If a plant's going to succeed in a pot, it's either got to be slow growing or it's got to be clipped - so there's a constant relationship between the size of the roots and the amount of foliage. Balls, pyramids, mop-heads and standard lollipops are the obvious answer. Fast growing plants that attempt to grow unchecked will not look good in a pot for more than a few months and others just hate being in a pot anyway.

Remember that when a plant is considered hardy in a particular area, that means in the ground - it doesn't mean it will survive being frozen solid in a pot for a month. If the plants are moved under cover for the winter, they'll be fine. 'Cover' doesn't have to mean a fancy conservatory - a dark garage or shed is fine. Plants don't need much light, as long as it's cool. (Think how vegetables stay green in the fridge.)

Do you know about the Architectural Plants Barrow specially designed for moving plants in large Terracotta Pots around? Ask for details and list of verging-on-the-unbelievable comments made by users of said barrow!

Recommended Essentials:

Aeonium 'Schwarzkopff'

Aeonium arboreum 'Magnificum'

Agapanthus africanus

Agave americana

Agave americana variegata

Agave salmiana var. ferox

Aloe aristata

Aloe striatula

Astelia chathamica

Astelia nervosa

Azorina vidalii

Butia capitata

Chamaerops humilis

Cycas revoluta

Eucomis bicolor

Eugenia myrtifolia

Euonymus japonicus

Fascicularia bicolor

Fascicularia pitcairniifolia

Fatsia japonica

Geranium maderense

Ilex perado platyphylla

Laurus nobilis angustifolia

Libertia formosa

Ligustrum delavayi

Olea europaea

Phormium cookianum

Phormium cookianum tricolor

Phormium tenax

Phormium tenax variegatum

Pittosporum tobira

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus lusitanica

Puya alpestris

Rosmarinus 'Repens'

Rosmarinus officinalis

Viburnum tinus

Washingtonia filifera

Yucca aloifolia

Yucca aloifolia variegata

Yucca gloriosa

Yucca gloriosa variegata

Yucca recurva

Yucca x floribunda

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Crowborough'