more common forum searches. If you wish to engage with the Hardy Tropicals community please find us on our Facebook page (link in the menu at the top).

The You Tube video shows the type of plants that can be grown in cool temperate climates such as the UK

We are not a commercial nursery, although there is a shop where surplus plants are offered for sale from time to time. We do not profess to know everything, and are always ready to learn. If you would like to learn about, or have experience of growing hardy-ish tropical/exotic looking plants in the UK or similar climates, please register on the forum and talk to us

We also have our own weather station located in Chalk, Kent, England. This can be found by clicking the Weather tab above

The Washingtonia Robusta video is a life history of the palm grown from seed collected in Tenerife in 1992. It has shown that this very marginally hardy type of palm can survive in the UK in the right micro-climate. The video also shows how the palm was battered by the northeasterly blizzards of February 2009, and how it has recovered from the damage sustained.
As more recent winters have been colder, and temperatures plummeted to -10C in December 2010, the Washingtonia has needed the protection of a plastic covered parasol strapped to the trunk, and 200w rope lights when temps remained below zero for extended periods of time. Washingtonia robusta Facebook Washingtonia Album