Hardy Tropicals UK

Hi.

I've been slowly trying to create a tropical garden for the last couple of years and have an empty corner that needs filling.

I've seen a nice Brahea edulis for sale on Hardy Palms and wondered if people have had much success with them?

I'm based in Nottingham for info.

I'm in outer London and have had a Brahea edulis in the ground for 3 or 4 years. The lowest we've seen must have been around -6C. No damage at all, not even superficial.
My washies (admittedly smaller than the B. edulis), on the other hand, defoliated completely and I eventually binned them as was too impatient to wait for them to resprout.

So I would say hardier than washy, possibly much hardier.

In the winter I often go away for 2-3 months and I do stick a ball of fleece in the growing point of the Brahea before I go, just in case, but seeing how the leaves don't suffer from -6C at all, protecting the growing point is probably not needed here.

Thanks for the reply. I'm in Nottingham, so probably a bit cooler, but they sound a lot hardier than I though. Sounds like they are worth a go.

Plant in a sheltered suntrap if you can.

Mario, Edulis is supposed to be hardy to -8c but does not like it wet and cold at the same time. How cold does it get in your garden? I recently bought a Brahea Armata which has similar hardness, but I prefer the blue colour. I bought mine from eBay. I recommend planting in full sun in free draining soil. Jas.

Looking to plant it in a corner near two tall fence panels, which should give some protection. I wouldn't say it's an overly exposed location but can get cold at times.

I'm not sure about edulis, but mine also is supposed to be very wind resistant which is useful were I live on the coast. I also know it should grow in North Wales as some one else is growing one.

I'm not sure about edulis, but mine also is supposed to be very wind resistant which is useful were I live on the coast. I also know it should grow in North Wales as some one else is growing one.

How would I improve drainage? Just dig some sand into the soil? Thanks.

I can't say with out knowing what sort of soil you have and are you on a slope?

Flat, but quite a heavy clay soil.