Any ideas for a big pot?

[DewDr0p]

I have a really big pot which I bought specially for my patio - I want to plant it up with one shrub or tree which needs to be fairly tall so as to be seen over the table (table is directly in front of it iyswim?) but not too spreading. It's in front of a south facing fence so it's pretty warm spot. Oh and it can't really be seen from the house so ideally the main season interest would be sometime between May-Sept.

The pot is 50cms diameter and also 50cm deep. Black stone.

It's next to a bamboo and I also already have a magnolia so I think those two options are out. I don't want much do I? I'm a bit stuck on this one tbh!

[cantspel]

fig tree?

[Rhubarbgarden]

Olive tree?

[DewDr0p]

Both really lovely ideas but I think our winters are probably too cold for either fig or olive? Am I right in thinking they aren't fully hardy? It's rural here and winter is pretty chilly and sadly I have nowhere to put it under cover. Otherwise they would be perfect ideas!

[InMySpareTime]

Dwarf standard apple tree cordon, or a blueberry.
Figs are hardy once mature, just cover them in fleece for the first few years.
Quince is also hardy

[ScumbleGoosie]

Fig 'Brown Turkey' hardy and yummy

[echt]

Where do you live?

In the south I would suggest the bottle tree brachytrion rupestris, that can be kept in a pot very well but don't know how widely available it is in the UK.

We're about to plant one in the garden and keep two in big pots.

[BobblyGussets]

Bamboo? The pot will stop it spreading, but Black Bamboo, "Phylostacis Nigra" has black stems and is non-invasive, looks good too.

[Showtime]

I'd be thinking of ornamental grass.