your 12 best hardy exotic/tropical plants?

[Markby]

Nobody likes Dicksonia antarctica any more then?

It really does a good job of surviving with what is really minimal protection (in SE England, at least) just a ball of straw in the crown and maybe a fleece 'scarf'...

My top 12 are basically whatever you all said plus my Dicksonia antarctica - wouldn't be without it - oh, and my burgeoning blechnum collection, which have yet to be overwintered, so no direct knowledge of winter performance yet.

blast! - I bet that's way more than 12....

[JoelR]

Here's my top 12 hardy exotics:

Trachycarpus F.
Tetrapanax "Rex"
Musa basjoo
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Cautleya robusta
Arisaema consanguineum
Echeveria elegans
Delosperma cooperii
Fascicularia bicolor
Opuntias compressa
Echinocereus Triglochidiatus
Agave utahensis

[Trudytropics]

I have never owned a Dicksonia antarctica, sadly I don't have the space, they are at their best stunning . I just think a lot of gardeners are dis- heartened with what has happened to theirs. If they were bone hardy, I'll bet everyone one of us would have it in our garden, some members Dicksonia antarctica look stunning still, Mouses spring to mind, but a lot more seem to have very disappointing displays this year

[JoelR]

These are the plants getting more than one vote so far:

Trachycarpus Fortunei 6
Fatsia 5
Musa basjoo 5
Chamaerops humilis 4
phoenix canariensis 2
Phyllostachys 2
Phormiums 2
trachycarpus wagnerianus 2
Ferns 2
Tetrapanax "Rex" 2
Paulownia Tomentosa 2
Yucca Gloriosa 2

[kata]

Is it ok that I don't have 12,

Trachicarpus Manipur, currently on my windowsill

Trachicarpus Fortunei x 2 (1 on wishlist)

Butia capitata (wishlist)

Cycas Revolutas x 2

Musa Basjoo (wishlist)

Washingtonia robusta x 2 (windowsill)

C. .Humilis compacta x 4 (window sill)

Dicksonia antarctica (wishlist)

Phoenix canariensis_CIDP (maybe on wishlist)

[Trudytropics]

Kata I can't believe you have no flowers on your list ,
I thought you were the flower

[MikeC]

Can I stick another 12 up please?


Washintonia Fillibusta
Butiagrus nabonnandii
Cannas (esp Australia and Musafolia)
Musa Basjoo
Aloe striatula
Kniphofia northiae
Eriobotrya japonica
Cycas Revoluta
Phormium Cookianum
Opuntia (various)
Dasylirion wheeleri
Albizia julibrissin

[kata]

I thought it was just palms,

[flounder]

no particular order
t. fortunei
gunnera manicata
m.basjoo
fatsia japonica
bamboo
passiflora caerulea
c. humilis
yuccas
cordylines
campsis
musella
and number 12............................................ensetes...........................................
I hear you ask
well they do alright in my study

[Trudytropics]

Being new to this exotic/tropical gardening business, it gives me satisfaction and assurance to see so many other board members choosing the same plants as me, I
picked personal favourites and ones I'd like to have, I must be getting it right

[Simba]

Trachycarpus Fortuneii
Trachycarpus Wagnerianus
Phyllostachys Vivax Aureo
Phyllostachys Huangwenzhu
Fargesia Scabridia
Yucca Linearifolia
Yucca Gloriosa
Eriobotyra Japonica
Dicksonia Antarctica
Blechnum Chilense

Worthy of a mention:
Fatsia Japonica
Albizia Julibrissin
Podophyllum 'spotty dotty'
Farfugium 'leopard'

[Rod]

Albizia julibrissin 'rosea'
Albizia julibrissin 'red silk'
Butia capitata
Trachycarpus fortunei
Washingtonia robusta
Livistona australis
Phoenix canariensis
Cordyline obtecta var. green goddess
Echium wildpretii
Aloe polyphylla
Dicksonia fibrosa ( Foliage is more tolerant of cold & snow than D. antarctica )
Grevillea poorinda var. royal mantle