Outdoor plants for the garden, patio and balcony, such as olive tree, lemon tree, calamondin, European fan palm and Yucca rostrata, plus box balls and sedum mats. They arrive upright in a sturdy box, the largest sizes on a pallet.
The main difference between outdoor plants is how they get through the winter. Some can stay outside all winter. The Chinese windmill palm from the Trachycarpus collection handles cold best. The European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) and the olive tree tolerate light frost. The Yucca rostrata can handle cold as long as it stays dry. The sedum mats, the blight-resistant box balls and the ivy Hedera colchica are fully hardy.
Other plants only go outside from spring to autumn. Citrus trees such as lemon, orange and calamondin belong in a bright, frost-free spot in winter. The same goes for the Phoenix palms, the Livistona fan palm, the banana plant and the Cycas. Bring these plants indoors as soon as the nights get cold.
Choosing size and pot
The outdoor plants in this collection range from 40 to 300 cm. A 40 cm calamondin or a small lemon tree looks good on a table or balcony. Palms and olive trees of 150 to 200 cm add height and some privacy to a patio. The largest trees, such as the 270 cm olive bonsai in a ø80 cm pot, are a real eye-catcher in a spacious garden. You will also find them among the XXL plants from 200 cm.
Every plant comes in a nursery pot. For outdoors, choose a decorative pot with a drainage hole so rainwater can run off. A pot slightly larger than the nursery pot holds moisture longer and protects the roots better against cold. We measure height from the bottom of the pot to the tallest leaf.
Sun and water
Most plants here come from warm, dry regions and prefer full sun. Olive trees, yuccas, palms and citrus do well on a south or west-facing patio. A plant in a pot dries out much faster outdoors than in the ground. So check the soil often in summer and water several times a week in hot weather. Yucca and olive like to dry out in between, citrus needs more water. In winter, water outdoor plants little or not at all. More advice per plant is in our yucca care guide.
Delivery
Within the Netherlands your outdoor plant arrives in 4 to 5 working days. Delivery within the Netherlands is free from €99. If anything does get damaged on the way, send us a photo and we will send you a new plant free of charge.
In this collection the Trachycarpus windmill palm, the Chamaerops fan palm, the olive tree, the Yucca rostrata, the box, the ivy and the sedum mats can handle winter. Roots in a pot freeze faster than in the ground, so wrap pots up in severe frost and place them against a sheltered wall.
How do you protect potted outdoor plants from frost?
Wrap the pot in hessian, bubble wrap or a thick blanket and put it on pot feet so it does not stand in cold water. Place the plant against a wall out of the wind. In severe frost you can also cover palms and olive trees with breathable fleece. Water sparingly in winter.
Which outdoor plants can take full sun?
Olive trees, Yucca rostrata, palms such as Chamaerops and Trachycarpus, and citrus trees love full sun. The sedum mats also do well in a sunny, dry spot. Let a plant that comes from a greenhouse get used to strong sun for a few days first, otherwise the leaves can scorch.
When do you put citrus and other patio plants outside?
Put citrus trees, banana plants and frost-sensitive palms outside once no more night frost is expected, in the Netherlands usually from mid-May. Let them acclimatise in partial shade first. In autumn, bring them back in before it starts to freeze.
How often should you water potted outdoor plants?
That depends on the weather and the plant. In summer a pot on a sunny patio can dry out within a few days. Feel the soil with your finger: if the top layer is dry, water until it runs out of the bottom. After a good downpour you can usually skip a few days.