Aspect?

In sun or shade?

tis in full sun 75% of the day has 6ft fence all around

Trachycarpus, perhaps? Or chamaerops humilis? If you're prepared to protect in winter...phoenix canariensis. All happy in pots for years and very impressive architecturally.

or fatsia verigated or just green or both look very tropical and grow quit big and are evergreen and cold tolerent .acer of your choice mite be nice to .

Too much sun for an acer NP

i dont mean to argue but my ones in the skull planter i have thrive in full sun thow there protected from wind and dont have full sun all day . i guess fatsia it is perhaps lol x .

short of opting for a ornamental conifer there doesnt seem to be much variety.

As you're in Fife, where it presumably gets pretty cold in winter, I'd go for the Trachycarpus fortunei - its the hardiest palm in this country. I was going to suggest Phormium, but not sure it'd make it through a cold winter in a pot up there.

...or an olive tree...they're much hardier than you think, especially in pots, as long as you protect from wind.

Olive is only hardy down to -5 deg C in pots, and then only for short periods.

Definitely would not suggest an olive tree in Fife, winter can be -15˚ easily.

i have one of them hardy palms yes there lovley to i must admit x .

we have temperatures, recorded, down to -14 , for days and weeks on end. The winter here is harsh! (albeit shorter than Britain!)...olives manage perfectly well!, especially in pots!...as long as you protect from the wind...as does lagerstroemia, datura, etc...

I wrap up my plants that I worry about...and in 6 years have only lost two.

Sorry Karen not convinced...

wow so complicated this darn frost weather eh

short of a wooly blanket and hot water bottle will have to rethink again ha ha

There's something about the damp cold of a British winter that makes plants give up the ghost, as opposed to other parts of Europe which are actually colder during that season.

have always thought frost and snow is lovely to see as long as your inside and warm lol

Oh yea, I agree with that, preferably with an open fire burning on which you're roasting chestnuts or toasting crumpets (which sadly I don't have!)

now your talking with a wee drambuie as a apperitif

I'd have to pass on that, maybe a ginger wine or a Baileys though...

yak to both lol a nice cup of fresh ground sugar x .

coffee i ment sorry not sugar . just havinga blond moment lol .