I
f 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:
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Aeonium arboreum 'Magnificum'
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Aeonium arboreum 'Schwarzkopff'
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Agapanthus africanus
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Agave americana
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Agave americana variegata
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Agave salmiana ver. ferox
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Aloe aristata
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Aloe striatula
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Arbutus unedo
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Astelia chathamica
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Astelia nervosa
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Azalea japonica
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Butia capitata
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Camellia japonica
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Camellia japonica 'Black Lace'
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Chamaerops humilis
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Cycas revoluta
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Eucomis bicolor
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Euonymus japonicus
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Euonymus japonicus 'Aureopictus'
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Fascicularia bicolor
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Fascicularia pitcairniifolia
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Fatsia japonica
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Geranium maderense
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Ilex crenata
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Ilex crenata 'Niwaki'
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Ilex perado platyphylla
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Laurus nobilis 'Angustifolia'
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Libertia formosa
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Ligustrum delavayi
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Olea europaea
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Phormium cookianum
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Phormium cookianum 'Tricolor'
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Phormium tenax
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Phormium tenax 'Variegatum'
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Pittosporum tobira
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Prunus laurocerasus
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Prunus lusitanica
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Puya chilense
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Rosmarinus officinalis
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Rosmarinus officinalis 'Repens'
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Viburnum tinus
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Washingtonia filifera
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Yucca aloifolia
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Yucca gloriosa
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Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata'
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Yucca recurva
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Yucca rostrata
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Yucca x floribunda
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Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Crowborough'