Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor.jpg" alt="Abbotsbury subtropical gardens" class="wp-image-86042" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor-400x300.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-subtropical-garden_Fotor-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Rare and exotic plants from around the world have been growing in the <a href="https://abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens</a> alongside the Fleet Lagoon at Chesil Beach near Weymouth since the 18th century. Famed for its camellias, magnolias, rhododendron and hydrangeas, beautiful views of the Jurassic Coast from the top of Magnolia Walk, with a cafe, plant centre, seasonal open air theatre – and the Abbotsbury Swannery right next door&nbsp;– a visit here makes for a great day out.  In the meantime, Curator David Pearce suggests five plants, all readily available in garden centres and online, to create an exotic look in your own garden.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hardy-banana-musa-basjoo">Hardy banana (<em>Musa basjoo)</em></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1504" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191.jpg" alt="Hardy banana (Musa basjoo)" class="wp-image-86012" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191-532x800.jpg 532w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191-665x1000.jpg 665w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191-266x400.jpg 266w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191-768x1155.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/abbotsbury-Musa_basjoo_35001868191-349x525.jpg 349w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Jungle Rebel, WIkimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>



<p>Strong, architectural foliage, and rich greens are the key to a jungle-like garden. The hardy banana will provide this by the tonne! Hardy to -20C, this quintessentially exotic-looking plant is perfect for creating dappled shade in your garden, and its translucent leaves will produce a whole kaleidoscope of greens through the day. A quick grower, give it ample summer moisture, sun and feed and you’ll forget you’re not in the tropics. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tree echium (<em>Echium pininana</em>) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1498" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193.jpg" alt="Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens" class="wp-image-86006" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193-534x800.jpg 534w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193-668x1000.jpg 668w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193-768x1150.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_1193-350x525.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With the aid of a changing climate, this plant is quickly gaining popularity across southern England. A biennial, it will produce a beautiful rosette of foliage in its first year followed by a colossal, 10-15ft flower spike of violet flowers in its second. Once it’s seeded, you’ll have plants forever. It is, however, half-hardy, so a sheltered, free draining wall or coastal location is ideal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bear’s Breeches (<em>Acanthus mollis</em>) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972.jpg" alt="Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens" class="wp-image-86005" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-GardenAbbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4972-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>An incredibly tough herbaceous perennial that will deal with a wide range of situations (including dry shade and north-facing walls) providing it has ample drainage. Large, glossy semi-evergreen leaves are punctuated by tall, long-lasting white and pink flower spikes. &nbsp;Flowers less well in shade, but we use the cultivar ‘Holland’s Gold’ to brighten up the shadiest forest canopies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Siberian Bugloss (<em>Brunnera microphylla</em> ‘Alexander’s Great’) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171.jpg" alt="Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens" class="wp-image-86007" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Abbotsbury-Sub-Tropical-Gardens-SJB_4171-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Another highly tolerant and hardy herbaceous perennial, which will deal with sun or the deepest shade. Hardy for most of England, with gorgeous, forget-me-not flowers through the entirety of spring. The leaves are its best feature however, providing a joyously white-veined foliage through until the frosts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Large-flowered mallow wort (<em>Malope trifida</em> ‘Vulcan’) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="661" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-86014" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL-800x529.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL-400x264.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL-768x508.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/Bernard-Loison-wikimedia-commons-Malope_trifida1MTFL-794x525.jpg 794w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Bernard Loison, Wikimedia </figcaption></figure>



<p>A hardy annual grown for years as a cottage garden classic, we use it to provide a long season of exotic, mallow flowers. It is best sown in autumn and planted out in March, but can also be sown in the spring. Best in full sun. Excellent for cut flowers; the more you harvest, the better it will flower.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens</a>, Bullers Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4LA. Open daily from 10am – 5pm. </em></p>


Grow exotic: local experts explain how to create a subtropical vibe

You may also like