Evergreen Tree for a Planter
Question from Ivana:
We have a large planter 6ftx6ft in the back of our building and would love to find a good evergreen accent tree. The planter is just next to parking spaces and the building so we need a tree that would not be messy and/or bear fruit or have invasive roots. We like the red plum tree (the color would be great with the building) but as far as we know it would loose it’s leaves and look very sad in the winter. We also looked at Swan Hill fruitless olive… We have installed sprinklers and it would get the sun all morning till 4 in the afternoon. We would really appreciate your advise. Thank you in advance!
Answer from Pat:
I have heard of olive trees growing in large planters but their roots eventually outgrow small space and often break pavement. I think it would be wise to choose a tree known to survive many years in confined space. My personal choice would be a citrus tree. Fruit hangs on for many months and is ornamental. You could even surround it with a clipped hedge of Japanese boxwood. The trees are evergreen and flowers are fragrant. The look fits with many styles of architecture but is especially harmonious with Spanish or Mediterranean styles.
Another compact, evergreen, non-messy tree for a large container is Rhaphiolepis ‘Magestic Beauty’. You would have the benefit of pink flowers that cover this small tree in spring. Prune after bloom, never before, by shearing all over into the shape of an umbrella every June.
A third suggestion is Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ or M. grandiflora ‘San Marina’ which is even smaller and denser in growth. Both love a warm sunny spot by a wall, such as you describe. Magnolias do drip large leaves, but these are easily swept up.
Thank you so much for your kind reply.
I will forward your email to my neighbors and hopefully they will find something everyone likes.
Thinking of it further, I think the magnolia is perfect for your needs and the space.
No tree is perfect—it does drip a bit— but it is a really good one and can take the heat. Loves it, in fact
and has those gorgeous huge and fragrant flowers. You often see that small magnolia as a
street tree and in six-foot square planters.
I just learned that the gentleman who was working on this planter (it used to be our laundry hut so he partially took it down and made a planter out of the space) actually made a hole in the middle (broke the tiles that were originally there) so the tree roots would have the room to grow in the ground now.
As this is again very close to the building does this info change anything in your original advise/idea ?
How invasive are magnolia roots and would this info help if we are still considering Swan Hill fruitless olive?
Thank you so so much again for your help. It is really such a pleasure that there are people like yourself out there that are so open to giving someone they do not even know a friendly advise:)
No plant can survive without drainage. I took if for granted that your planter had a drainage hole. You can plant the olive if you want. I simply named plants that are known to survive in the conditions you described. You can try the olive tree if that is what everyone wants. If it doesn’t work, sell it and try something I suggested. The magnolia for example.
thank you Pat, we will be going with Magnolia as you suggested.
Very kind of you to write back.
Grade A stuff. I’m unqeusitnoalby in your debt.