Re: successful planting in containers

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From: T*@plantsoup.com

Hi Pam

Your garden center's advice seems a bit odd to me.  Callistemon are generally very drought tolerant, slow growing plants are excellent choices for containers (otherwise they outgrow the container too quickly), and leggy?  

Sunset western gardens (the "bible" in California and the west) says that C. viminalis is fast growing, to a small tree or large shrub with pendulous branches.  'King's Park' is not one of the varieties it mentions but if I  were you, I'd go ahead and try it.  worst thing that happens, you end up planting it in the garden instead.   

I'd skip the photinia.  To me, it is pretty pedestrian.  I'd go with the Callistemon instead.

Nan I certainly go along with all you have said (especially your evaluation of photinia!) I don't know "King's Park" either, but the varieties I do know are all attractive trees or shrubs and mostly compact of growth.. the Australian Wild Flower Catalogue says C.viminalis  will grow in any soil except the very wet and the very dry, so moderate watering should see it right.

 

Moira