Exotic mix

In his own small Surrey garden, designer Robert Stacewicz has assembled an eclectic mix of exotic plants that are well suited for a changing climate

- RORY DUSOIR

Visitors to Robert Stacewicz’s small urban garden marvel at the speed and extent of its transformation. He took possession of a fairly featureless rectangular patch of lawn in autumn 2019, started work on it the following spring, and by summer 2022 the garden was ready for the Gardeners’ World cameras. The space now works on multiple levels: as a haven for biodiversity, as a place of huge interest for plant-lovers, and as an atmospheric retreat from the real world of traffic and suburbia outside. But in a way, this act of creation has not been sudden at all, for it is the product of half a lifetime spent dreaming of and collecting interesting plants.

Robert has travelled widely, to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and several countries in southeast Asia, including Singapore and Indonesia. The flora of each country he visits has been a source of endless fascination to him and ultimately of inspiration for his garden design practice as well as the creation of his own garden. And he has collected plants from a network of nurserymen and friends over more than a decade, hauling them around in pots or sometimes asking other enthusiasts look after them for a while.

4 KEY PLANTS

1 Agave ovatifolia Hardy in mild areas with protection from winter wet. Height and spread: 1.5m x 1.5m. RHS H3, USDA 7a-11t.

2 Cordyline australis 'Karo Kiri' Its shortened leaves are borne over a greater length of trunk than other cabbage trees, not in a tufty rosette at the top. 2m x 50cm. USDA 9a-11.

3 Brahea edulis Has luxuriantly proportioned leaves that bring glamour to exotic plantings. Surprisingly hardy with good drainage. 9m x 4m. USDA 9a-11.