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If you’re racking your brain trying to think of ways to escape the last of the cold winter weather before we can finally bask in some spring sunshine, look no further than your orangery or garden room!
A garden room is a fantastic way to grow more tropical plants that would otherwise struggle to survive outside in the unpredictable English weather. From exotic palms to not-so-cuddly cacti, you can spruce up your space and bring a taste of the Mediterranean right into your home as your orangery or garden room will keep them warm enough to grow and shield them from winter frost. Once you’re all set up, you can sit back, pour yourself a cocktail, and pretend you’re in the Caribbean (or just somewhere more exotic than Yorkshire!). Of course, the real beauty in all of this, though is buying plants is loads cheaper than booking a holiday!
But what plants will grow best in my garden room I hear you ask? Well, here at Walkers Windows, we’ve compiled a list of our five favourite garden room plants to help you make a start…
Also known as crane plants, these beautiful flowers are said to resemble brightly coloured birds in flight. Springing from pink and green boat-shaped bracts these flowers boast intense, yet delicate orange petals which are off-set against its sharp blue tongue in the centre of the head.
The Bird of Paradise plant is native to South Africa which means it requires full sun in order to bloom and reach its full potential. This is what makes it one of our favourite plants for a garden room as the large amount of A-rated glass used in the construction, will not only keep the room at the right temperate but also let in loads of light . In these conditions, this stunning plant can grown up to 4 or 5 feet tall and up to 2 to 3 feet wide which makes for a breath-taking focal point in your garden room.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t come with a walking stick or a stairlift nor is there a wrinkle in sight! This fluffy little fella’ will bring some charisma to your garden room though with it’s billowy tuffs of white ‘hair’ which are reminiscent of some of our more senior citizens.
All cacti require hot, dry climates and a generous amount of bright sunlight – similar to that of Mexico to which they are native. Even in perfect temperatures these cacti remain small and demand hardly any attention as they don’t need watering very often which make them a great indoor potted plant.
These fabulous fan palms are near on impossible to grow outdoors in the UK where the weather cold more often than it is warm as they require tropical conditions. They make a great indoor plant though, especially in a garden room where there is access to loads of light and warmth.
The neat palms are visually beautiful and look brilliant against a crisp white wall – not only are they pretty but there’s something really art deco about these plants and they’ll add a sense of style with minimum effort. Plus, if you’re getting a little hot dreaming of your next summer holiday while you take in your tropical surrounding, I imagine they also make a great fan!
Neither a palm nor a tree (whoever named this plant should probably be out of a job) is another visually striking plant that will grow neatly yet require little effort to maintain. Like the Chinese Palm this stylish plant will look sleek in any garden room and also add a touch of colour, without being overbearing.
Perhaps the most striking of all the plants listed, the Tiger Aloe gets its name from its gorgeous striped spear-like leaves and bright orange or salmon pink flowers. While these plants are easy to maintain, they must be kept inside during the colder months in order for them to survive, as with most of our list, they are native to much warmer climates – in this care South Africa and Namibia.
The Tiger Aloe can grow up to 12 inches tall and 9 inches wide with the correct care and enough sunlight. So that concludes are our list! If you’re starting to feel inspired but you’re not sure where to start you can see more great ways to brighten up your orangery or garden room by visiting a horticulture show this these – you can find all the information on our horticulture blog.
If you are yet to have your garden room or orangery built or you’re looking to update your old one, you browse our stunning and stylish installations on our website.
