Robust container shrubs

[jalopy]

Love my container plants but every year, the winter kills them. I'm too lazy to put fleeces, etc around them so am looking for long lasting plants that survive in pots.

Any suggestions for looks-good-all-year-round type of flowering shrubs? Tall order, I know.

Thanks.

I have a couple of Hebes in pots - the pink tinged leaf types - go even stronger pink this time of year - appear very tough can't remember if they flower but beautiful without. I've also been very happy with my Pireis in a bot - also stunning with new red leaves.

Will see if I can link..

I have one of these - love the name...
These small types in sets soon grow up
I have this too

And they're evergreen! Can't fail. Even if you overprune to nothing they spring back like a faithful old dog!

And yours too will actually look like this!!

Pieris are good in ericaceous compost and nice all year round. And my hebes seem prettyindestructible too. I've also got a rosemary that does surprisingly well considering we are very far from mediterranean climate here (Glasgow). You could also try some small azaleas - a bit dull in winter, but lovely when they flower. Some hydrangeas will do well in pots and don't mind a bit of shade either (some are deciduous though), so not very interesting in winter.

I'm also growing blueberries in pots - really stunning autumn foliage, nice creamy flowers in spring and (hopefully) blueberries into the bargain. Apparently if you plant two they fruit better.

Choisya Aztec Pearl is evergreen with pretty foilage and scented flowers
www.shootgardening.co.uk/sitePlant.php?plantid=597

Perennial wall flowers are evergreen and flower from early spring to late autumn, very easy to grow and ok with dry soil, though they dont live more than a few yearswww.shootgardening.co.uk/sitePlant.php?plantid=386&name=erysimum-bowles-mauve

My hosta pops up year after year - dies down to nothing - all underground but turns up each spring Again - loving the names

Rosemary is pretty when it flowers, and smells lovely year round. And is very hardy!

Thank you to everyone. Great suggestions.