There are dozens of palms suitable for growing indoors, but Butias are definitely not included!

Another dwarf shrub that I grow is Photinia x fraseri 'Little Red Robin'.

The new foliage is bright red, and is a really pretty plant. Evergreen and very hardy too!

How about Sarcococca? If it needs to be small, then choose S. hookeriana var. humilis.

It's an evergreen shrub with dark glossy foliage, and not only that, it also has very fragrant flowers too!

Sarcococcas are really handsome looking plants, and they are extremely hardy!

Thanks Rob. I tried looking online for a website but couldn't find one. I wonder if they have a catalogue or list of the stuff they grow. Jasmines and other fragrant plants are of particular interest to me. Probably need to make a trip there at some point, although doubtful I can do that before spri...

Rob, thanks for the lead. I'm curious to know if you've actually seen it there. Great news if you have!

Might be a bit of a long shot, but does anyone have any of the following species? Jasminum adenophyllum J. molle Aloysia virgata A. gratissima Been trying to find these for my own collection, but haven't been successful as yet. Does anybody have any plants or seeds even, that I could either purchase...

I have grown this for around twenty years in my garden here in the north of England. The one and only time it was seriously damaged by the cold was when the thermometer hit -16c in 2010/11. It was cut to the ground, but come spring, it re-sprouted from ground level, has grown strongly ever since. Th...

I believe this is a tropical plant - Grewia occidentalis. Left one planted out last winter and it survived just fine (but with a protective cover). It was only a small plant, but it went on to flower well during the summer months. I also grow this in a pot which is then moved inside for the winter. ...

Under glass, sciarid fly much worse this year. Also scale on palms, and these attract ants which milk them for their excretions!

Outdoors, leafhopper. The worst year it's ever been for me.

cheshirepalms wrote:A few pictures of some exotics in Llandudno today, the Yucca Elephantipies was the real surprise!

Which one of these are you thinking is Yucca elephantipes? Can't quite see one in those photos. (You have to use a small e: the genus has to have a capital letter, the species has to have lower case).

Stephen, I used to have this plant - a member of the pea family with yellow flowers and bluish leaves. Grew it for a long time many years ago and it is pretty hardy. Because of all the really wet years of late, it gradually declined and died. They are adapted to grow in sunny dryish conditions. If y...

Had mine for over 35 years and it has never ever had any protection of any description. It has endured over the years many -14s, several -16s, and at least one -18, and with no significant damage. I think it is safe to say that these are very, very hardy plants indeed!

That second picture looks like it could be comfrey (Symphytum officinale). A member of the family Boraginaceae. Well worth keeping for both its medicinal and fertilizer uses if it is one. Plant in good light and watch for the pink flowers, to confirm that it is this species.