Hello! We just built a large pergola over our patio and I am looking for advice on a climber to grow on it. One challenge is that it will have to be grown in a large pot as the posts for the pergola are within the patio. Our backyard is also in full sun so that might be an issue. I would like something dramatic and romantic (and possibly fragrant) to grow on the pergola that will cover it well enough to provide some shade underneath. Anyone have any advice on what might fit this bill? :) Thanks in advance!

With temperate climate trees and shrubs anyway there is comparatively little root activity during winter, spring bud break is what causes new roots to grow - the stem buds send hormones down to the root tips at this time, that make them start growing. The main problem with this time of the year is heat and drought, particularly now that California is having a 100 year drought. You will want to place the trees where you can best manage to keep them moist, either in the ground or grouped together in the pots near a water source. In the ground the roots will be where they want to be (instead of in confining containers that are vulnerable to heat and dryness) but if it seems you really won't be able to keep up with the watering of them in their final planting positions at this time wait until fall to do it. Be sure to mulch after planting.

I've had it for 2 years... I don't know how old it was when I got it. It was maybe 3-4 feet tall when I got it. I know most trees need to be planted in winter, that is not the case with figs? Austin is not near the gulf, it's about 4 hours inland. Summer temps are usually 95-105, winter lows occasionally to upper 20s, 30s more likely.

How much sun does this spot get? My callistemon rigidus does really well in a 7 gallon container with low water. It seems to bloom almost all year round too. You can let them grow as a shrub, or what I'm doing, train them into a small tree. It's happiest with a lot of sun. I don't know how long I can keep it in a container though, it may grow out of it and I'll put it in the ground eventually. I didn't notice it's drip tube fell out of the container one day when I was moving it a little and a few weeks later it was still doing fine. Granted this wasn't in the middle of summer in full sun, I'm pretty sure that anything would die in that situation. If you don't mind a deciduous plant in a container, you could try a crepe myrtle. They grow as a small tree with multiple branches. I had a crepe myrtle in a container for a few years (I planted it in the ground this year) and it did fine with low water as well. It has a lot of showy flowers in the summer. This one isn't as drought tolerant, but if the spot is shady in the summer, you could try to find a Michelia Figo. I'm very happy with both of mine. The flowers have a pleasant smell in the spring and summer (smells kind of like a baking cake. Some say it smells like bubblegum, I can smell that as well). They are perfect for containers as they grow slowly and never lose their leaves. They look a lot better when the soil is kept constantly moist in the summer. They pretty much require shade in the summer here in their first few years. These are just what I've experienced so far, and I'm sure there are better plants for containers than these, so hopefully someone else will have some suggestions too.