Easy & Exciting Exotic Style Plants for a Beautiful Garden - Plant Ideas for Beginners!

Today’s video is all about the easy to grow, beautiful and exciting plant ideas I’d recommend for beginners starting a low maintenance and drought tolerant exotic style display (small gardens, borders and containers included!) and comes from Linden Nurseries near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire (Ermine Street, Appleby, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 0BZ). These sun-loving plants are ideal for sandy or stony soil and can tolerate conditions most big-leaved plants might struggle in. Mediterranean, desert or arid style plants also have the potential to cope better with our increasingly dry summers (OK, not this one!) and hotter temperatures being very drought tolerant. This means they're great for full sun borders and gardens in dry parts of the country but a lot of these are hardy exotics able to cope with winter wet and cold too when given good drainage. I look at some of my specimen and companion plant ideas for creating a striking display, some hardy exotic plant ideas for pots and containers and plant care tips to keep them looking good through the seasons.
A big thanks to my local plant nursery Linden Nurseries for letting me film there (not a sponsored vid even if I sound like I'm on the shopping channel at some points!). If you can show them some love by visiting and maybe leave a review online once you’ve seen their huge range of amazing pots and lovely plants at fair prices I’m sure it will be appreciated!
0:00 Intro
0:26 What is a UK exotic garden? Plant ideas & inspiration
2:51 Exciting & low maintenance exotic plant ideas for sunny UK gardens
3:17 Chamaerops humilis Mediterranean Fan Palms for dry gardens & containers
4:45 Small Chamaerops humilis ‘Compacta’ & ‘Vulcano’ palms for pots & borders
6:00 Cycads - stylish container plants for a sunny patio or conservatory
6:21 Hardy, exotic & evergreen colour with tough Yucca gloriosa ‘Variegata’ plants
8:08 Yucca rostrata ‘Blue Swan’ arid / desert style specimen plants for sunny gardens
10:21 Trachycarpus fortunei palms & cloud pruned olive trees for Mediterranean gardens
13:02 Sempervivums, grasses, hylotelephiums & sedums - low maintenance colourful plants
16:20 Exotic colour with evergreen Euphorbias & Japanese maples for autumn interest
18:28 Chamaerops humilis specimen palms for raised beds, pots & sunny gardens
19:05 Easy, drought tolerant & low maintenance plant ideas for UK exotic style gardens
If you enjoy my videos and would like to say thanks for the price of a coffee then please head over to my Ko-fi here, any kind donations would be appreciated and all money is put towards creating more exciting content: ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden

[@greatnorthernexotic]

The yucca rostratas are stunning. For anyone without the budget and a lot of patience, id recommend shopping around for smaller specimens. I managed to pick up a y. rostrata in a two litre pot for a tenner.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They are indeed and that’s a top tip, if they had some that size there then they would have definitely been my pick. I have grown them from seed in the past but that’s probably a bit too slow, 2-15lt sizes are a great balance 👍

[@NinjaTeaDrinker]

Now I have a whole list of plants to get 😂❤ these along with your £100 budget video

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, might have to up it to £200 now! Pleased I've given you some ideas though!

[@missdimples1982]

Angel wings, I've seen these all over this year, beautiful

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, they definitely seem more popular this past couple of years. You can’t walk past them without touching them!

[@brayvybear4551]

Great video with some brilliant suggestions George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I’m pleased you enjoyed it! There’s loads more cool plants in my recent Sunk Island trip video 😃

[@gordonissocoollike]

I got a magnificent palm from B&M £150 plus £25 for delivery. Sago palms also fro garden bargains. So I’m glad for your comments and advice.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one Gordon! From the pics I’ve seen it was a bit of pot luck when it came to those palms but I’m pleased you were able to get hold of a good one. I hope it grows well for you 😃

[@gabelaw785]

Great video as always, thanks George! Good job this nursery is nowhere near me, dealing a fatal blow to my bank balance! Looking forward to seeing your garden soon, and the fire pit 🙈😎 A puppy and a little babe, you do well to post at all! Thanks 🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Emma, yes, it's definitely testing living close to it! Thanks, it's definitely been a busy summer but I've recorded a couple of vids in my garden over the past week and they'll be up as soon as I've edited them, hopefully over the next week or two. Our first sausage Max is now 5 and Remi is 1 and a half but they can both be as full-on as puppies when they want to be! Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the vids coming up.

