Category: Growing Trees And Shrubs in Containers

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the unusual but beautiful Indigofera in containers. Indigofera is a very large genus of flowering plants that belongs to the Fabaceae (the Pea) family, where 750 species are known to exist. It is one genus that is found throughout the world in the tropics and sub-tropic regions.

Most of the members of the Indigofera genus tend to be shrubs, whilst others are small trees and herbaceous perennials and annuals. They are known for the pinnate leaves, which are common for most species found in the pea family. The flowers are produced …

In this article, we will discover to grow the lovely shrub of Helianthemum in containers. Helianthemum is divided into either shrubs or perennials and has the common name of Rock Rose, Sun Rose, Rush Rose or Frostweed. They belong to the Cistaceae (Cistus) family, where 110 species are known to exist. They are widely distributed and found throughout the Northern hemisphere, especially around the Mediterranean area. It is a plant that flourishes in sandy soil as long as you provide full sun.

The green leaves are opposite arranged in most species but alternatively arranged along the upper stems. They are …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow Hedysarum, a beautiful flowering shrub, in containers. Hedysarum is a large species of annual, perennials and shrubby herbs. It is native to Asia, Europe and North America, where over 200 species are known to exist. The genus is part of the Fabaceae (the pea) family and it is a rarity and not often seen growing in people’s gardens, which is a shame as it tends to be easy to grow and not fussy about which soil it is grown in.

Hedysarum is divided into either herbaceous annuals/perennials or deciduous shrubs. The …

In this article, we will discover how to grow Fothergilla in containers. Fothergilla, which has the common name of witch alder belongs to the family of Hamamelidaceae (the Witch Hazel). It is a small genus of flowering deciduous shrubs of 2 to 4 species. Fothergilla is native to the woodlands and swamps of the Southern United States of America. They are suitable to be grown in containers because they are low-growing shrubs that have a downy habit.

From April to May, bottlebrush-like flower heads appear on terminal spikes. The flowers are produced without petals but instead are clusters of 2 …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the unusual and rare shrub of Fabiana in containers. Fabiana is a relatively large genus of flowering shrubs that belong to the Solanaceae (the nightshade) family, where experts disagree on how many species exist. Some will say 15, whilst others say 36, it is hard to be certain if the experts cannot agree. A lot more research is needed in the group to get a better idea of classification.

The plants are native to the mountainous region of South America, they are evergreen shrubs that look like tall tree heathers (Ericas). …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow Grevillea, the beautiful flowering shrub, in containers. Grevillea is a large genus of 360 species of evergreen flowering plants that belong to the Proteaceae (the Protea) family. The genus contains mainly shrubs and rarely perennials. The flowers of yellow, pink and red arranged in racemes appear above the leaves at the end of branchlets.  The branches have narrow, needle-like green leaves that are arranged alternately along the branches. The flowers are followed by fruits that spilt down one side, releasing one or two seeds.

It has a reputation of not being …

In this article, we will discover how to grow the beautiful shrub of Elsholtzia in containers. Elsholtzia is a fairly large genus of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family, where 42 species are known to exist. It is native to parts of Asia, China and North-eastern Asia. The genus was named after the Prussian naturalist Johann Sigismund Elsholtz.

Of all 42 species that exist, Elsholtzia stauntonii is the easiest to find and is an upright bush that grows up to 1.5m tall. It is a deciduous shrub with sharply to smoothed, 1.5cm long, lance-shaped leaves. The leaves have a strong scent of …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the beautiful shrub of Deutzia in containers. Deutzia is a large genus of 60 species of flowering shrub of the Hydrangeaceae (the Hydrangea) family. It is found naturally growing from East Himalayas to Japan and the Philippines.  It is also found growing in Central America and Europe.

Deutzias are shrubs that are suitable to be grown in small gardens and hence why they make suitable container species.  If you grow them as sole species and it is given enough room, the plant will be covered with small blooms all summer long.…

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the not often seen Daboecia in containers. If you look in gardens throughout the UK, you will see Callunas and Ericas grown everywhere but you will not see Daboecias. This is very puzzling because like its cousins, it is not more difficult to grow and they require the same growing conditions.

Daboecia is a small species of flowering plants of the Ericaceae (the Erica or Heath) family, where only 3 species are known to exist, Daboecia gets its name from the Irish Saint Dabheog.

It is a shrub that is native …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the beautiful flowering shrub of Abelia in containers. Abelia is an old genus, no longer recognised by botanists, which contains around 30 species belonging to the Caprifoliaceae (the honeysuckle) family.

Some botanists think it should be included in the Linnaea genus, excluding Zabelia which was raised to its own genus.   The problem is that not all Botanists accept this and to this day, you will see Abelia sold in shops, whilst Linnaea is not listed as a synonym by most suppliers.

The shrubs of Abelia are native to Asia (especially Japan …