Wondered why I prompted some comments and ruffled some feathers Had intended to say that some south coast locations CAN do even better than London as illustrated by favoured spots such as Nathan's garden faring better than London in 2010 where even the heat island couldn't save many exotics nor prevent some slight damage to the Lambeth Phoenix canariensis_CIDP.GREVILLE wrote:Some south coast locations do even better than London. However, you are unlikely to beat tropical houseplants being left out year round under sheltered south facing porches or basements.
You'll certainly never match the planted out Dipladenia, anthuriums, Cyperus, Cordyline terminalis and Boston fern in one Chelsea basement garden that all sailed through 2010. It's not just the big palms and clumps of basjoo that make London the best place for exotics in the whole of the UK.
Full marks to Stephen for daring to try his out oop north. It gives him licence to permanently label us southerners as wingeing wimps