[@groundedgarden1461]

Love your videos! I feel like you may not be giving the Cycas Revoluta (I call it a sago palm) enough credit. I have several and it is hardy and grows in both deep shade and full sun. (It might do better with a little shade) Last winter we dropped to 7F (-13C) and they all survived. The fronds all turned brown, and I thought they were done for, but I pruned them off in spring and they flushed out a whole new plant shortly after. Each plant has also given me many several pups this year to spread around further or share with friends. As always, thanks for your inspirational videos!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and thank you so much! I'm guessing you're in the US? I know where you're coming from with the cycads, they're definitely tougher than a lot of people think but I try to be realistic as many people grow them in pots where I don't think they'd stand much of a chance outside during a cold winter here. It's not so much the minimum temperatures but how long, cool and wet our winters are as well and how long it takes Cycas revoluta / sago palms to actually recover and look good again in our cool summers. My friend Mark has planted some big ones out though (you might have seen them near the start of my last 'Mark's Crazy Tiki Garden' video) - I know he plans to build an enclosure round them to keep them dry but it'll be interesting to see how tough they are at that size for sure. Great to hear they grow so well for you, -13C is a proper cold temperature for them to tolerate!

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

What an amazing garden centre! I will definitely have to hire a van and head up to Lincolnshire at some point. Will be saving my pennies until then! Another great video George. I always love your passion and excitement whilst talking about plants and gardening. You are inspiring. Xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! They do actually have people coming over with vans and buying loads of pots quite regularly but coming over on a plant mission sounds like the dream! Good luck with the saving up and I've got more vids back at my garden coming up very soon, I hope you enjoy them.

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Can’t wait to see how your beautiful garden is looking 🤗 xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Sorry I missed this comment, thank you very much and I'm editing a jungle garden tour of here this week so it'll be up soon!@@samanthalonghurst-howes1465

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

That’s okay George. It must take a lot of your personal time to check and respond, but I always think it’s lovely how you do respond to everyone’s comments with thoughtful kindness. Much appreciated as always. Wishing you and your family a lovely day. Xxx@@GeorgesJungleGarden

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No worries and thank you for your kind words too! Yes, it's amazing to have such a great community and I do appreciate it's a two-way street so try my best to get back to everyone who makes the time to leave a comment. At the minute I try to do them in batches, so much easier on my laptop than on my phone. Thank you very much and I hope you're having a great day too!@@samanthalonghurst-howes1465

[@mrchuffy6535]

That sold George pot has been there as long as I have been going there! Whoever the George is I dont think hes super bothered I would just take it George! :P Great video again thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I know, I’ll have to speak with Paul and find out if it’s some little joke he has 😂 Thanks!

[@stephenkeeble6857]

Probably saving up the pennies to buy it lol ain't gonna be cheap at that size 😅😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha you're not wrong! Half the time when I talk about starting with small plants it's to make myself feel better about not being able to afford any more big ones haha!@@stephenkeeble6857

[@stephenkeeble6857]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@staffordshireShane]

