Over the years, our range has been slowly taking on a more tropical feel, with the introduction of citrus, olives and bananas.  These have proved very popular, with customers now requesting the more unusual varieties, many of which are not readily available elsewhere.  Certainly when it comes to citrus, most of these requests have come from chefs, looking to cut down their food miles and grow their own high end ingredients.

These plants also create quite a visual impact at the markets, garden shows and festivals.  Alongside our usual customer-base, who know us for 'edible horticulture', these plants have attracted those more interested in ornamental horticulture too.  This in turn has led to more requests for other plants that would be suited to a more tropical-looking garden, and that has prompted some research and experimentation here in my own garden. With all the knowledge I've built up over the 40 years I've had my fingers in the soil, I've found that a lot of what I've learned from growing fruit, veg and herbs has put me in good stead for having a crack at growing 'pretty things'....

Prices will vary dependent on the size plant sizes I have at any given time, and in general the largest plants will more likely be available later in the year.

• Bananas (8 varieties available from early April, lots more varieties in the pipeline as the year progresses) from £10
• Citrus trees (10+ varieties routinely available, rarer or larger ones available on request) from £50
• Olives (lots of different sizes, including spiral stems) from £40
• Figs from £15
• Colocasia (elephant ears) from £12
• Persicaria from £5
• Gunnera from £15
• Brugmansia from £20
• Fatsia from £10
• Gingers from £12
• Canna from £15
• Tradescantia from £8
• Strelitzia (white bird of paradise) from £20
• Fascicularia from £8
• Ricinus (castor oil plant) from £5
• Mondo grass from £8
• Japanese laurel from £5
• Passionflower from £15