Would these plants be OK in containers?

[starr]

I'm planning what to plant in the small (7m x 7m) and mostly paved garden of my new house, and as well as having some climbers going over an arch and up the wall, I'd like to have some fairly tall (but not too wide) plants in containers. I'm a total gardening beginner but I've had a wander round my local garden centres and had a look at a few things online so I've got some ideas for the plants I like the look of, but I'm wondering if anyone can help me out with whether they'd be suitable as container plants. The things I like are:
- Sambucus Nigra (black elder)
- Pieris (not sure what type yet)
- Bamboo (probably Phyllostachys bisetti, Phyllostachys nigra or Fargesia murielae)
- Gardenia

Would these be suitable for growing in containers? Does anyone have any other suggestions for good container plants, particularly ones that are interesting over winter?

[Nicos]

Pieris and bamboo certainly would be fine!
No idea abut the others!

Welcome to the Vine by the way!!!

[Spiderling]

Hello, Starr, and welcome. I have Pieris in a container and it does very well. I'm not sure about Sambucus niger, isn't that a tree? I seem to think they grow quite tall. Do you like Azelias? They do very well in containers and there are some stunning colours! I used to have a Cotinus (smoke bush) in a container and the foliage turns beautiful shades of red in autumn. It was very slow growing though. If you want clematis, do check the height on the info as some of them are rampant!!Cheers.

[Nicos]

I have some Japanese Acers in pots- red, rust and green varieties- they look wonderful!!

[starr]

The only thing in the garden when I moved in that was worth keeping was an acer - it's one of the weeping, bush-shaped ones and it's gorgeous. The rest of the garden was a big mass of bindweed and a mad wisteria, we didn't even find the acer (or indeed a small pond!) until we'd cleared the bindweed!

[Nicos]

Have you thought about rosemary and bay???- useful in the kitchen too- and you can protect them easily in winter by moving them next to the house and fleecing them over a really cold spell!

[Maf]

I have miscanthus in pots. Not through choice. I haven't found a place in the garden for the stuff yet. Started with one pot and I've diveided it every year as it's sooper vigourous, almost like a decidous bamboo and very hardy on my windy hill where bamboos get shredded in no time!

[Two_Sheds]

what about grasses?
I have Phalaris Arundinacea Picta in a pot, it is very tough and pretty too. (planted in the ground it acts like couch grass, invading everything, so a pot is a good choice). PM me if you want a cutting.
Google Image Result for http://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/images/plantpictures/large/grasses/PhalarisArundinaceaPicta.JPG

[MrsC]

What about cordylines, agapanthus, fatsia japonica maybe?

[dammad49]

Tall, but not too wide, how about gojiberry.

[gojiberry]

I have a 4 year old sambuca in a container and it is growing quite happily. They can grow quite big in a boeder but after 4 years mine is only about 18" in a 10" pot. And it flowers every year.

Ian

[Marthaclematis]

I have pieris in a pot and bamboo too - in fact I wouldn't have bamboo anywhere else because if its invasiveness - its already putting new shoots up in the pot its in. Both look lovely and the peieris does very well because its in ericaceous compost, my garden soil wouldn't be right for it.