A Wakefield gardener has achieved a rare horticultural success by growing a banana plant that has flowered for the first time after 12 years.

Dave Iveson's flowering banana is thriving in his Wrenthorpe garden, which he has transformed into a tropical oasis over the past six years. The plant has benefited from the recent hot weather.

"I'd say it's pretty unusual - I don't know of anyone else who's had one flower," Iveson said. "I've had these plants for 12 years now and I was hoping for a flower - but up until this point I'd not had one."

A tropical garden in West Yorkshire

Iveson said he hoped the warm weather would help more of his banana plants to bloom. His garden also includes a Chinese rice-paper plant, a Japanese acer, cordylines and a tree fern.

He warned that the bananas produced are "not properly edible bananas like you get in supermarkets". The flowering banana will continue to extend through its life, and he hopes more fruit will develop.

"A tropical vibe is really what I'm going for. Every morning when you look out of your door and it's like being in a different country - it's a really nice feeling, makes me feel calm," Iveson added.

Warm weather makes exotic plants possible

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, most bananas will not flower or fruit outdoors in the UK. However, some may do so in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. In very mild parts of the UK and during particularly long, hot summers, it is possible for them to get flowers outdoors.

Banana leaves can grow up to two metres in length, and mature plants can grow to three metres tall or more.

Jack Ogg, head gardener at York Gate Garden in Adel on the outskirts of Leeds, said the warmer weather is allowing people to grow more exotic plants. Their own banana plant did not survive the winter.

"It's been frosted to the ground so it's quite special to have one that's survived long enough to flower," Ogg said. "Here at York Gate we're definitely getting away with more tender plants than we would have been able to get away with 10 or 20 years ago - the climate is definitely changing."