Could a sissoo tree be in a pot? (maintenance, live)

[Voebe]

I've been futilely looking, for years, for a tree I liked (green leaves, no mess, low maintenance) and something flowering (low maintenance, not lantana or bougainvillea) - and I was excited when, years ago, I saw the sissoo, which I really loved. But I was wanted away, because the roots are so invasive. But I was wondering ... does anyone know if I could have a smaller one and keep it in a pot?

[wit-nit]

For a short period of time until it's roots outgrow and break the pot.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

For a short period of time until it's roots outgrow and break the pot.

For sure. If it's any consolation, a sissoo is not a clean tree. It loses leaves all year and then drops the rest in late winter. Also drops pods. Maybe a ficus would work. How about an orange? I had a container dwarf orange tree for years and a peach too. Oranges are green, pretty clean, flower, and give you fruit too.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

For sure. If it's any consolation, a sissoo is not a clean tree. It loses leaves all year and then drops the rest in late winter. Also drops pods. Maybe a ficus would work. How about an orange? I had a container dwarf orange tree for years and a peach too. Oranges are green, pretty clean, flower, and give you fruit too.

I have an orange tree. Peach would be so delightful, but when there was a fruit tree, there were horrendous bird squawks every morning, and any fruit vanished before it approached edibility. Damn, that's so annoying about the sissoo. I just like the look at it so much, with those leaves that look exactly as leaves should.

[DougStark]

I don't see anything attractive about a sissoo tree. Lots of better options out there.

[More Rock]

//www.city-data.com/forum/phoen...-whatever.html

[PhureeKeeper]

Originally Posted by More Rock

//www.city-data.com/forum/phoen...-whatever.html

LOL - you beat me to it.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by DougStark

I don't see anything attractive about a sissoo tree. Lots of better options out there.

The attractive thing is that it looks like an actual tree. Nice fluffy branches. Bright green leaves that look like leaves. Not gray leaves. Not little spindly leaves. Not a bush. Not a creepy green trunk.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Voebe

The attractive thing is that it looks like an actual tree. Nice fluffy branches. Bright green leaves that look like leaves. Not gray leaves. Not little spindly leaves. Not a bush. Not a creepy green trunk.

But invasive roots. I was re-doing some of my irrigation this week and dug up a dead root probably 40 feet from where my sissoo used to be! It had followed the pipe. I pulled it up with the pipe. It was a gorgeous piece of wood though, deep red brown and full of highlights. If I had the skills I would turn and polish it into a cane or something. Sissoo is rosewood by another name.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by Voebe

The attractive thing is that it looks like an actual tree. Nice fluffy branches. Bright green leaves that look like leaves. Not gray leaves. Not little spindly leaves. Not a bush. Not a creepy green trunk.

How about one of these instead? crape myrtle bush/tree, any dwarf citrus, ficus nitida or benjamina, dwarf olive, Laurus (sweet bay), tropical hibiscus tree form, bottle brush tree form, edible fig or other dwarf fruit trees, gardenia in tree form, mimosa tree, chitalpa or chilopsis, weeping yaupon holly, and many many palms.