Hardy/evergreen plants for winter?

[Tomato Head]

Can anyone suggest some plants that will do well in containers and look good over winter? I've had a couple of pots outside the back of my flat all summer (hydrangea and dwarf buddleia) but obviously they are now finishing with their flowers and I will want to move them to one side before cutting them back in spring. But I'd like a couple of new plants to take their place over winter. It's pretty shady where they are (although the shade is provided by trees so once they lose their leaves more sun/light will reach them) and as I don't have a garden I consider this my flower garden since the window is fairly low and I can see the plants from inside. I'm wandering around the garden centre rather aimlessly not really knowing what to look for. I just want something with interesting/colourful foliage that will be hardy enough to survive all winter.

[VirginVegGrower]

Skimmia always looks nice in pots with winter pansies.

[veggiechicken]

Camellias? Mine start flowering before Ch*****as and keep going until Spring - just two different ones.
I'm growing a camellia hedge now with the cuttings - this year they should all be flowering.
Edit -should have said that they are about 10' tall, are in the shade virtually all day and planted in a narrow bed next to the house wall. About 20 years old - never fed or watered. Hardy creatures

[tamsin]

Small ivies for foliage... or winter pansies which might flower too. You could stick some crocus bulbs around the base of your current plants and they'll pop our early spring before the others get going.

[Marcher]

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) looks good this time of year and is on sale practically everywhere. Personally I was thinking about getting a white spruce tree (Picea glauca) and putting it in a large container with some lights around it once we get closer to winter. It would be quite nice to have a living Christmas tree outside all winter, it'd be something nice to look at.
The only problem is the rest of the year when I don't think it would quite go with what I'm trying to create - a cottage garden sort of feel. They're also a bit dear when they're alive with roots intact.

[Marcher]

I've seen Crocuses appearing as early as the beginning of January before, they were the purple ones peeping up out of the snow.
I love spring bulbs, I've planted all sorts of different ones. My garden should look like some awesome Dutch tulip field come spring.

[Two_Sheds]

Containers: winter selection / Royal Horticultural Society

BBC - Gardening - Gardening Guides - Techniques - Ideas for colourful winter pots

Large winter container in 6 simple steps, AG gardening editor, Kris Collins, shows you how | Amateur Gardening

any good?