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Shrub or Small Tree Ideas for full sun patio

sharon.gray311sharon.gray311 Posts: 9
in Plants
Hi - Bristol UK here.

I'm looking for an interesting, evergreen shrub to go on my patio in a largish container.    It will be in full sun most of the day.

Ideally something that will produce flowers for interest but also anything with some wow factor.

Any ideas?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    Bumping up while I have a think 🤔 

    Whereabouts roughly are you?

    How big is the patio?  Will the shrub/tree have room for spreading branches?

    sorry … just seen … you’re in Bristol 😳


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Can you also define 'large'. What some people regard as large, others definitely wouldn't  :)
    How much time you have for maintenance too - that's important. All potted shrubs/trees need far more attention than in the ground. Evergreens can easily prevent rain getting into the container, so in summer, you have to be very vigilant with watering. 
    The right soil mix in the container is also really important. It will be completely reliant on you for it's needs.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sharon.gray311sharon.gray311 Posts: 9
    It's about a 40 x 40 x 40 cm wooden lined patio container.  So I'm guessing something that gets about 100cm high plus a bit (3ft in old money!)

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    edited May 2023
    I have a Choisya x dewitteana 'White Dazzler' which grows to around a metre high and wide but could be kept little smaller with pruning. I really like the finely cut foliage which looks very delicate but isn't. It's evergreen and from mid spring to early summer is smothered with scented white flowers. It will usually produce a second flush mid -late summer. In fact mine (which is in the ground) barely had a week without flowers last year from April to October.

    It's much, much nicer than the more common Choisya ternatas.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    edited May 2023
    I’m a fan of ‘White Dazzler’ too. Choisya ‘Scented Gem’ looks very similar but just a bit more upright (photo below)


    Cambridgeshire, UK
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