Suggest a plant, please - big pot, north facing wall

[PyreneesPlot]

Hi all

We are finally tidying up the front of our house and have a space for a large pot (which we already have) and I would like something to break up a blank bit of wall (clotted cream coloured render).
The pot is terracotta, takes two to move it empty so this will be its only home.
The wall is north facing, gets sun (hollow laugh) in May, June, July for an hour in the mornings, but is sheltered. Temperature range is from -15 to +40 ('nother hollow laugh).
I would like something with interesting folliage for year round interest as it is near the front door. Shrubby or climber.
The RHS plant selector suggested ivy or various clematis, neither of which really float my boat.

No pressure - we are going plant shopping tomorrow...

[mothhawk]

Ceanothus? Quite likes shady spots, doesn't mind being a bit dry, evergreen, pale blue scented flowers in late spring.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Blue Brush PFAF Plant Database

[mothhawk]

Or a tree lupin?

Tree Lupin (Lupinus arboreus)

[Dotty Sarah]

Winter jasmine?

Jasminum nudiflorum - Plants - gardenersworld.com

[PyreneesPlot]

Thanks for the ideas - a ceanothus we already have in that area. I do love them. Umm, tree Lupin - tolerates partial shade. It will be full shade Aug-May so maybe it'll sulk. Winter jasmine I do like, maybe with a not too bossy clematis for summer colour?

[veggiechicken]

Camellia? I have a couple by my west facing front door, which is shaded from the south by the rest of the house - so very little direct sun during winter. They're in flower from December to now. Evergreen, nice glossy leaves. There's a Virginia creeper growing through it so autumn leaves in, um autumn.

[PyreneesPlot]

Funnily enough the pot was originally bought to house a camellia - 30th birthday present which didn't make it to my 40th. Oops. But it was at the back of my mind, too.

[muddyfeet]

I've got a honeysuckle growing happily on my north facing wall and a variegated ivy. The birds love them.

[Nicos]

So...what did you get????

[Blacky50]

Camellia. Neighbor has them on north wall & they rarely see any sun. Flower beautifully every year

[PyreneesPlot]

We didn't go out as the local rivers & roads were flooded. Maybe next week in the SUN.

[VirginVegGrower]

Climbing hydrangea if you want it to suck to walls. If not, a fan trained morello cherry is supposed to do well on a NF wall. I've never tried it though.

[Two_Sheds]

Camelia?

This is the common (round here) pink one, which is happy even in alkaline soil



I have a cream one in a pot with ericaceous soil, but it's only a babby still

[PyreneesPlot]

I'm thinking camelia thoughts again. There are a lot of them around here and they do well. And it fits the evergreen sculptural brief, too.
See what Jardiland has on offer.

[out in the cold]

Can I suggest a Japanese Quince (chaenomolese?).

Ours is doing well in a very shady north facing patio. When it flowers it is lovely and smells beautiful.