I know what I want but does it exist?

[runwithme]

We bought a couple of palm tree type plants (not trees, more plants, iyswim). They didn't last the winter as we left them outside and didn't pot them sufficiently anyway. I (as you can probably tell) am NOT green fingered in the slightest so, although I would like to have something in replacement, it must tick many boxes:

1. we would like to be able to leave it outdoors during the winter
2. it must be potted, as we don't have beds
3. something tall and tropical looking. It doesn't need to flower, big leaves would be fine. Around 2 foot tall if possible

Does such a thing exist? Our planter is going to look very bare at this rate!

Maybe a hardy banana variety? Just starting to plant up our garden and looking at plants with interesting leaves to mix in with other planting.

Fatsia japonica aka castor oil plant?

Whereabouts do you like?
Answers for plants that might suit the south coast will be very different for the North York moors!

LIVE... ffs

I like both suggestions so far; is Crocus a good place to buy online? Our garden centres round here seem to be on the pricey side but I am wary of buying plants online.

@Tartyflette

Whereabouts do you like? Answers for plants that might suit the south coast will be very different for the North York moors!

In the South East, but not coastal (sadly!). Kent/London borders

Trachycarpus is your friend here.

Trachycarpys fortuneii or cordyline. Both will get big though.

As well as fatsia japonica look at the Chinese rice paper plant.

On the kent london borders the bexley garden centre stocks hardy palms. They are not the cheapest plants

Some Yuccas might be hardy. Also Fatshedera?

Some lovely ideas! Really like the look of cordyline, very pretty.

I'll check out the Bexley Garden Centre, thanks for the recommendation

We have a cordyline and it's survived several winters outdoors, including during heavy snow. The only thing that's threatened to kill it was a deluge of bindweed when we went away on holiday for a few weeks. Im still waiting for some of it's leaves to straighten out two years later.

Crocus is good - they do plants for waitrose. Hydrangeas are good in pots. Try sarah raven as well.

Another vote for Fatsia Japonica, looks tropical but entirely self sufficient.