Plants for containers in permanent shade?

[LazyDoll]

Hi,
We are having new slabs laid and I want to give my front door area a new lease of life to match.
We have an open porch area and I wanted to have two square wooden tubs either side of this but the entire area is in shade and never gets the sun.
I don't want to be moving stuff around all the time (life's to short/busy) but I really want twin containers here to set off the front.
My mum keeps suggesting box but from what I've ready it only suits partial shade. I'm not fussed about flowers but some nice colourful foliage would be nice.... It's also quite a large porch so something tallish would be good but not essential!
Any thoughts please would be gratefully received.

plantfinder

Is it dark shade of quite bright shade?

Even areas which never get direct sun can be bright enough for a lot of plants that will take part shade, specially if the light reflects off a building.

or

hostas can be lovely

I've just bought some Tiarella, which is meant to work in shade (it's a woodland plant).

Blechnum spicant (evergreen fern)
Parthenocissus henryana (Chinese virginia creeper)
Virginia creeper
Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'
Mahonia
Sarcococca hookeriana
Polygonatum
Lily-of-the-valley
Hosta

Lovely thanks all I'll get Googling these and checking out the Plantfinder site too!

Heuchera and Heucherella are also good.

If you do want tiarella, heucherella or heuchera, I ran into some people called plantagogo at the RHS London shows. They specialise in them and have an amazing selection (but the website is a bit crappy). I bought four off them there and have just ordered another 17 on the website.