Hi, I have a 25-30gal concrete tub with excellent drainage and my original plan was to try planting A menziesii in it, as it's native to my area and I love it but have no room in the ground for it. I was hoping that planting it in a tub would keep it small(ish). Apparently that's not a workable plan, and I am wondering if I could do it with A. Marina instead. Is it worth a try? I've had trouble finding information on the subject. I know A. unedo is a good candidate for containers but I don't like it -- it looks much more cultivated and less graceful than either menziesii or Marina. thanks, Kristin
All of these will eventually outgrow a pot that size, except perhaps a dwarf cultivar like Arbutus unedo 'Elfin King'. An A. 'Marina' in California was over 46 feet high in 1994.
How long is "eventually"? I understand Arbutus is hard to transplant, would this mean it wouldn't survive being moved from the container to open ground? Thanks, Kristin
At some point the pot will become too small. Then you have to do something with a tree that now has a 30 gallon rootball and proportionately sized top. If you can handle that then you don't have a problem. If you have no way of dealing with it then probably better not to create the situation in the first place.
Why not try one of the Arctostaphylos species instead? - much smaller, slower-growing, and more drought-tolerant too which can be important in a tub
Arctostaphylos manzanita would be a good choice. Click on top left photo (link below) to see enlarged view of one in Montlake. When I drove by it recently it was full of pinkish flower clusters. http://www.angelfire.com/bc/eucalyptus/iansplants/gallery/40/