FIVE SHAPELY SENSATIONS

1 BRAHEA ARMATA

Mexican blue palm is a slow-growing beauty that will eventually hit 6ft and has a thick trunk topped with powder blue, fanshaped leaves.

2 PHOENIX CANARIENSIS

Hardy down to minus 8C, Canary Island date palm produces masses of arching fronds from a bulbous trunk, giving it the look of giant pineapple.

3 TRACHYCARPUS FORTUNEI X WAGNERIANUS

More compact than the closely related Chusan palm, it takes strong winds in its stride due to its smaller fans of leaves.

4 BUTIA CAPITATA

Originating from Brazil and Uruguay, jelly palm grows to about 18ft and has a thick trunk crowned with arching, feathery leaves.

5 YUCCA GLORIOSA

Starting off as a rosette of spiky leaves, it will go on to form a multi-branched specimen 7ft or more in height and width.