Small evergreen tree needed

[hillbilly]

Any suggestions for a small evergreen tree which will grow no taller than 2.5 m. It will have to be able to live in a large container which is sunken halfway into the ground with it's bottom cut out. Site gets a fair anount of sunshine.

You need a shrub rather than a tree, Portuguese Laurel or Holly could both work, both are tough and ok in pots and fine in sun or shade.

Pannacotta makes sense, but I get the impression you're after some particular look for a specific situation - can you tell us a bit more?

Well we moved an Iranian citrus tree a few years ago when we re did our garden. Unfortunately it is not looking well at all and we are thinking to replace it. It's in a very large pot which we had sunken halfway into the ground and the base removed so the roots could be free.

So I thought I would get something a similar size.

Oh yes, I remember it. Sorry to hear you've decided it's not going to survive.

Would a camellia or a rhododendron suit you, perhaps? You could have them as standards rather than as bushes, if you prefered?

Thanks Grendelsmum - yes it's such a shame but it's not looking good at all. Someone suggested to me that perhaps it does not like tap water - it previously was in the ground fully so depended on rainwater.

I definitely would like something that flowers and love both camelias and rhododendrons.

An acer?