Something pretty to put in a container by north facing front door?

[Wildwood6]

As the subject line really, but its proving rather elusive! Ideally I'd love something that's in flower now and will continue through September. The only thing I can really come up with is a hydrangea...

David Austin website has a whole section for North facing roses. Many would be happy in a reasonably sized container. You could get one to climb around the door or have a standard, they’ll flower to the first frost.
If you’re anywhere near I hugely recommend visiting their gardens and shop!

Thank you @GardenWoes231. As it happens I've actually put one of David Austin's north facing roses in the bed that's nearby and despite my love and attention its done precisely zilch! I wasn't expecting tonnes of blooms but not a single flower since putting it in last year! I never was that good with roses!

@GardenWoes231 I've been eyeing up their gardens for ages though! Its a bit far from me but I'm sorely tempted! Their display at Hampton Court Flower Show was one of the prettiest things I'd ever seen!

@wildwood6 oh no! I was about to do something similar with a north facing front and a David Austin rose (hence my suggestion immediately!) have you given it a feed? This is the first year I’ve fed mine properly and also watered it like mad (talking a whole watering can every two days) and I cannot believe the difference it’s made to both of them (in the back garden!)
I got a voucher for my birthday so a lovely excuse to go back to the gardens too yay!
How much sunlight does your doorway get at this time of year?

I was given a Tesco Amaryllis some years ago, which I put in a large pot outside my north-facing front door. It has multiplied to about 20 blooms in 5 years and I'm going to have to repot or separate now. They are gorgeous, but early flowers, over now.

I also have an azalea which is doing really well, but has flowered now.

The only thing I have out there being pretty now is a dwarf rose tree (again from Tesco!). I'd like to have another plant which is pretty now, too.

Hi @GardenWoes231 Yes, I’ve fed it, given it lots of manure, and have been watering it, and in the last month it’s put on lots of growth so it’s got pretty big but not a single bud! I bought two others from DA at the same time for my back garden and as that garden is much sunnier I’ve had flowers from both of those (the Gertrude Jekyll! OMG- rose heaven!) but my poor Madame Alfred Carrière is not so happy to oblige! To be fair the garden is pretty shady, it faces true north. But as the road is pretty wide and there are no overhanging trees I thought it might stand a fighting chance, but nothing so far...
Enjoy your gift voucher, you lucky thing! What a fab present!

@Jux thank you, I’d of never thought of Amaryllis- they’re absolutely beautiful! One for earlier in the season next year perhaps!!

japanese anemone. They do like some sun but even north face gets a bit of sun during the summer. It's a nice brightener in a dark space. One of mine does quite well in a dark corner.

There could be something wrong with your rose. The rear of my house is true North, fortunately nothing over shadows, and my DA and PeterBeale roses do well in planters.

If you've been giving the rose manure, that is high nitrogen and will encourage lots of leaf growth. Next year try a high potassium fertiliser - either "rose fertiliser" or "tomato fertiliser". But don't worry. Shrubs often take a year to get their roots really bedded in.

Also - is it a shrub rose or a rambler? If a rambler, the first year it puts out long shoots, the second year these produce side shoots which are where the flowers are.

Trailing begonias? I thought they cope well with shade and flower into the autumn.

@Hecateh Japanese Anemone are a lovely suggestion thank you! And looking so great right now too!

@MereDintofPandiculation thank you so much, I’ll give that a go. It’s a climber that a put in as a bare root last year.