Ever since reading 'The Exotic Garden' by Will Giles (sadly missed) I have been enjoying a hint of the tropics in ours and others UK gardens.
This video highlights our top 5 best tropical choices for our garden on a south / south west facing hillside on South Wales UK. Some of these exotics are hardier hardier than others, the hardiest of our top 5 is the Trachycarpus Fortunei - but we have had Yucca, Cordyline and Fatsia all growing outside without any winter protection for well over 10 years - so they have coped with quite hard frosts (as low as - 8C at times). But every soil and garden is different, so take a look at some of our other videos in our Exotics playlist
https://youtu.be/sry4AzHrLLk?list=PLo2p88Lg3iBkf3ylvOtaaMLDJ7d1SUwcv
We also look at some other exotics that didn't quite make our top 5 - but can still make a beautiful addition to your garden - but may require some winter protection - such as Ensette Maurelli (red leaved banana), Bottle brush plant (Callistemon), and Tree Ferns Dicksonia Antarctica.