The azalea will not have anywhere near the root srpead of a Victoria plum even on a Pixie dwarfing rootstock.

Agree with Owdboggy the azalea will have a much smaller root structure. How big is your front garden?

My garden is approx 14' x 8'

first let me say that I agree with OB and MG, but now I have seen the size of your front garden , I have to say that if vp in on dewarf stock your garden is ample room for it, and no worries about foundations,just loads lovly big plums in a few years.

I think I would still stick with the Azalea. You can't guarantee what the root stock is going to be

What if i plant it in the furthest end away from the house?

Does anyone have any idea how big the roots might get? I got the plant from ebay, not sure if i am allowed to post a link here to show you guys (?) as i am not sure if it is dwarf or not as the seller did not say.

The other option if i go with the azalea is to grow the victorian plum in a pot. Anyone any experience with this?

Well unless it is defintely on a dwarfing stock, the plim would not do yoo well in a pot. The azalea whould though.
The plum on a normal or its own roots will eventually get to a large tree. However you can keep it within bounds by judicious pruning. As long as you do not have too much top growth you can also keep the roots in check with a spade, if they begin to encroach. Go with the plum and put the azalea in a pot. Plant the plum away from any house foundations or drains though.

I surpose it could be an old fashoned tree,I say old fashoned because to day most trees that are sold grow to about nine feet, and they will tell you seven, unless it is a pixie then you would grow that in a container, but OB has given you a safeguard' it will need pruning every june anyway ,but yours is rather smalL,so I am wondering could it be a pixie, why not PM one of us we may be able to help if we have some more details,

I was told that the roots of a tree will spread as far underneath the ground as the branches do above. (I actually learnt this from an archeologist and not a gardener) I would imagine that being 14 ft away from the house would be ample and your foundations will be safe and sound!
Being a veg man myself I would always err on the side of food over flower! Lol

Unfortunately it's a complete myth that the roots of a tree will not exceed the width of the crown.

I have asked the person i bought the tree from for more details but assuming it is a dwarf tree and i opt to keep it in a pot, what kind of care would the tree need to bear fruit and stay healthy. I have never taken a spade to the roots of a plant OB so all this is pretty daunting to me as i am a new gardener. Any advice would be helpful to help me weigh out my options and i thank you all for all your advice.

Not able to help with pot growing trees, never done it. As to taking a spade to the roots, well by the time you would need to you will probably be an experienced gardener and have a good idea about what you are doing.

I think in that case i will plant the azalea in the garden and keep the plum in the pot for now. It will take a good few years for it to get to a stage where i will need to worry about what to do with it.

Thanks again to everyone who replied :)

O yes you have plenty of time untill november this year .

Thanks Bluespruce, you learn something new every day! Lol

Glad to be of help Ian. :0)

Just to put the spanner in the works i just heard back from the seller that it is not in fact a dwarf and will grow to about 30' but she says it can be pruned back to whatever size i want...it;s too much of a task for a novice gardener like me...sounds like i have a spare plum tree on my hands if there are any takers pm me!

OK onto the half standard azalea....how big will the roots get on this? My husband is very worried about root damage to the building which is why i need expert gardeners like yourself to endorse the planting of this in my tiny garden ! :)

Can't imagine the roots from the Azalea will be any problem at all.

Put it like this, with azaleas, you could pull them out of the ground in 10 years time and the roots would not have extended beyond the branches. They have very shallow compact root systems. In fact there are very few shrubs which would damage a bulding's foundations. Trees may be a different matter. Certainly a weeping willow for example is not allowed to be planted within 60 feet of a building. A Flowering cherry also has very adventurous roots.
Sorry about the Plum.

The azalea has been approved by my husband and will have centre stage in my front garden! :) Thankyou all for your invaluable help.