Jungle Plants – Create your own jungle style garden!

Jungle Plants – Learn, Grow and Buy in the UK

If you are looking to recreate the look of the deep jungle in your garden in England, why not have a look at our recommended jungle garden plants selection below. Some of these plants also grow deep in the jungle in warmer climates, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t grow here with a bit of help. Some of the plants listed below will help develop a  jungle feel in your garden. Try plants with big and broad leaves, striking lines, architectural strength, bright colourful flowers and intoxicating scents – you can use your full creative license to make your garden look and feel however you like. This is the wonderful thing about exotic gardening, there are NO rules. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t represent a true jungle, you just want your garden to have that ‘different and exotic’ feel to it, something that is best achieved with jungle garden plants. Have a look at some of our featured plants below and use those as a starting point to create your very own jungle style garden

Jungle Plants – So many options, where do I start?

Exotic tropical plants create a great jungle view in your garden. These plants with beautiful and bold green foliage, bright and colourful plants and other unique features are a great addition to any garden in the UK. 

Most of these plants originate from deep tropical forests in faraway continents like Africa, South America, and the Oceania region but can still survive in colder regions like in the UK with the right type of cultivation and care. Urban jungle plants like bananas and bamboos are often used to add structure and height to jungle gardens, some jungle flower plants like cannas are used to create low hedges and add a burst of colours to jungle gardens in the UK.

In this article, we are going to discuss and describe some of the best plants for a jungle garden including jungle house plants, jungle hanging plants, and jungle shrubs.

Tree Fern (Dicksonia antarctica) log – 3 foot

Tree ferns – For a dense jungle feel

They are ferns with a single erect, over enlarged rhizome that serves as the stem. This stem carries beautiful, green, fern fronds that create a luxurious canopy in any landscape. They are hardy, slow-growing perennial plants that achieve annual growth of only 25-50 millimetres in height. They achieve a total height of 15 – 20 feet and their ferns are usually 6 feet to 19 feet in diameter. They are hardy evergreen plants that can survive harsh winters with the right care.

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Colocasia – Lush jungle plants for dramatic shapes

Colocasia esculenta

Colocasia is a tender perennial jungle plant. They are also called elephant ears or taro and are cultivated for their unusually large heart-shaped velvet leaves. Their leaves are lime green or a shade of purplish-black. 

Colocasia is not a hardy plant and will not survive any frost so during autumn when the leaves start to fall off, harvest the tubers, dig up the plant, and store indoors when all signs of frost are gone. 

Parts of the plant are edible, the tubers; similar to yam or potato and the leaves. The tubers are very perishable and cannot be stored for long periods so make sure to eat them within a few weeks after harvest. The most popular species of are Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’, Colocasia esculenta ‘Mojito’, and Colocasia esculenta ‘Illustris’.

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Fatsia Japonica – Japanese Aralia Plants

Fatsia japonica – Hardy evergreen tropical looking leaves

Fatsia japonica is an evergreen shrub from the Araliaceae family and is commonly called Japanese aralia. It is a popular house plant in cool weather but can also thrive outdoors if grown in a shaded part of your garden like against a wall. Its large glossy leaves make this plant very attractive and a popular choice when trying to create a tropical landscape out of a tropical climate like the UK. 

It is not a frost-hardy plant and should be fully protected in the winter season. Frost will damage the leaves but as long as the roots are protected, they can survive still survive the frost. It produces that should be regularly harvested because it affects the size of the leaves.

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Musa lasiocarpa – Tropical Banana Plants

Musa lasiocarpa is a perennial and deciduous species from the Musaceae. It is a dwarf banana plant that blooms a single yellow flower. Popularly called Chinese dwarf banana (a description of its nativity and size) or golden lotus banana (a description of its large rosette that looks similar to a lotus). 

It is a hardy mountain species of the Musa genus, hardier than most other species in this genus. It can be grown outside and used as a jungle plant in the UK to create a tropical landscape. It should be protected in the winter by carefully cutting off its leaves, wrapping the stem with fleece, and covering the roots with a layer of mulch to protect it from frost.

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Begonia maculata and pot cover

Begonias – Easy tropical jungle style plants

Begonias, also called Madame Richard Galle is a tuberous begonia popular for its bright orange flowers. Interestingly, it blooms both male and female flowers on the same tree but the genders of the flowers can be confirmed by the flower size. The male flowers are usually larger and more elaborate than the female flowers. It has a long flowering period, blooming in June and the flowers lasting till October. 

