Claudia de Yong: Hot Springs

Despite its common name, this plant is not in fact a palm but in fact a cycad. Originally from Japan and Korea, it has been cultivated for centuries. It's undemanding and easy to care for, and can also be kept as a long-lived house plant. It has a reputation for being slow-growing, but it will often suddenly swing into action and grow several new leaves within a matter of weeks. A sago palm make a great addition to a summer patio, but larger specimens can also be planted out into the garden. Mature plants can withstand quite severe frosts, but do insulate any younger plants against cold weather.

Tree ferns are becoming more and more popular for the garden and D. antarctica one of the hardier varieties. The thick mass of roots form a trunk, which can eventually reach about 6m (20ft) in the wild. The foliage appears in spring from the top of the trunk, unfurling from the centre to open up into large, rich green fronds. Grow in dappled or deep shade in slightly acidic soil. In winter protect the crown by wrapping it up with straw or dead fronds. It has been given an Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which is for plants of outstanding excellence.

This Japanese banana has striking foliage - large bright green leaves, arching up from a main stem. It brings a tropical atmosphere to any garden, and in ideal conditions, fruit may be produced although not in the UK. The flowers are creamy yellow with large brown bracts and are arranged on a pendant spike. Behind the flowers the small inedible bananas form. It is a tender perennial and should be moved to a frost-free area during winter and planted out when all chance of frost has past, or be wrapped in horticultural fleece in milder areas.

This is a big spreading water lily with star-like, pale blue flowers about 15cm wide, and distinctive yellow stamens. It needs to be planted in a large aquatic basket filled with aquatic soil, with the sausage-like stem (or rhizome) going just under the surface. Put gravel over the top. The container then goes about 20cm under the water surface, possibly supported on an old brick. Only buy it if you have a large, still pond (avoid running water) in full sun, which will not be choked by its growth. Regularly remove the fading leaves and flowers. Because it needs to be kept at 10C in winter, the basket should be lifted and put in a small, water-filled container in a heated greenhouse. If you can't provide these conditions, buy a hardy water lily instead.

This hosta is slow to get started, but as it picks up, it's thick, dark bluish-green oval foliage with prominent ribs makes an impressive leafy show. After midsummer, there's a good show of pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers on top of long stems. Though it can be grown in full sun, you'll lose the distinguishing bluish colour, which needs some shade. As with all hostas, beware slugs ruining the new leaves. If they are a big problem, grow the hostas in pots, and top the compost with sharp gravel.