Dwarf shrubs for planters

[swerve]

Hi all..some advice on plants for planters please

How do you stop the plants from growing too big?..also can you recommend a colorful leaf dwarf shrub that you dont have to replace annually
and some colorful flowering dwarf shrubs

thank you

 

[Anniekay]

Miniature roses stay, well, miniature . Dwarf Gardenias stay about a foot high and a bit wider.Rose Creek Abelias stay small. That's all I can think of ATM.

 

[swerve]

Thank you AnnieKay

 

[Oliver Buckle]

One of my favourite pot plants is a pittosporum, but it is not really dwarf, and although it is evergreen it is not colourful and the flowers are pretty insignificant. Not sure why it is such a favourite now I think about it, but it is.
PS. Some Mallows are good in decent size containers.

 

[swerve]

Thanks Oliver

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Strawberries do well in pots, have nice white flowers, and are pretty popular when they run to seed.

 

[swerve]

Does anyone know if planting the plants in the pots they came in ( or a bigger pot ) and then planting it into the planter and cover with soil will stop them growing too big?

 

[Anniekay]

Does anyone know if planting the plants in the pots they came in ( or a bigger pot ) and then planting it into the planter and cover with soil will stop them growing too big?

Good way to make them rootbound and eventually, if they're not given enough root room and new soil, become awful looking.

Pruning keeps them small. Just prune off in winter/ early spring whatever is too tall or hangs out funny. Don't remove more than 1/3 of the growth from any branch. As long as you don't choose things that want to grow 3' or more tall and wide, getting too big is not an issue.

 

[swerve]

Thank you Anniekay