Shrub in a large pot? Ideas please

debs64

Hi all, I recently lost my mom, I want to buy a shrub to commemorate her today. I have a half barrel to put it in, as I live in a rented house it can’t go in the garden. She loved scented flowers and colours lilac and lavender any suggestions? Her birthday was in June so something to flower then would be lovely. 

Thanks 

AnniD

Hello Debs, that is a lovely idea to remember your mum by 
It depends on the size of container, but there is a dwarf buddleia called Buzz Velvet .
Does it have to be a shrub, as lavender itself can make a lovely show. 
I will see if l can think of anything else when l've woken up a but more.

pansyface

Hello debs.

If you want a lilac coloured bush, how about a lilac? A dwarf one.

This one gets very good reviews

https://www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk/syringa-meyeri-palibin.html

LToby

Hi Deb, 
cotinus-coggygria-royal-purple (some call this plant as smoke bush) is a lovely shrub, will bloom with tiny yellow flowers that contrast to the leaves from June to July, with beautiful dark-purple foliage in Spring/Summer, 


Its foliage will change into red in Autumn;

cheers and have fun.

Borderline

Growing in large containers allows you to grow more tender plants. I think, provided you can place it in a nice sunny position and give it some protection against a warm wall in winter time, something like Polygala Myrtifolia would be a nice evergreen shrub that has a long flowering season, full of purple pea-like flowers from summer into autumn. But not scented I'm afraid.

Lizzie27

I'd go for the dwarf lilac as well. You could also add seasonal lilac coloured flowers arund the edge to keep up the interest. Diascia or nemesia springs to mind. 

Obelixx

You could consider one of the purple flowered forms of hardy fuchsia and underplant it with smaller forms of hardy geranium in toning flower colours and add lilac and purple crocuses for spring and colchicum for autumn crocus like flowers.

debs64

Lovely ideas everyone. I decided to spend an hour sowing 50 sweet pea seeds in lilac and lavender shades as they were Moms absolute favourite and will be in flower on her birthday. Thanks for all your input.