"Rosalyn" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

I have recently come back from Cuba and love their gardens. Large red
and green leaves, a few red flowers and an overall lush feel.

I would like to recreate this in the UK, but my garden is almost all
in shade, a lot of it full shade. I also don't want to have to bring
plants in, or protect them over the winter. The plants do not need to
actually be tropical, just recreate that feel.

My ideas so far are fatsia japonica, tree ferns (and other ferns),
bamboo and rhubarb, either real or ornamental. I would love a
cordyline or phormium but think they prefer sun? And the same for
gunnera?

Any ideas gratefully welcomed.
thank you Rosalyn

Whereabouts are you situated Rosalyn? Do you get much frost?

- Hosta's, especially the larger leaved ones, look vaguely tropical

- Mahonia doesn't mind shade and smells wonderful. Birds love the berries
:~)

- Hellebores have interesting leaves - Stinking hellebore (Helleborus
foetidus) is especially spiky

- Acanthus have good leaf shape and large flower spikes (OK not red.... but
nice!)

- Trilliums - expensive but VERY exotic looking

- Voodoo Lily (Dracunculus vulgaris) Crazy spotted stems, triangular leaves,
lily like flower, red berries.

- Pineapple Lilies (Eucomis) Has pineapple looking flowers - should be
hardy in a sheltered spot

- As a backdrop - Climbing Hydrangea has large white flowers and interesting
stems in winter

If you have any sunny bits, cannas and gingers are very exotic looking :~))

The following site might be useful for ideas :
http://www.architecturalplants.com/

And http://www.crocus.co.uk/findplant/ has a rather good search facility.
You can look up shade plants etc

HTH Jenny