Suggestions for large pot by front door for incompetent gardener

[GoodLuckBabe]

Hi, so I have a lovely very large pot and I would like to plant something in it that looks nice to the side of the porch of my Victorian semi. I have tried doing this before and just don’t seem capable of keeping plants alive. It would be a South-West facing spot. Low maintenance and robust is essential as I am time-poor and not naturally green fingered it seems. Can anyone give me any ideas for what could work? I am open to different sorts of plants/small trees as there is nothing else out there at the moment. TIA

We have an evergreen Royal Blue hebe, with purple flowers through the summer and well into late autumn, a dwarf blue spruce, and a trailing variegated ivy.
For early winter I add a couple of cyclamen or winter pansies , in early summer a couple of geranium or pinks - there are also snowdrop and miniature daffodil bulbs in the tub for springtime colour.

SeaandStars,you are correct,acers are Japanese woodland trees, they like cool shade, I have 4 in pots. Hydrangeas in pots again in shade under a tree.. oleanders will only flower if we get prolonged periods of hot weather..I have got several. I love in the SE UK 10 minutes from the sea. Pittosporum are nice,ever green, some have scented flowers,Tobira is nice white flowers, and copes happily in pots in our south facing front garden. You will need to water it of course..I have friends a bit further inland with a successful olive tree in a very large pot

Cyclamen are woodland plants, happiest under trees in shade.

I’d go for an olive tree , we’ve had ours for about 8 years and they are very resilient - ours started to decline this summer so I just replaced the soil and they’ve jumped back to thrive again

Depends on the pot. If it's a tall one, I suggest you get another one that sits inside the pot which can be planted each season without having to fill a massive great put/urn thing with compost which will then be impossible to move.

A dwarf daphne would be nice. They are evergreen, low maintainance and flower multiple times a year with a really beauful fragrance.

But probably not south-west facing? Acers get sunburn.

They are gorgeous but they are very thirsty.

I would do a rosemary bush, you could under plant with other herbs - maybe thyme and sage? All of those seem to be pretty hard to kill in my garden. Will need feeding sometimes and watering a bit in the summer though.

No true it is east facing

You are lucky! I love acers - they are so beautiful, aren't they?!

DSis had one in top of a rather windy hill. It’s doing absolutely fine and she’s had it a few years.

Yes I love them!

Good to know! I will be very diligent when they arrive. They seem to do well in this area as quite a few people in the development have them potted outside. The colours are just so pretty 🥰

Also, I love Sarah and Duck so much 😂

I’d go for a lollipop bay tree (Laurus nobilis) - it’s perfect for a big pot in a sunny spot. You can choose the height you want and it stays green all year with winter berries on a female plant and fresh bright shoots spring. It looks really smart in a Victorian setting. It's slow growing and can be kept clipped nice and neat. A sunny aspect will draw out its lovely fragrance, and the leaves can be picked for cooking.
It's an excellent low maintenance option and they usually thrive in pots.

Ha! As you can imagine, Sarah and Duck played a big part in my life when DD was tiny! She still asks for it when she is feeling under the weather, just out of nostalgia.

@SarahAndQuackI really wanted my son to be into it but alas he was not. I have a daughter now as well so fingers crossed for her when she’s big enough 😂

I’d second a lollipop bay tree. Green all year round and only need an occasional trim. I think according to folk lore it’s good luck to plant one by your front door!

Thanks all. I need to go through all the suggestions and have a think. Lollipop bay sounds good, and olive tree if robust. Someone suggested pittosporum and funnily enough that was what I originally chose. It died away, though it now has half grown back, but not nicely enough to put out the front. Really appreciate all the suggestions, thank you 🙏🏻

May I make a pitch for Sarcoccoca - evergreen, robust, low maintenance and the bonus of highly fragrant flowers in late winter/early spring and, depending on species chosen, a variety of flower colours to choose from

Sarcoccoca is a lovely shrub but it does prefer a fully shaded spot.

I’ll second the suggestion for a lollipop bay tree. I have one in a pot by my south west facing front door, and despite a great degree of neglect, I have been unable to kill it. I can’t remember how long I’ve had it, must be around 10 years now. I underplant it with seasonal bedding plants when I can be bothered (and I manage to murder them with monotonous frequency), but it looks just dandy on its own as well.

I have a dwarf buddleja in a similar-sounding spot. It smells lovely when in flower, and is very popular with the local bees and butterflies! It also doesn't mind being neglected.

Bay tree. Beautiful and useful. L

Mine hated south facing and got burned.