Replacement for box and ideas for late-summer planters

[museumum]

I have two questions that show up my lax approach to gardening:
Firstly, my front doorstep has two concrete planters which have dying box balls in them after we went away on holiday and they baked/desiccated. What can I plant in these for a similar effect that are more drought-resistant? The doorstep is north-facing.
Secondly - I failed to plant bedding plants in my two patio planters at the back this year (south-facing), and there are no longer any to buy in the garden centre. Any suggestions on what I can put in for late summer/autumn?
Thank you.

Rosemary and maybe pansies?

I had the same problem with planters in a south-facing position and a two-week holiday. I had a beautiful small California lilac that seems to have died in misery. I’ve gone with geraniums for now - the hot weather looks set to continue (in the south-east), and the geraniums I already had survived the two week water-free baking experience. Lavender is doing alright as well, although probably too late for it to flower if you plant it now.

Oh, and I know they’re boring but I’ve never gone wrong with petunias in sunny spots.

Lonicera nitida is a pretty good replacement for box and it seems almost indestructible. I think you'd have to clip it into shape yourself though.

I gave up with box plants as I just couldn’t keep them free from caterpillars no matter how regularly I sprayed them. I replaced them with Ilex Crenata, which look very similar but get attacked by box hedge caterpillars.

Will rosemary survive on the north side of the house? Or is that for the south? I’d love rosemary by the front door but I thought it needed sun.

I don't seem to be able to kill rosemary and it is in a N facing garden

I presume that was a typo and the Ilex Crenata doesn’t get attacked by box hedge caterpillars @Growlybear83

Oops! Yes I definitely meant it doesn't get eaten by box caterpillars!