These are the plants which make up the background of our 'tropical' bed

Paulownias

These are totally hardy trees which perform a couple of interesting tricks. Paulownia is one of the fastest growing hardwood and seed for the fastest growing variety P. Elongata is in much demand for cash cropping in milder climates. The seed is light and fluffy and the smallest quantity I have seen for sale is 500 grams for quite a lot of money. The variety easiest to obtain from seed is P. Tomentosa which makes a sizeable plant in only 2 to 3 years. The trick is to pollard the plant in February or March, I cut it back to about 18 inches to 2 feet, and then only allow one bud to grow on. The buds are an amazing purple colour. This results in a growth by the end of August of about 15 feet with huge leaves. Alternatively you can let it grow into a tree when it produces the most amazing scented foxglove like flowers in the spring before the leaves. The buds form in Autumn and generally survive all but the hardest winter to flower in the spring. If Pollarded then let go the next year you can produce a beautifully 'lollipopped' shape.

We grow Tomentosa, the smaller Fortunei and the more graceful and elongated Fargesii

 Astilboides Tabularis

Ailanthus Altissima

Tetrapanax rex