Bring in a touch of the exotic to your home with plants that survive the winter when the low temperatures creep in
The Perfumed Garden is one of the oldest manuals on erotic fantasies, but now gardening is going more exotic than erotic, as tropical horticultural imports become the latest gardening buys.
Whether it's for bright colour, serene scents, or simply for something a little different to your bog-standard fern, exotic plants are a great way to give your home a euphoric lift during the winter months.
'With one of the warmest winters on record, it's one of the best times to stock up on rare and exotic plants,' says Simon Gridley, from Amulree Nursery in Norfolk.
Use our pick of the hottest exotic plants that come with added benefits.
Banana plants
'Growing bananas in the back garden, was virtually unheard of ten years ago in the UK. Now they're set to be one the fastest selling plants of 2007,' says Simon Gridley.
The lowest maintenance variety is called Musa Basjoo (Japanese Banana), a pleasing-looking plant with imposing and distinctive feather-shaped leaves. It's capable of surviving temperatures of -10C and guaranteed to give a jungle look. Although larger specimens will bear fruit, the Musa Basjoo is grown in the UK for ornamental value.
'Keep in a conservatory, or near a big window with natural light,' says Gridley. Water when the soil is dry and feed with a food like Tomorite (£4.50, www.greenfingers.com).
Tropicanna
Once a rare and expensive import from Australia and Africa, now DIY superstores like B&Q sell them at bargain prices, and they're easy to care for. Their payback is a vivid orange flower that bursts out in summer. In winter, the flower recoils to a cone shape, with leaves displaying a stunningly vibrant combination of pink, red, orange, and green, fanning out from a central burgundy vein.
Locate near a window in direct natural light and keep the indoor temperature above 15C. Water regularly and prune dull-looking or faded leaves.
Available from www.turn-it-tropical.co.uk or www.gardeningexpress.co.uk, ranging from £5 to £200, depending on size.
Exotic plants double as natural air purifiers. Recent studies have found they filter dust and toxins from the environment, and emit fresh oxygen in the air. 'There is also the psychological benefit,' says Paul Thomas, director of House of Plants in Lewes. 'They've also been proven to increase productivity in the work place by five per cent, and reduce 'computer headache',' says Thomas.
And this is serious business - NASA is currently carrying out a study into using plants in space stations, to clean the air and promote wellbeing among astronauts.
Tests show top exotic plants for health are:
The Peace Lilly (Spathiphyllum)
'It has a fast transpiration rate, so filters out toxins really quickly, especially alcohols, formaldehyde and benzene,' says Thomas. Stunning white spathes blossom from a lush base of elegant green leaves.
The peace lilly requires lots of watering, but you can buy a self-watering kit to save hassle. Keep in natural light conditions away from direct sun.
Bamboo Palms
'These hold toxins inside, they also pump out much needed moisture into dry air, caused by winter heating or air conditioning,' says Thomas. Its long, lush, arching leaves produce a majestic look.
Water regularly but be careful not to over-water, and regularly clean foliage with soap and water to keep it safe from mites. Keep in natural light away from direct sun.
For lower maintenance detox plants, renowned architect Thomas Saunders recommends filling your home with a variety of cactus plants.
Available from www.houseofplants.co.uk or www.tesco.com/flowers; prices range from £10 - £45
'The growth in exotic tastes for plants, has boomed alongside more exotic tastes for cooking,' says Sue Bosustow, from Cross Common Nursery in Helston, Cornwall. Among the choices are:
Baby chillis
You'll find more than 10,000 varieties of chilli around the world but the best for keeping in the kitchen, and handy for cooking, is a dwarf variety called Apache.
They'll last for up to two years, and their vivid red fruits brighten up indoor spaces. 'To maintain, make sure you keep picking the chillis, otherwise the plant thinks it has done its job, then shrivel and die.' Feed it Baby Bio (£3, www.greenfingers.com) every two weeks. Average plants should last up to three years.
Coffee Plants
It's one of the lowest maintenance plants you can keep indoors. In natural state they prosper in hot conditions so require little watering.
'As well as being able to bear fruit, they also produce big glossy leaves, so are good to look at,' says Bosustow. Once ripe, red fruit will fall from the plant and is ready to be roasted.
You may find that it will take a while before the plant has produced sufficient quantities of fruit to roast, and while it's possible to roast them in the oven, you can make life easier by buying a 'home roaster' made specifically for this job. You can pick one up from Whittards for £150.
Olive Plants
Contrary to what you might think, these plants of Mediterranean origin can thrive in extremes of temperatures, and survive sub-zero conditions. Olive plants need good light, so keep near a window.
In its infancy, the Olive plant takes an appealing mini-tree form with small silver-grey leaves. Small white flowers appear in the summer, followed by olives later in the year which you can then marinade to eat.
The olives will last through winter if you bring the plant into a warmer environment. They'll bring a heart-warming Mediterranean look to your space, whatever temperatures are ravishing your garden.
As well as throwing in some stunning visual treats, exotic plants can also tantalise your nostrils. A pick of the crop include:
Kaffir Lime
'This plant gives off a great citrus aroma,' says Bosustow, 'It's the same fragrant aroma used in Thai cuisine, plus it will bear limes within time.' Growing kaffir lime in the UK is the only legal way to own the plant fresh, as import restrictions only allow it dry.
You'll need to nurture the plant with a citrus feed or a nitrogen-based liquid supplement over the winter months - try Baby Bio. Keep the plant in a cool, light room and away from radiators.
Try crushing up the leaves and adding to a pot pourri around the house.
Chocolate Cosmos
A plant which smells like chocolate? Sounds like the stuff that dreams are made of, but this really is true. 'It's almost identical in smell to Terry's dark chocolate,' says Bosustow. It works best as a herbaceous perennial, but you can keep cuttings in a pot inside over winter. The bonus is its beautiful velvet-rich purple flowers, similar to a dahlia.
Photo credits: House of Plants, Marcelo Corrêa & Nick Fraser