A beautiful tree that will grow well in a pot.

[FartingAgainstThunder]

I was given some of my late Dad's ashes and really didn't know what to do with them, so they have languished in a drawer for the past year and a bit.

I'd like to plant a tree and scatter his ashes when doing so but as we rent I'd rather do this in a pot so I can take it with me if we buy somewhere eventually.

Any suggestions?
Garden is windy and only has the sun until around 3pm.
North of Scotland so lots of rain.

Condolences , what a lovely idea.

What about an acer? They do well in pots as long as you water them, even with the rain.

I'm a great believer in starting trees young so I buy acers when the supermarkets get them in when they're still fresh, the last lot were £4 each.

I was going to suggest an Acer as well. Beautiful trees.

Sorry for your loss OP

Fuji cherry (Kojo-no-mai) is a beautiful small & slow growing tree that would work in a pot. I have one that’s about 5 years old that’s doing really well in my wind-swept garden. It’s covered in blossom in spring, red foliage in autumn. It even looks good in winter when it loses all its leaves as it has lovely twisty branches.

Acers are beautiful too, but my understanding is that they don’t like windy conditions? Please correct me if I’m wrong! Would love to have an acer in my garden!

Sorry for your loss, that is a beautiful idea. Another vote for Acer. X

Acers don't like wind - I'm not sure if this depends to some extent on the exact variety, I would think the ones with finely cut leaves would be very prone to desiccation but perhaps (guessing, idk) some with more maple-like leaves would be a bit tougher.

The cherry sounds lovely.

It may be that quite a few normally larger trees would be ok if you treated them something like a bonsai - there's someone on this board who may need able to advise on that, iirc @yamadori

Thank you all so much.
Do you think a whisky barrel (on wheels) would be a good container for a tree?

A whisky barrel would be okay I think but it would depend on the size of the tree. If it's very small I'd begin with a smaller pot and pot it on as it grows. Or fill the spare soil in the barrel with bedding plants or similar.

That's what I'd do but I may be wrong.

Condolences 💐. Have a look at this link for some lovely ideas.

https://diygardening.co.uk/ideas/trees-for-containers/

An olive tree would hold up quite well!

It might in parts of the U.K. but not sure it would in the OPs windy north of Scotland?

Firstly hugely sorry for your loss.
I have an olive tree and a cherry tree both in pots and they do well, although not North Scotland
Would hawthorn Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ work?
Extremely hardy and tolerant of wind, wet, and cold!
Beautiful pink double flowers in summer followed by haws in autumn.

Google. Apparently the ‘ashes’ are toxic to plants. It came up on a thread called “splitting my mums ashes”. Sorry, don’t know how to link.

Mojo no mai as a standard is a lovely choice. Beautiful in spring and autumn. Acers really don't like windy spots.

Following, as I have asked DH for an acer in a pot for my birthday.

Sorry for your loss OP. I think a tree is a beautiful idea. How about something like a magnolia or a lilac for flowers?

https://www.yougarden.com/item-p-510317/lilac-syringa-palibin-standard?&source=YGGGPM1101&utmsource=YGGGPM1101&utmmmedium=cpc&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAAotuGiqP2lgg4VNN-ivtJ2jeCHaAs&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoeH-8ceFiAMVVaJQBh3ckgibEAQYDSABEgLu6vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We've got a nursery near us which specialises in acers. Because until recently they rented the land, all of their stock is in pots including the larger, older 'mother' trees they take grafts from. We got one earlier this year and the only problem was being spoilt for choice!

Japanese maple?

I am in the middle of Scotland and cannot keep olive trees outside. I have attempt no 4 growing indoors.

Acers grow well in pots. We are in the windy Pennines and they’ve done well here. You can always move a pot behind a wall if it’s really windy.

Beware of putting too much ash in thought. I dug a hole for my horse’s ashes (probably ten times the amount compared to human ashes) added soil and planted an acer. It died. A friend who had lost her husband had had a memorial tree planted and the company said trees don’t like too much ash. So perhaps scatted a handful? I have a magnolia tree in a pot. It’s the last plant my dad bought. I’d love to add his ashes, but it’s so important to me that it survives I’ve not dared yet!

Bay tree

That's good to know @Roryno
I'm on the edge of the Pennines.

Thanks all.
I only have a wee amount of his ashes as mother and sister took a trip to Spain to scatter his ashes and handed me a small tupperware full ( but that's a whole different thread)

It's slightly less windy round the front so maybe I should put the planter there, more sunshine there too.

Not strictly a tree but how about a hydrangea? They do well in shady cool conditions. Plus I’ve seen them growing well in Scotland. I have a large one in a tub called Dark Angel, which has dark stems, reddish leaves and beautiful dark red flowers. It’s evergreen so has all year round interest.

Also coming on to say Acer, I have one in a pot and it makes me really happy just to look at it. Beautiful tree.

I have an Acer in a pot on a windy roof terrace. The leaves do tend to dry out quicker than if there is no wind but I keep it well watered
It's about 3 years old now.