Ideas for a half-sunny... motorbike tyre, please :)

[otorongo]

I have a tyre about 3 feet off the ground, rested on a block of concrete. It doesn't get blown off and gets all the sun until 2pm before it gets shaded by the pergola. (minus the morning sun in the winter, due to a conifer casting shade).

Currently I have moss and grass growing in it. I'd like to replace the compost and plant something more attractive, it could be flowers or edibles (e.g. wild strawberries), either perennial or annual, trailing down like out of a hanging basket would be nice, but it can't be anything that needs deep roots as the tyre is only a few inches deep.

One of my worries with edibles (such as strawbs) is that the black rubber might leach toxic chemicals into the compost in warm weather, is that something to be concerned about? If so, anything I could do to prevent it? Sinking plastic pots in the tyre would be one solution.

[fieldfest]

fill with gravel then sedums and sempervivums?

[Half Hardy]

How about a Ficus elastica? Not hardy so you would have to bring it inside in the winter.

[flounder]

I can't picture this, how about a photo?

[otorongo]

How about a Ficus elastica? Not hardy so you would have to bring it inside in the winter.

I see it's a tree, would it behave like a bonsai in limited root space?

Succulents as suggested by fieldfest are a nice idea, I guess there are more that would fit in there, maybe schlumbergera...

I may take a photo when I get a chance, but it's fairly simple to picture, flounder... A small tyre 3 feet above the ground, getting full sun until early afternoon, 5ft away from the SE-facing house wall

[Tom2006]

If your worried I would just line it with some plastic and then you can grow whatever you want. Strawberries would be a great idea.

[Half Hardy]

How about a Ficus elastica? Not hardy so you would have to bring it inside in the winter.

I see it's a tree, would it behave like a bonsai in limited root space?

Succulents as suggested by fieldfest are a nice idea, I guess there are more that would fit in there, maybe schlumbergera...

I may take a photo when I get a chance, but it's fairly simple to picture, flounder... A small tyre 3 feet above the ground, getting full sun until early afternoon, 5ft away from the SE-facing house wall

The ficus suggestion,was a poor joke,that fell flat ( )(rubber tree),I'll get get my coat.

A proper suggestion this time....

How about lotus berthelotii (parrots claw). It will trail down the tyre and look great against the black.
They grow quickly and easily from seed and cuttings.Here's a pic. of one I grew a couple of years ago.
I would combine it with aeonium swartkop and top dress with gravel.

[otorongo]

I like the Lotus berthelotii and it might be hardy enough for its location.

[jungle jas]

I like them as well, but I can't grow them in west Wales despite being quite mild where I live.