Can anyone recommend a plant/small shrub for me please?

[Wonderingwhyme]

In winter my garden looks awful as down one side (of course the only side you really see when sat in the house) is a brick wall and all my plants are in small pots which you can’t see from the window. The garden is mostly shaded....

What plant can I put in a pot that I can leave and it live all year round to add a bit of interest? Nothing that grows massive but say a metre or so in height? A grass or something? I’m not very good with plants hence asking on here, I want something that won’t die off in winter that will live in a pot? Does such a thing exist?

Forest flames are lovely as are acers

Lavender ?

I have lavender and they always die off in winter.... lots of different types.

I like acers.. will look at forest flames thanks.

Have come across Garrya elliptical. Looks amazing!!

Pyracantha (firethorn), it has lovely red berries (or you can get orange ones) all winter and is evergreen, beautiful blossom in summer and you can cut it to whatever shape you want.
All shrubs will grow taller than you want but pyracantha can be pruned each year to the exact height you want and it looks incredible.
Plant around 2 feet from the fence.
Wherever I move to I always have one in my garden

Here is one growing against a wall

Pyracantha are great but they are spiky bastards. Good for deterring burglars.

Maybe a sarcococca (Christmas box)? Evergreen and they flower in winter and smell lovely.

www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/sarcococca/plcid.1/plcid.1415/

Big pots with shrubs will look better and be easier to look after than lots of small pots. Hydrangeas could do well. I'm a fan of cut-leafed elder in a pot which looks a bit acer-like but is tough as old boots, Maybe explore climbers too, perhaps clematis armandii. Mint and chives do well in middle-sized pots.

I LOVE sarcococca FernGreene and that's reminded me I must get one new garden but they do grow oh so slowly.

A cornus would fit the bill. They have bright stems (red, yellow, lime green etc), and give great winter colour. Or a Hamamelis which comes in a range if colours, and the leaves look great in the autumn too.

A grass or something
Cordyline or phorium?

@madcatladyforever they do! I bought one over a year ago.. deliberately got a smaller one to fit the garden but it's still absolutely titchy and I was just half wishing I'd gone for a bigger one instead as might grow faster.. prob not though and I'm just impatient.