Pot based tree or bush

OK .. I don't grow anything I can't eat ... but SWMBO does all the flower things.

There is a goal to have a single tree/bush in a feature pot ... pot is aprox 500mm high by 500mm diam ... and he initial thoughts were
Camellia or Magnolia and looking at Red flower variants.

Do either of these fair well in a pot ? ... looking for something that will grow to around 150 to 180 cm
The requirement is a plant that will still look full and plenty of leaves after flowers have gone ... and not be a bare spindly thing.

Suggestions ?

 

buy a large pot and plant a Trachycarpus wagnerianus palm .... when it gets too large for the pot, sell it for a big profit on ebay

 

Don't know where you are Sargan, but a Bay Tree is always a winner. Also an Arbutus unido (Strawberry Tree) is very attractive with it's flowers and strawberry fruits. Both are evergreen, which I do not think the Camellia or Magnolia would be, depending on where you are located. There is also the popular Photinia x fraseri (Christmas Berry) 'Red Robin'.

 

a bay tree in a pot in Cambridge has not been good for me .... they seem to suffer a bit in the cold, and have planted 4 so far (in huge pots) ....

bay trees planted in the ground seem to do fine though in my area

 

This is on my list for putting in a pot on the patio. Gorgeous!!

http://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=4803

 

I think camelia is a good one for large pots, ericacious compost required, but most things would have a limited time before they need either planting out or replacing, due to them starting to look starved.
Dont think Magnolia is a good idea.
I've seen Pieris grown quite well in large pots for a few years.

Feeding and constant watering are a must in summer, miss a few days and the plant can take ages to recover.

 

Ricinus will give you the red that you are after and grows huge in a short time (up to 2 meters in a season) .... the leaves also get large

they die in winter and are poisonus if you eat the seed (so not good if you have children)

 

Oh *dim*, you do make me laugh ... they are not evergreen and are poisonous ...

They grow wild here and look rather naff a lot of the time ...

 

I said they were not evergreen .... but if you want something with large leaves, that is red, that grows fast, and looks good, show me a better one

they are poisionous if you eat the seeds .... but eat a few daffodils and you will also be ill

 

Rhodedendron maybe?

I've wondered about Cercis candensis in a pot. Very hardy (although deciduous) it blooms on bare branches in spring, but has a lovely weeping habit for the rest of summer.

 

Wasn't getting on at you kid, just made me laugh. Eat just about anything in our gardens and they are poisonous ... I harp on about this often as you must know by now!

Keith, Rhododendron could be a good one .. but I wouldn't go for Cercis ...

 

Don't go for Cercis, or just not in a pot?

 

Hmmm, Keith, why have I said this ... ? I have Cercis siliquastrum and you are talking about Cercis canadensis so I don't know why .. so please ignore me at this point ...

 

I'm tempted by Cercis canadensis, but at the new house there will be no need for it to be in a pot.
Had to Google your c.siliquastrum - stunning! The flowers can come from the trunk!

 

Blooming at the moment ...