"Rosalyn" wrote
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.

For huge leaves try Paulownia tomentosa and coppice it every year, You will
then get about 10ft of growth in a season with huge leaves. If you want the
blue foxglove flowers then you have to let it grow.
http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTr...glovetreec.htm

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Regards
Bob H