I need to buy a shrub for a container that will be placed on the north side of my house, in light shade. I live in zone 8, and I can move this pot to the south side of our home in winter to avoid winds. I have already tried growing pieris and nandina, unsuccessfully in that pot. a
Leycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle) would work: in particular the cultivar "Golden Lanterns". Edible berries that (can) taste like carmelized sugar are a bonus. Google image search will give you an idea of how it looks.
Established leycesteria growing in ground on Camano Island now completely brown after this past winter. May come back from roots but since winter stem effect is much of the point with this one... Several nandina growing in ground on same site now shot. In pots these would have been lost for sure. Use only fully hardy plants like dwarf conifers that can take the freezing of the soil in the containers. Due to vulnerability to root damage plants in pots about 20 degrees F. less hardy than same item would be in ground - roots are less hardy than tops. Young roots on outside of rootball less hardy than mature woody roots on inside. If roots have grown out to pot walls and crept along inside of pot walls, these will be in position to get maximum exposure to chilling of pot walls.
What size is the container?? Why are you trying to grow something in such a tough location? Are you looking for screening, a focal point? If you can't find something to grow perhaps a piece of art would be a good alternative. That said I try to sneak Sarcocca ruscifolia in wherever I can because I love the tidy glossy green leaves and the tiny fragrant flowers. I think it's tolerant of light shade but does need moist soil (not winter drought).
It is 16 inches across and 17 inches high and made out of a lightweight material, fiberglass, I think. It looks like stone. It has a drain hole. I have grown other shrubs successfully in containers when I lived in a townhouse, so I know it can be done.
Osmanthus heterophyllus and Daphne odora do well in containers. Japanese Maples are excellent container plants. Lonicera periclymenum is a rampant grower in a container but need something to climb on. I've grown those plants in pots in Philly 6b-7a unprotected on a windy deck no problems except birds and squirrels. Conifers as Ron mentioned make excellent container plants. The smaller Pinus thunbergii and parviflora cultivars are striking container plants and they require less maintenance than broadleaved shrubs.
Thanks for your suggestions. What zone of plants should I be looking for to survive in a pot outdoors for zone 8?
Flower, Lindera benzoin is also a nice plant for a pot. It needs to have a pollinator somewhere around to set berries but it tolerates cold, wind, poor soil (on the wet side). It has autumn color and beautiful berries. As far as your zone question I believe zone 7 plants should be OK you'll need to experiment to confirm hardiness in your area. Other variables play into survivability besides absolute cold tolerance.
Polystichum munitum (Sword fern).... just stroll into the nearby woods and save one from either been trampled or dried out from a summers' drought, long over due on our wet coast! Incidentally, I am not advocating anyone to dig up our forests... just in case your wondering.... :)