These flowers create a beautiful contrast with their dark green foliage. It looks great grown in both pots and hanging baskets and used as jungle hanging plants to create a jungly atmosphere. 

Remember to keep your plant well-watered in full sun and protect in winter. Before the first frost shows, lift the tubers and store them indoors or in a shed away from the frost and water occasionally to avoid them drying up. Finally, they are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses so take necessary precautions if you have pets. 

Phyllostachys aurea aureocaulis – Yellow-Groove Bamboo – 180-200cm

Bamboo for ultimate jungle majesty

Tall, evergreen plants like bamboo make a great architectural statement and are used to add height and structure to your garden. Oftentimes, it is used as a fence or a screen from prying eyes. They are tropical plants native to Africa, Asia, and other tropical forests. 

Also, they come in various colours like green, brown, yellow, etc. Even more, they create a beautiful tropical scene and are an ideal addition if you’re trying to create a jungle garden. 

They are hardy plants that can last in winters without damaging the plant. Note that bamboo plants are known as one of the most invasive plants in the world so take necessary precautions to stop its spread before it extends to your neighbour’s garden.

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Arisaema

It is a large and diverse member of Araceae, a flowering plant family native to Southern Asia, China, Japan, Central and Eastern Africa, North America, including Mexico. The largest concentration of the plant is found in China and Japan and they’re called Cobra lilies while other species out of Asia are called Jack-in-the-pulpit.  

It is composed of an underground pseudo rhizome that produces a pseudostem or petiole depending on the species. Also, the pseudo rhizome primarily occurs in two shapes; like a cigar or a flying saucer.  

Interestingly, the pseudostem carries both leaves and flowers while the petiole carries only leaves. It produces tiny yellow flowers around large three-lobed leaves and occurs in several species such as Arisaema costatum, Arisaema dahaiense, Arisaema saxatile, Arisaema thunbergii. 

These plants are ideal tropical plants to create jungle gardens in the UK. Of course, there are several other options to explore but the goal when trying to create a jungle garden is to have storeys of planting, a combination of tall, short, wide, flowery plants; just like a real jungle.

FAQ

Can jungle plants live outdoors in the UK?

Yes. Most will need protection from frost during winter.

How do I create a jungle theme with plants?

A combination of various sizes of tropical plants will create a jungle theme.

What plants are best for a jungle garden??

Some of the best plants for a jungle garden are bamboos, colocasia, alocasia, tree ferns, etc.

What plants get you a jungle look?

Plants that get you a jungle look are mostly tropical plants with bold foliage and may also include bright flowers.

When can I plant a jungle border in the UK?

For the best growth results, try planting jungle plants in the spring months so that they can grow and bloom before the frost sets in.

Where can I buy jungle plants?

You can buy jungle plants at any plant store that deals in tropical plants.

Jungle plants uk – Can jungle plants live outdoors in the UK?

Yes, you can grow jungle plants in the UK, just be aware that some of them may need assistance over wintering either in your house or a warm poy tunnel. Don’t let this put you off though, as there are many options to choose from. There are many plants that look like they come from the jungle when actually they are hardy, or from colder climates and grow quite successfully outdoors here in the UK.

Jungle house plants

If you want a jungle feel indoors, you can create the jungle look and feel. Look for big broad leaves as a starting point, but make sure you regularly water the plants if you’re trapping them indoors – most jungle plants need lots of light and lots of water. 

Urban jungle plants

If you want to create an urban jungle in your garden or your house, there are plenty of plants to choose from here. If you have a small garden in a terraced house perhaps, look for something tall around the edges to create a green wall around you, once you have that shelter there are many jungle plants that will grow in and around. Urban jungle is a bit of a well used term, but if that’s what you are looking for then go for it. 

Jungle hanging plants

There are a few options for hanging jungle plants, such as the easy to grow pothos (Epipremnum aureum) – gradually hangs as vines, we have one wall of our conservatory covered in this, and it’s very tolerant when ignored for a while. 

Jungle planting scheme – how to create a jungle theme with plants?

There are many ways to create a jungle planting scheme in your garden with exotic and tropical jungle plants. Work out the facing direction of your garden, and where the wind comes from and start there. It may be best to grow a tall wall of bamboo or similar to create some shelter from the wind, and then start from there!

What are the best plants for a jungle garden, what are Jungle foliage plants?

Have a look at our many guides below and see what you think will work best in your garden, as there are many choices to be had and many styles of plant to use. Big broad leaves are a must! Musa basjoo is a great start, and maybe the hardy Tetrapanax Rex.

How to plant jungle seeds? In a propagator with much attention mostly!