I had a V bodnantense in the ground but it has died and I was thinking of getting another one for a pot. Shrubs in pots don't tend to get as big as they do in the ground.

I think that if you grow it in a container it's root system will fill the container quite soon and you will forever be watering it. In my opinion it looks at its best as a large shrub grown in the ground, perhaps at the back of a border.

Thank you Hywel and Jimmy. I hadn’t remembered, but I have grown a Coppper Beech in a pot and it hasn’t grown too big. I’ll keep thinking …

I had an acer in a pot for many years Sheila and it grew about 4 feet. As soon as I planted it in the ground it grew double the size in a year.

That’s really interesting Hywel, thank you. Two years ago I had a bonsai Silver Birch, then decided to see if it would grow into a full size tree in the ground. It’s now 6ft tall 🙂.

I usually have viburnum bodnantense popping up all over the place since I grew some from seed about 10 years ago! I find they come up quite happily in pots as well as between paving slabs etc. I suppose they grow more strongly in the flower beds but I haven't really taken note. They are great for insects and make a lovely foil for other flowers so I just let them grow where they like.

I think you mean Viburnum bonariensis Pennyfarthing. Viburnum bodnantense it a woody shrub that flowers in winter.

Ooops! Oh yes Hywel! I thought the question a bit odd, but it was me, losing the plot!

Well spotted Hywel. I have Viburnum bodnantense which doesn't self-seed, but on the other hand I have Virburnum bonariensis and comes up like weeds in my garden. You could be a plant detective for your observation!

My first thought was Verbena bonariensis!

I should have said Verbena bonariensis instead of Virburnum. Put it down to age.

Yes, age has a lot to answer for, like I've just seen I wrote Vibernum bonariensis instead of Verbena :D
But I'm blaming it on the plant names being so similar and confusing lol

Ha ha,I'm on the same wavelength as most of you,re the Variety.:o) and like you say, Hywel,age is usually the culprit,..xx

Phew! I'm so glad I'm not on my own here! I'm finding it increasingly difficult to come up with plant names, even the ones I know well. They usually pop into my head a few hours later!

I bought a plant back at the end of September last year, potted it up until I decide where it will be planted. It is not a plant I have grown before and, without fail, I look at it and think, what are you? It's a Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' but my brain just doesn't compute that!!

I'm with you, Shirley!

Thanks very much Klahanie, that’s very interesting. x