An assumption can be made but it's better that you answer the following: indoors only?;outdoors only?;or indoor and outdoor? I believe that this will help those in the know about this topic to answer you.

I'd presume that these are to be placed outside in the garden - on a patio maybe ?
Even if they're conservatory plants the following point is still crucial.

The one factor that you need to consider first is the size of the pot you're using.
If you've got some decent pots, say at least 2' high and the same wide, then you'll have a great deal of choice but if your pot size is less than that the ultimate height of the plant will have to be considerably lower - most trees want to grow to a height of over 9' tall.

If you Google small trees there'll be a wealth of very indepth information at your fingertips, study the height and width each time.

NOW GOY STUDENTS: The assumption is a guess made with little or no evidence. It is a weak guess.
The presumption is a guess made with strong evidence.
It is a strong guess.

Now based upon maureen55's question was:

Eclectic correct in attempting an assumption?
Or
Louise1 correct in making a presumption?

Those who don't give a darn need not answer.

Maureen55's question is to vague to answer as it stands. Anyone who does so is making assumptions.

All to often an educated guess is the only way to answere some of the questions, Eclectic!

No, Eclectic, it's fascinating! We aren't just gardening nuts, you know. Why can't you both be right? The comments aren't mutually exclusive. I think you should start up a course of logic, etymology and semantics to keep us ticking over while there's not much going on in the borders.........Honestly.
Since Maureen mentions that she lives on the East coast, I presume that is a factor and that she intends these pots to stay outside. There are some lovely very dwarf root stock fruit trees available which apparently do very well outside in pots if they are big and robust enough. We considered planting a couple of Api noir apple trees grown as standards in pots either side of our front door - the fruits are small, and such a deep red they are almost black and stay on the tree long after the leaves have gone - far more decorative than for the eating qualities - if you are lucky, and careful, you can polish the fruits where they grow and almost get a growing outdoor Christmas decoration. So we were told. We decided to plant ours up in the orchard instead. I'd still suggest protecting the roots with sacking in the coldest weather, and using the biggest pot you can manage.

The best potted trees are bonsai. That is when a tree is pruned (roots and shoots) to make an attractive but natural shape. A lot of trees can be made into Bonsai if caught early enough and given the care.

I am assuming though that you mean a tree that can be kept in a pot.

Acers, dwarf evergreens come to mind. I keep Picea glauca Conica in pots, they are dwarf, slow growing and evergreen. The Acers I have in pots are all deciduous and rather fussy.

Moon growe, Bulbaholic, Gattina and Kildermorie... Go To The Head Of The Class!!! As for eclectic, he goes to the rear of the class but watch out that he doesn't throw spitballs a the back of your heads.

I'm working on a dead of winter blog Gattina. Since you have informed me that GOY members aren't " just gardening nuts", the title and subject of my bog will be:"
Epistemological Philosophy In The Garden....Using The Gardening Technique Of 'Three Sisters Planting' To Exemplify Coherentism."
Since joining GOY I have come to a realization that the garden and gardening can be utilized to illustrate and as an adjunct to understanding many seemingly unrelated subjects and concepts.

P.S. GOY grad students; Now you have a topic for that end of term paper....wait, wait! Now don't trip over yourselves getting to the laptop!

Remember Gattina that the east coast of the UK stretches up to Wick and beyond. A tree which would survive in a container on the east coast in southern England would have a damned hard time in Wick, which is why it really helps if folk put the county they live in on their profile.

I totally agree, MG, but I reckoned that, gale force, salt-laden winds off the North sea apart, anything that grows up here in the freezing-for-6-months-of -the-year mountains will probably have a reasonable chance almost anywhere in the UK. Even Scotland. Api Noirs are actually recommended for growing permanently in pots (Big ones, obviously).
Eclectic - that's enough, calm down, Dear. I once worked as a research assistant to a guy who wrote scientific papers using that sort of language - we were thrilled when he ended up being quoted in "Pseuds' Corner" in Private Eye magazine.

Good lord, we can discuss this till we're blue in the face, but the one question I want an answer to is this - for what purpose do you require the trees, Maureen? Just for decoration, as in either side of a front door? Or for privacy, perhaps from neighbours' windows, elsewhere?

My head hurts! To many long words!!

A little tip Cammomile - skim over the answers to scan for pertinent stuff, lol!

I've had box trees in permanent pots for many years, clipped into a ball, withstood severe winters too. Often see small acer trees in pots that look nice but never tried it myself.

Gee whiz, don't throw water on me when I'm hav,n fun!

Don't you mean Please don't inundate me with an aqueous medium?

I'm still waiting for an answer as to the purpose of these trees...

Maureen has probably decided we are all nutters!