English gardens may soon begin to look more like botanical gardens if the predictions of some experts on global warming are right.

It could be palm trees swaying in the English breeze rather than honeysuckle, and trees could be laden with olives instead of apples as our summers warm up and gardens become more able to support plants once confined to greenhouses.

Figures show more exotic plants are being bought at garden centres, partly because they're becoming more suited to our changing climate and partly because these lower-maintenace species fit better with our busy lifestyles.

However, traditionalist needn't fear the demise of the quintessential English garden just yet. Gardening experts from Worcestershire believe the trend for buying exotic plants and flowers may be a phase as changeable as the English weather and will not necessarily mean the end of hundreds of years of horticultural heritage.

Dave Coote, plant area assistant manager at St Peter's Garden Centre, Norton Road, Broomhall, Worcester, said 80 per cent of the plants being stocked were traditional to any English garden and only 20 per cent from further afield.

He added: "It's exciting to have tropical plants, as long as people are aware that we can still have hard winters and they take precautions about that. It's quite exciting that we can grow olives outside.

"It seems to be to do with climate change but we are still selling traditional English garden plants. Roses have been big sellers.

"It's far from the end of the traditional English garden. We find a lot more people want to buy a plant which is already in a pot which they can just put out on the patio and forget about. People are less patient than they were in the old days. We sell a lot more established things."

Cliff Wood, plant area manager at Laylocks Nurseries and Gardens in Bromyard Road, Cotheridge, Worcester, said: "People are definitely going towards palms and olive trees, apricots or peaches because the climate is changing, but we still do the English cottage garden effect. Honeysuckle is still the most popular climbing plant because of the fragrance.

"More low-maintenance plants such as palms are popular. I don't think the English garden will die. It will keep going. Next year could be completely different. You can never gauge it."

THREE TRADITIONAL ENGLISH PLANTS...ROSEThe rose, which thrives in temperate regions, has become a symbol of Britain.LUPINThe various hybrids of lupins are common ornamental plants in English gardens. HONEYSUCKLEThis popular climbing plant with a sweet smell is native to the northern hemisphere....AND THREE YOU MAY SEE MORE OFPALMNot all palm trees are equally sun-tolerant and some prefer shady conditions.OLIVEA common feature around the Med, the olive could start to thrive in Britain, too.ORCHIDSRegarded as the ultimate exotic flower, the orchid is from the south-east Asian jungle.