Looking for a plant that will enjoy being in a shady pot

[JofraArchersFastestBall]

Hello,

I'd like to put a pot (or two) next to my north east facing front door. It gets a couple of hours of morning sun in summer, and very little sun at all in winter.

I did buy a rose (David Austin, Roald Dahl) which said it would tolerate some shade and be ok in a pot, but i think it was too dark for it. It certainly looks cheerier in a new spot with a bit more sun.

So, is there a miracle plant that will flourish in a shady container and look nice all year round? I'd be really grateful for your suggestions - and, even better, photos if you've got something in a similar spot. Thank you!

Plants which naturally grow in shaded areas are a good bet. So a woodland plant such as pieris may fit the bill. This has white flowers and gorgeous red bracts in spring but it's quite a handsome evergreen all year. It likes acid soil but that's easy in a pot - it helps if you can collect rainwater for it for watering in dry spells.

That's a good idea. We've got a pieris in the back garden that's not very attractive... but that could be because it's in the wrong place (I didn't know they liked shade or needed acid soil!) Perhaps it could be moved.

Hydrangeas like shade and grow well in pots, just make sure you don't go for the large variety like Annabelle.

Hydrangeas don't usually look very good in winter though.
If you've got space and they're not too heavy, of course it may be possible to swap your pots around seasonally rather than hoping for an all-year star.