11 plants with bold foliage
Discover some plants with large leaves - perfect for creating a jungle look or making a statement in your garden.
Plants with large leaves can make a real impact in the garden. Well placed, they act as a focal point, standing out from neighbouring plants with smaller foliage.
They're also perfect for creating a jungle or exotic look, and many plants with bold foliage are hardy, so they don't need protection during the winter months.
Large-leaved plants aren't just for large gardens, either - they allow you to play around with scale in a smaller space. Try introducing them into a small garden for impact and interest.
Discover 11 plants with jumbo foliage, below.
Canna
Cannas have large, paddle-like leaves that are often variegated, as well as brightly coloured, exotic flowers. Canna 'Phasion', pictured, has stunning leaves in stripes of green, purple, orange and pink, plus orange flowers. Cannas aren't hardy, so they need some winter protection.
- Buy cannas from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Cardoon
Globe artichokes are majestic plants that work best at the back of the border. They form a clump of large, silver leaves that can reach 1m in length. Their foliage contrasts well with that of other plants. In late summer and autumn, they bear large, thistle-like flowers on tall stems. Birds love the seedheads.
- Buy cardoons from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Waitrose
Persian ivy
With large, variegated leaves that are splashed with yellow, Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' makes an impression against a shady wall or fence. A vigorous grower, it bears balls of lime-green flowers in autumn. You may also find it sold as 'Paddy's Pride'.
- Buy Persian ivy from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Waitrose
Angel's trumpet
Brugmansia is grown for its bold foliage and large, trumpet-shaped flowers, which have a beautiful fragrance. It's not hardy, so it's best grown in a container that can be brought under cover in the cooler months. All parts of the plant are harmful if ingested.
- Buy brugmansia from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Elephant's ears
Bergenias make excellent ground cover plants, especially in a partially shaded spot. The leaves of some varieties take on red tinges in winter and Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea' has unusual purple leaves all year round. Bergenias bear pink flowers on tall stalks in spring.
- Buy bergenias from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Ginger lily
Another great addition to a jungle-style garden, ginger lilies look to be more widely grown. They have paddle-like leaves and attractive, tropical-looking flowers. | They're also surprisingly hardy and can tolerate low temperatures in winter without any lasting damage, as long as the soil is not wet.
- Buy ginger lilies from Crocus and Hart's Nursery
Schefflera
With their bold, deeply lobed, evergreen leaves, scheffleras are stunning architectural plants and are becoming increasingly popular in UK gardens. Many are hardy, including Schefflera rhododendronifolia, pictured.
- Buy schefflera from Crug Farm
Hosta
Hostas are grown for their large leaves, which are often variegated in shades of cream, silver or white. Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans has large, puckered leaves, that can reach over 40cm long. Its foliage can be a magnet for slugs and snails, so it's best grown in a pot, with some slug protection.
- Buy hostas from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Regal fern
Osmunda regalis is a giant fern that bears huge, bright-green fronds that gradually unfurl in spring. In autumn, they turn bronze before dying back. Grow Osmunda regalis in damp, preferably acid, soil – it looks lovely next to a pond.
- Buy Osmunda regalis from Crocus and Thompson & Morgan
Banana
Bananas look great in tropical garden schemes, with giant, paddle-like leaves and thick trunks. Musa basjoo is the hardiest variety; Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', pictured, is tender, with red and green leaves. Grow in a sheltered spot, as wind can shred the foliage, and feed and water generously.
- Buy bananas from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Chinese rice paper plant
You'll need plenty of room for Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' – the huge leaves can reach 60cm and the plant can reach 2m in height. Fully hardy, it's evergreen in mild winters and deciduous in cooler ones. It bears sprays of creamy flowers in autumn. Grow in full sun or partial shade.
- Buy Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' from Gardening Express and Big Plant Nursery
Pollarding for larger leaves
Certain trees, such as Alianthus altissima, Cotinus coggygria, paulownia, catalpa and cercis can be pollarded – which helps to keep the plant compact while promoting much larger leaves. Find out more about pollarding.
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Other large-leaved plants to try
