Exotic plants are the glittery boob tubes of the garden world. Everyone secretly fancies trying them (go on, admit it), but many believe they are too impractical or perhaps just too damn extrovert and exuberant for their own garden. However, lots of plants that look exotic are actually pretty hardy and will do well in most gardens with the right care. These specialists will be able to let you know exactly what will grow where.

Chances are you will by now have heard of Architectural Plants, in Horsham, West Sussex (01403 891772, architecturalplants.com), but designers of show gardens in particular never tire of its trick of producing huge beautifully grown specimens of bamboos, ferns, bananas and palms. James Fraser's garden for the New Zealand Tourist Board at this year's Chelsea will be full of goodies from Architectural Plants, and other regulars include John Brookes, Cleve West, Declan Buckley and Bunny Guinness. This is the place to go for instant spiky and jungly foliage.