What to put in plants I won’t kill

[Redwinetorelax]

* title should say ‘what to put in pots’ obviously!! Told you I was an idiot. *

Hello, I’m a gardening idiot with not much time. I would like to buy two or three plants to put in some pots along my front path which is sunny most of the day. Something that is hardy and will survive until the end of summer - doesn’t need to flower, just not look dead. Is there an obvious choice? Thank you!

Following!

You could try Heuchera.

There's loads of choice of colours, lighter ones prefer shade, darker ones can do sun or shade.

They are clumps that shoot out spires of flowers which need cutting out when over but they are fantastic in bloom, last a long time and the bees love them.

I have three in pots which I move around to suit me and what I need from them. They currently have tete a tete daffs coming through them which I forgot was in the pot but I love how it looks.

@Hedgesgalore thank you! Exactly what I’m after!

Here's mine 😁

I adore heucheras but they are not foolproof, they are vulnerable to rust and weevils and can keel over dead in an instant with no warning. Sorry!

I'd probably get a small conifer for one pot, maybe underplant it with some trailing ivy. Maybe an acer (won't like being exposed to wind though). And maybe a variegated fatsia. These are all foliage plants, all longer lived and will happily go on for a few years in a pot.
Not saying don't try heucheras but I've had too many of them die on me!

Having said all that, that's a gorgeous pot of heuchera you've got there! 💚

Thank you @heldinadream - will look at all these options, promise!

I would be thinking about olives or lavender. Or both if there is space. Withstand a good bit of drying out if you forget to water them and evergreen.

Not had a rust or weevil problem, will keep an eye out from now on though. My more bright purple ones struggled but I got them reduced at the end of the season so can't complain, had two years from them, looked ok but they just didn't take off like my others.

I’ve got a Cistus that has been in a large planter for the last 15 years or so. Occasionally I water it. I’ve not fed it with any regularity. We realised that its roots had made an escape through the block paving it was standing on, and it’s still going strong after we had to hack the roots off.

It’s pretty when it’s in flower and evergreen. There are variegated versions too.