and the reason behind this growth, given in this article, is quite plausible: Due to the economy, people can't afford to go on holiday, so they're instead 'bringing the mountain to Mohammed' by giving their gardens planting schemes reminiscent of ones they would encounter on holiday in the Med. So they could holiday at home.


I guess that was part of my motivation for acquiring tropical looking plants, to feel as though I could be on holiday (when it's sunny) in my back garden.

Here's the link. Although I really think the garden centre plant buyer is talking BS when he said "'recent winters have been mild enough for palms to survive.'"! Recent winters have been anything but mild.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1297524

Saw this the other day, I especially like this reply "There is a lot of nonsense written on here.
1. Trachycarpus fortunei is not sensitive to frost. It is the hardiest palm species for our climate and will survive -15C.
2. If a palm is buckling a fence it is because some fool planted it too close to the fence.
3. There are many palm species that will survive the average UK winter. I have six different species in my garden that survived -10C last winter.
4. A coconut palm will not survive long even indoors in this country but a Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) is surviving in many gardens in this country and there are large fruiting trees on Southsea common.
5. A palm is a palm whether or not someone who knows nothing about botany classes it as a "real" one.

As far as the article is concerned, none of the trees listed are tropical despite the headline and a Cordyline is not even a palm.
- S.J., Berks, 26/7/2010 23:53"
I suspect S.J., Berks is our very own Simon.

Plant sales are up in general this year, it looks like the recession has changed people's spending habits quite a bit.

I joined and replied to the topic on the Daily Mail, but they did not think I knew enough so didn't print it. Seems by and large they will only print the more controversial opposing views, and are not really interested in a valued judgement. Also I said I had been growing them for 40 Years which does not fit in with Global Warming Hype.

If you look at my post on the Big Debate topic.The Daily Mail seems to have printed the same a few days later.