A new world of exotic gardening
In the past two decades there has been an increasing desire to experiment with new plants in the garden. Although gardening has always been a story of importing new and exotic plants from other countries and climates, this has reached new heights in recent years. This site introduces a few of the plants that can be used to add an exotic feel to your own plot or garden (or windowsill), and can act as central features in a modern garden.
Certain plants, sometimes hard to grow, sometimes easy, have found their place in the most ordinary suburban garden. One or two specimen exotic trees and plants, and a garden can be transformed. Add a few Japanese touches perhaps, or semi-tropical themes, and the look is complete.
If you want to transform a sunny terrace you will find some exotic plants that grow very well in large containers. But check the details of a plant before you buy it - some of the plants here do need protection in frosty conditions, and many prefer quite a lot of sunshine. Go straight to Black bamboo or discover the other exotic plants on this site...or see our special feature on Orchid Care if you want the same exotic appeal inside your home!
Get ready to be seduced...or, where to buy these plants!
Often these plants may not be available in your local garden centre, or may be very expensive. If you are based in the UK we can highly recommend Crocus for all your garden supplies - not just plants, although they have a very wide range of plants at good prices, but also for garden furniture, barbecues and 1001 other 'essentials' for the garden. Visit their website here. But be ready to be tempted!
See also our 'Buy exotic Plants' page.
Why Black Bamboo?
In the 1980's and 1990's Australian Tree Ferns were all the rage, and they continue to be popular to this day. But in recent years this position has been usurped by newcomers.
Black bamboo is one of these new arrivals, and is the perfect plant to provide an architectural exotic edge to your garden. Tall, ebony black stems and bright green leaves, plus reasonably easy to control (unlike some of the spreading bamboos), it is a fine plant for a most types of garden, from the suburban plot to the open parkland.
Photograph courtesy of Andy Barker, Design
Team, Sheffield City Council
Also black bamboo can be propagated easily, so we are not threatening its natural environment each time we buy it.
Hence 'black bamboo' is the name chosen for this site, as being a perfect example of the kind of exotic plant that epitomises the new look. This site aims to give you a sample of the plants that are available. It can not be a complete and definitive guide to every exotic plant, but hopefully will give you some ideas about the plants that will suit your own garden.
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