Recommendations wanted

My most beloved cat (we had 4 but he was my all time favourite) was killed by a bunch of dogs yesterday. In his memory I want to plant something and need recommendations -

it should be:
- growing in a (large) pot outdoors (we want to be able to take it along when we move) but still get to a good size (6ft high or so..., but not a climber!)
- cheerful, colourful
- not likely to die too soon (not too prone to diseases, of course we will look after it as best we can but it should be able to help us)
- easy to take cuttings from so just in case something does happen to it we would be able to grow a new one from the same plant

I have been thinking a rose, one of those you sometimes see in gardens that look like miniature trees, but I don't know how easily they propagate. I never looked at those before in a garden centre, can you point me into a direction what to look out for? Or maybe something that produces seed pods instead (or seeds easily in general), so we can maybe some time have loads and loads of it in our garden...

I loved that little cat soo much I can't believe he is no longer in my life!

 

Rosemary for remembrance?

 

I don't really know what would be suitable in your part of Scotland but I would certainly choose something that blooms this time of year, perhaps a small tree of some sort.

I had a brother and sister, both white, who would have been 15 earlier this year. The boy died two years ago and I planted a Cercis tree (Judas Tree or Tree of Love) which blooms at the time of his death. When his sister died in December I planted 12 mini roses in a large oval urn on its side and a Cassia (Senna), the Christmas Rose.

Fortunately mine died of natural causes but I certainly sympathise with you.

Happy hunting!

 

so sorry about your loss of your dear cat, fushia bush are lovely had mine now 9 years now lives quite happily in a large pot, cut it down each winter and comes back lovely then when you move you can always put it in a special place in your new garden.I had azalea in a pot and it died
good luck from rosa

 

hi wishaw go onto bbc.co.uk gardening then on to profiles then all different flowers come up then click on to fushias and it will tell you about them, there is a hardy bush fushia than can grow to 6foot, hope this helps you from rosa

 

Oh Wishaw, how terrible. I have two rescue cats who drive me mad with their pooing and leaving corpses on the doorstep, but I love them. What an awful thing to happen. Perhaps you could choose a plant that's related to its name?

 

I think you've really touched a nerve here, Wishaw - I'd guess everyone feels for you.
As for what works well long-term in a pot, that's not so easy. What I've seen last a long time is an acer, particularly the acer palmatum dissectum - you can get the purple leaved version, or one that has yeelow/green leaves, with hints of orange. So long as you refresh the top inch or so of compost every year, and increase the size of pot gradually in the dormant season, as it needs it, it's the best bet, IMO. Have a look here - http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/results/?ContentType=Plant_Card&ClassID=87&CategoryID=

 

Camellias grow well in pots Wishaw. There's plenty of choice in flower colour and leaf form, they're pretty disease resistant, and you can cut them hard back if required. You can also take cuttings. My sympathies for your loss.

 

I now have three past cats in my house, two in a small wooden casket and the other in a little stone jar. I prefer to keep them close!!

To start with, I think you'd be better off getting a decent book of shrubs and having a read. That way you can choose a collection that suits your taste then seek advice.

As I said before, I really feel for your loss.

 

We got back from the garden centre an hour ago. We went for a lovely nicely established bush fuchsia in deep pink. It is now already in a new big pot - we put his collar in (I keep the name tag for myself!), a few pieces of cat mint (there's room left in the big pot and I will take cuttings from our established catmint plants, and when they have rooted they will go in the pot as well, he LOVED catmint!), I wrote out a poem for him on a nice sheet of paper and put that into a plastic bag as well, and also, when I had picked him up and carried him home parts of my cotton shirt were soaked in his blood, so I cut out the soaked bit of shirt and put that in as well. The huge pot with the roughly 4 feet high bush fuchsia is now the most sparkly piece in our otherwise rather muted garden, so colourful and cheerful - just like he was!

PS his name was Diego - not really any plants about that go along with that. His nickname was "Kaiser Franz" (because his whiskers were usually hanging down like the moustache of the Emperor Franz Josef), and even he has no plant named after him as far as I am aware...

 

When we buried our two, like you Wishaw we put in their collars, one of their toys, their special little blanket, a sprig of flowers, some munchies (they both loved their food) and a Euro in case they need to buy something along the way!

Soppy, aren't we? But they were our children.

 

Sounds a wonderful tribute to a dear friend. Hope it helps you to feel a little better

 

I had a cat killed by two greyhounds so I know how you feel, I bet you wish you could have got hold of them, but it will get better, I absolutely love cats and have had up to 16 but I am down to four now, they all died of natural causes, I have planted lillies in pots for 3 of them and roses in the garden for the others now of an evening when I go out and smaell the perfume I can sit and remember them. Hope you soon feel better.