Sound advice again, George. I love the arid plants, but as I live on the West Side of the peak district on high ground and it rains here just about everyday iv opted to go for a jungle mountain stream style garden. Right plant right place ,I'm high up and it rains everyday 😂 plants that don't mind altitude, cold and rain are a must if they are to thrive here . I only have 1 Agave tucked against a south facing wall under the overhanging eve's so it's kept warm sunny and dry . The rest are bamboo, Scheffleras, bananas and the large leafed moisture loving plants found growing on mountains because my garden gets soaked daily . Iv not had to water once this summer 😂😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Cheers Shane and you'll have to forgive the delayed reply, I imagine you've built another 200 foot of stream and managed to get the planting around it fully established since you left your comment last week! I definitely think you do right and it's something I always try to stress. If you live somewhere dry and exposed in the south east, it's definitely going to favour a different style of planting and range of plants to a location like yours where it basically only stops raining when it's snowing! You can certainly achieve any look in either place with very tough plants BUT you might as well lean into the more suitable style and have healthier looking plants with less effort. I've hardly had to water much this year either, only pots (which are mostly patiently waiting for their turn to get planted) and the Gunnera, but that's a bit of a diva anyway. Hopefully even you have some sun this September, it's gorgeous out there now!

[@staffordshireShane]

@GeorgesJungleGarden yes 27 degrees and absolutely fantastic everything is suddenly having a push for growth and this heat will mean the 3 or 4palms iv got looking half dead after weeks of sub -10 in winter ,they may even push out an undamaged leaf yet before we get to winter . 🤣

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@staffordshireShane Next week is looking sunny (after a week of rain and wind) so hopefully the palms will get one last push of growth before they start to slow down.

[@EastCoastTropicalGarden]

This garden centre is great! Good information though, thanks George

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Yes, they’re definitely building a great selection of exotics! Thanks 😊

[@DonMurrayYT]

Lucky I don’t live anywhere near there George. I’d be permanently skint! Ricinus for me if you’re beginning a new garden. I’m looking out of the window at Zanzibariensis at over 3.5m high ( would be bigger with hotter weather) and they were a bean 5 months ago. If you want instant height and instant big leaves, while you’re waiting for your slow growers to come on, they are ideal, be it a tropical or jungle garden.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, it's close enough to me to be dangerous! Ricinus are definitely a great shout, one of my absolute favourites for that reason and a great way to really kickstart a new tropical style garden for sure. 3.5m high is impressive isn't it, it's a lot of plant and impact for very little time and money!

[@DonMurrayYT]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Especially the Zanzibariensis. They’re making my Carmencitas look like four leaf clovers!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, they are real beasts aren't they. Blue Giant got taller for me but for big leaves and impact Zazibariensis are one of the best!@@DonMurrayYT

[@PaulConnor100]

Looks like brilliant garden centre and great advice as usual George 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It is indeed, thank you very much 😃

[@TheRoryemoran]

Thanks to your advice I purchased a fatsia japonica and a fatsia Japonica spiderweb

[@greatnorthernexotic]

Great plants! The fatsia polycarpa is next on my list.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, I hope they grow well for you! 😃

[@richardgoodge7666]

❤❤❤ great video

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much 😃

[@philippehoyez9398]

I think you have become a shareholder of this store !😉The olive tree being such a symbolic tree, I find it shameful to prune it like this in a cloud style topiary!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha, I’m missing a trick there! Nahh, happy to help support my local nursery 😊 I do understand where you’re coming from, they’re not my style as such, and my money went onto one of the more mature looking trees. But for somebody who enjoys topiary and also wants a Mediterranean style garden or potentially a focal point plant in a pot, I get why they’re popular.

[@garethvanderwesthuyzen6420]

I've got all the statements pieces: the palms, scheffleras, yucca, bannans, cannas, gunnera, tetrapanax, grasses, ferns, hostas.... The problem I have is how to plug the gaps and hide the bare soil

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

The way I try to approach it is by layering, if you've got the large plants then it's that mid-level that comes next and then cascading down to the lower level plants. In the shadier areas in my garden, I love plants like Persicaria, Mahonia 'Soft Caress', Hylotelephiums, smaller phormiums, variegated Fatsias to create that mid-tier then Hakonechloa macra, Euphorbia myrsinites, Carex, ferns, Heucheras, Fascicularia, European ginger and sedums to create the lower level but it all depends on the conditions you've got and the look you're going for. Periscaria 'Purple Fantasy' and 'Red Dragon' are definitely my most efficient filler plants.

