Personally it seems a bit of a faff. For an exotic look, yuccas are quite a bit hardier. Yucca rostrata probably has the nicest 'deserty' look. Just seen them growing well outdoors in the Sheffield Botanical Garden so should be fine in the South East.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
But in all my years I've never seen what you're looking for growing in a UK garden.
Which leads me to think that if it were within the capabilities of keen gardeners we'd have seen some by now ............ I don't think even the Eden Project have cacti outside ... https://www.edenproject.com/visit
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
..these are the plants you want I think. I hope you're prepared for the costs involved.
You might want to contact the elderly owners of East Ruston Garden, East Anglia, for advice, I'm sure they'd be pleased to help. They have these in their Desert Wash garden left unprotected during winter. If you look at the link below, down the page, you will see them growing..
I think Alan at East Ruston might be rather offended by being called elderly, he is one of the most dynamic British gardeners around, even if chronologically old.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
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https://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Deserts frequently drop below zero at night, and I have known frosts, even snow, in the S of France. Worth continuing with your research.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
https://worldofsucculents.com/browse-succulents-usda-hardiness-zone/
But in all my years I've never seen what you're looking for growing in a UK garden.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You might want to contact the elderly owners of East Ruston Garden, East Anglia, for advice, I'm sure they'd be pleased to help. They have these in their Desert Wash garden left unprotected during winter. If you look at the link below, down the page, you will see them growing..
https://www.thepalmtreecompany.com/product-page/echinopsis-trichocereus-pasacana-cacti
https://eastrustonoldvicarage.co.uk/gardens/desert-wash
You might want to add one of these.. also grown at East Ruston..
DASYLIRION WHEELERI. Desert Spoon Yucca | thepalmtreecompany
..best of luck with your endeavours..
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.