What can I plant that will grow 10 to 15 feet tall in a pot?

[dudsville]

New neighbours have reconfigured their toilet window. It's always overlooked our patio, but previous neighbours were quite old and for some reason this just didn't bother me. Now I can't unsee it. I want to grow something but it has to go in a pot, can be the biggest pot available though. It doesn't have to be absolutely as high as the window - when sitting on the patio our perspective means something shorter would obscure their window. When standing then the beauty of the plant would draw the eye away from the toilet window. Any recommendations?

A bamboo might be a good choice.

I was going to say bamboo

Thanks both, I also think bamboo but my dh is worried about it. I wonder if there are good alternatives to bamboo?

I was going to recommend bamboo too. Why is your husband concerned about it?
A conifer tree might work or privet .

Bamboo can be problematic planted in the ground as it can spread, but you won’t have that issue with a pot.

I've got an accidental eucalyptus in a pot which if I hadn't coppiced it would probably have got to that height in a few years.

I'd perhaps try bamboo - make sure the pot is on a solid surface so it doesn't root through the drainage hole - and grow something else that might take a bit longer to achieve the desired height in another pot.

How wide does it have to be? An upright yew (or two or three in separate pots) might be nice.

I'm not there at the moment to measure, but I'm going to guess 5 ft. Eucalyptus is a good shout, how was yours accidental @ErrolTheDragon ?

Husband says we can't be sure it hasn't broken through the pot without heavy lifting from time to time. I don't want something that's meant to bring us some peace to actuality cause angst.

I have this, too, can see right into the neighbour's bathroom! 🙈😅

Some forms of reconfiguration would break planning rules or would need consent for e.g. a listed building, have you explored that? I spoke to the planning department and they said I could complain on those grounds but I didn't want to start a conflict.

There are screening trees that can grow in (massive) pots that have dense tops, make sure to choose evergreen if you go down this route. They can be pleached but if there is room just a very large tree or shrub can work depending on the situation. I mention this because "normal" plants/trees are less pricey than pleached which are very expensive. I don't have time to search for the best examples rn but I mean something like this:

https://www.seagravenurseries.co.uk/hedging/other-hedging/photinia-red-robin/photinia-red-robin-250300cm-excluding-pot-height?code=W931116-01&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4bipBhCyARIsAFsieCy98V8hGYafM0oG0Dta8wR4G7U4GQEaDii0jWHFm4GReSi1Tp9SsjUaAhvOEALw_wcB

Apart from plants could you pay a carpenter to construct a screen using frosted material (perspex or sheeting) in a wooden frame? That is what I am considering.

Raise the pot on bricks? We had a lovely black-stemmed bamboo that flourished in a large pot.

(Can't edit post) just wanted to add that the one in the link is probably a bit too tall.

I have trees of ten feet in pots (apples mostly).

Near me one house with a beautiful yard has a 20ft actually think 15ft more accurate! silver beech in a pot.

I'd go for a native tree.

My eucalyptus was self seeded from some monsters which used to be in the field behind our house. Those rapidly grew too tall for where they were and started blowing down over the farmers lane so thankfully removed before they took out anyone's fence! I wouldn't have kept it if it hadn't been in a pot where it's constrained.

I was going to suggest eucalyptus. Fast growing and you can keep triming and cutting it to cover the window and shape how you like.

I’ve got a eucalyptus in a pot too, it grows very quickly to about 12 feet then every few years dies back then grows rapidly again.
It’s very pretty I think.

Needs a heavy pot or it topples over.

Fig in an old juice container (like an oil drum). Protect in winter - wrap the drum in bubble wrap, mulch and use fleece if you’re in a v cold area.

it’s better for pollinators than bamboo.

Elderflower also - fig and elderflower mean you get produce!
Figs produce fruit better when their roots are contained. Elderflower cordial, fig and marscapone will take your mind and eye away from that window.

You could have a lovely section - the tree is the thriller,
the spillers could be various herbs in pots - Miss Jessica Upright Rosemary (doubles as a Christmas tree if pruned to that shape), sage, yarrow (echoes the shape of the elderflower).
the spillers creeping thyme, oregano, clover.

Add in some ornamental edibles like cone flower (echinacea) and you’ll have a beautiful spot that draws your eye.

^ typo Miss Jessop’s Upright Rosemag as on of the fillers

Create a canopy, a layered effect otherwise your eye will go to that window I think. Plus it’s good garden design.

O and bay tree to add to the canopy / layering - you can prune to size and shape in a pot.

We have Photinia Red Robin in very large pots to screen neighbours. Evergreen, lovely foliage, now about 8ft tall.

if you still like the idea of a bamboo plant, not all of them are invasive, some of them are clump-forming (I think the black-stemmed one but best check!) and won't escape out of the pot!

Something similar that is very beautiful is a Coyote Willow - tall and multi-stemmed, with an overall "fluffy" appearance, and moves in the slightest breeze with pale green leaves and nice bark. In the ground they produce suckers so can be invasive, but I've grown several in big pots over the years and they look stunning, also very easy so long as you keep the pot moist, being a willow they don't like to dry out.

Needs a heavy pot or it topples over.

That's likely to apply to anything tall, though obviously moreso to anything too heavy.
@Enyo2 makes a good point re drawing the eye lower down. Smaller patio pots can of course be moved around and changed seasonally.

We also have photinias, about 12 foot tall and bushy, lovely red foliage in the spring

I meant 'top heavy' in the previous post.