[@Southview_House_Exotic_Garden]

Do you have a Brahea Armata palm in your garden? I was trying to find if you had done a video about winter care on one but could only find the video you did on other types of palms.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I do, one potted one that went into the ground this spring. I've not done a video because in all honesty, I think it's as much about planting them in the right place and conditions than actually needing to wrap them etc. With good drainage and airflow in a sunny, sheltered spot I imagine larger specimens will be a lot tougher than expected. Mine was out in a large pot for the last few years and other than a bit of cosmetic damage is still OK - planted out it should be tougher still. I imagine smaller potted plants would be better off brought somewhere sheltered for any prolonged freezes and like all palms, ideally only wrap with fleece for the actual length of time it's really needed.

[@alexanderlorenzana460]

Hola amigo q precio tienen las palmeras y los helechos arboreos

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hola, varían según el tamaño pero lamentablemente son solo para colección y no se envían

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

Would love a multi trunk Chamaerops.! George I have a question regarding Canna lillies with their red flowers and large leaves, I've over wintered mine for a few years but this year it's been looking weaker and yellow with lines in the leaves and took longer to flower, im replacing it with something else, can any diseases from Cannas affect Zantedeschia if grown close I've noticed the Arums going yellow and limps unless this is there usual time. Also have you ever found small mushrooms growing near your Ensete I've found small ocre brown ones near the bottom dead fronds. Thanks George appreciate it.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for the delay in getting back to this comment. This year hasn't been the best for cannas overwintered in the ground (tough winter and then cool summer) but with you saying about the yellow lines in the leaves I'd be tempted to take it out too. I'm not sure that the issue would affect Zantedeschia (just guessing), is it just the lower leaves? Could there be an underwatering issue - things did get dry for a few weeks.As for the Ensete, I've not noticed that with mine but as it's on the old and dead growth I'd personally say it's a sign of healthy soil, a good ecosystem and maybe a wetter summer. I'd tidy the growth off before you bring it in for winter.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

And yes, big Chamaerops are awesome aren't they!

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, the Zantedeschias look better with the rain and less than sunny weather, took up the Canna lily and replaced it with a nice Inca Flower they look slightly like orchids. They're a much better alternative to Cannas, along with red Echinacea and Yellow Rudbeckia for a Hawaii Carribbean style border. Thanks for the advice George.

[@etihadwizards]

Totally off topic george but do you think Linden Nurseries might stock the red yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

H, that's not completely off topic and it might be worth giving them a call - I know Paul is looking at the stock for next year so might be able to source them if they're the right money.

[@etihadwizards]

I deliver around the grimsby/kirton lindsey/scunthorpe area so easier to call in and enquire 😊 thanks George 👍

[@alexanderlorenzana460]

Y será q envían a para México

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No lo harán, no, lo siento.

[@John-qw1wi]

Waarom geen filmpjes van je tuin ? Dat is al lang geleden

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hallo, het is een drukke zomer geweest met onze jonge dochter, maar er komen zeer binnenkort enkele video's van mijn tuin! Hopelijk de komende week...

[@abivickers9528]

When does this place open up for the year? Says temp closed at moment and can’t find anymore info.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Abi, they tend to close for the winter months and open up during March / April. I’m seeing Paul tomorrow so will ask him and let you know 😊

[@abivickers9528]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden that would be brilliant thank you for replying :)

[@abivickers9528]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden do you have a contact number for them or anything? :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Abi, I had a chat and they’re looking to open in a few weeks as they’re getting the car park area extended (they get really busy on weekends and it’s often full). Going off Google the number is 01724 862731 but you might not be able to get hold of them until they open properly. It’s a family run place and it’s that constantly busy in spring and summer they have a winter break and also get on with new projects and developments before the season gets going and there’s no chance. I can try and help you if there’s something you wanted to know?