What shall I put in these pots?

[AutumnLea]

These 2 silver pots at the end of my garden used to have cordylines in, which died during the heatwave last summer. I need something quite big to replace those and was thinking maybe a red cordyline and a bay tree? Really not the plant type and can't think of anything else. Any good ideas? What would you put in them? Tends to be full sun most of the day.

Fuchsias?
Or hydrangeas they love full sun.

Ooh hydrangeas look good, fuchsia I already have the opposite end. Thanks.

Hydrangeas need a lot of water and I am guessing you might find regular watering a pain? Bay is really good - behaves well in a pot, evergreen, not fussy. Cordyline ditto. There are some very nice grasses too that would be happy in a pot.

Thanks @LadyGardenersQuestionTime. Just had a look at some grasses, like the look of Peruvian feather grass and morning light. Yes to be honest the previous cordylines were never watered and lasted a good 12 years just with rain water. Should have been a little bit more proactive in 40c though, poor things.

Are they metal pots? I only keep metal pots in very shady areas as I find that they heat the soil up to baking temperatures and everything in them dies.

What are the planters made of? That will have an impact on what will (and will not) be happy in the growing conditions.

@BunnyBetChetwynnd great minds think alike!

Yes metal pots, may stick to the cordyline as I know it did well before

Lavender?

That's an idea. Lavender and a cordyline maybe

@AutumnLea You might find that things do better if you line the inside of the metal sides of the pots with something like black plastic, just to help protect the roots growing against the metal from cooking in hot sunshine.