Get the look Visitors are enveloped by tropical plants at
Exuberant blooms and lush foliage create this tropical paradise in the heart of East Sussex
Great Dixter’s Exotic Garden
more adventurous – tropical plants and their intriguing partners.
What are the main design elements? The exotic garden is surrounded by yew hedges and an old cattle shed, known as the hovel, which create a warm, sheltered microclimate. These boundaries also block out the rest of the garden, generating the illusion you’ve stepped into a different plant world. The visitor is greeted and ‘enveloped’ by large tropical specimens and deliberately narrow paths so that, in August and September, at the garden’s peak, you need to carefully move branches and blooms in order to navigate through.
What are the key plants? Big-leaved, architectural foliage jostles beside strappy grasses and spiky yuccas, providing striking contrasts. Hardy exotics stand out from the crowd: banana
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Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6PH
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www.greatdixter. co.uk; 01797 252878
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plant Musa basjoo with its large paddleshaped leaves; palmate-leaved Tetrapanax papyrifer; upright, bamboo-like Arundo donax; and Melianthus major, whose layered leaves have a softly serrated edge.
Slender papyrus and Miscanthus sinensis condensatus ‘Cosmopolitan’ are woven through, alongside clumps of strappy Setaria palmifolia, and the magnificent broad leaves of colocasia for a visual feast of shape, texture and colour. ➤
What about the flowers? Blooms are predominantly in reds, oranges, deep yellows and hot pinks – you won’t find many pastels in this part of the garden! Dahlias grow in abundance, providing a long season of colour, while cannas, tender salvias and ginger lilies (hedychium), each add their own vibrant flourish. You can still see the occasional rose, a nod to the garden’s former life!
How can we get the same density of planting? Layer plants in tiers with trees or large shrubs as the upper storey; medium-sized shrubs and colourful perennials in the next layer; and lowgrowing groundcover such as Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ underneath. Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata) and I. tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ will scramble skywards, using taller plants as supports.
Will I have space? You don’t need a large garden to capture the essence of this look. Many of the plants can be grown in large pots and gathered together in groups. Choose the warmest, sunniest, most sheltered corner of your garden – a sun-baked patio is ideal – where they will thrive. If you can, position some taller plants around the edges to create a sense of enclosure and a density to the planting. Remember that plants such as gunnera and bamboos can overwhelm the space.
How can I keep tender plants alive over winter? If you have well-drained soil, protect them in situ with a dry mulch of straw or a layer of fleece. Dahlia and canna tubers can be lifted in late autumn, dried off, then wrapped in newspaper and stored in boxes. In colder gardens, grow tender specimens in containers sunk into the ground. Lift in autumn and store in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory.
And if I don’t have a greenhouse? Plenty of exotic-looking plants can live outdoors in a sheltered British garden all year round. Fatsia japonica, Paulownia tomentosa and rodgersia all have the requisite large leaves and can tolerate between -5C and -10C (24-14F). Hardy Trachycarpus fortunei palms add to the jungly feel, as do crocosmias and hardy fuchsias, while ferns and hostas are brilliant for providing different textures. Fill gaps with vibrant half-hardy annuals such as dazzling zinnias and tithonia. ✿
Choose the warmest, sunniest, most sheltered corner of your garden
To explore your jungle, immerse yourself in it! Lay narrow gravel or bark paths between plants that are just wide enough for safe access without damaging the plants – or yourself!
Ipomoea lobata Spanish flag is a tender, twining climber with dark red flowers that fade to orange and then creamyyellow. Use to add colour in the canopy of foliage. H5m (16ft) S60cm (2ft)