Ideas for container next to front door:

I think a phormium would go well in your pot if you can find one that is upright. They do well in pots, are tough, don't mind light shade, are evergreen, and generally very easy!

This link gives you 42 (more than 1 page) to look at, they are growers but many nurseries stock them.

http://www.smgrowers.com/search/basesearch.asp?strSearchText=phormium&x=10&y=13

I have a P. Jester next to my back door, although it has arching leaves.

Wallaby, what a great link. I will have to look around for some this spring for my pots. I see some are more shade tolerant than others. A number of them would look good with Escargot or other Rex's.
BTW, your Jester is great.
Shady

I love them, I have a few more, never can have enough of these!

Hey Karen, that ZZ Plant can attain some height. I was at a gardening center the other day and I saw one that was over 3' tall. Mine is about 18" tall but it has actually grown since I purchased it. Imagine that.

You mentioned wanting a suggestion for a verticle host plant and I'm at a loss. I've only got this one bathroom where I can experiment and so far the only thing coming to mind might be some sort of a Hoya that could be trained up bamboo. Those are pretty darn bombproof which is why I like them. I haven't killed any of those yet either. Best to ask some Hoya folk which type might be best for your particular situation.

I love the color of your home and I love the way you matched flowering plants to your paint. That was actually the reason why I thought of a Hoya. I've seen some that bloom the color of some of your paint.

Thanks, everybody! I've had internetus interruptus, so am just catching up on your great contributions. I'm expecially glad to hear of phormium being shade tolerant, and the San Marcos page is a great resource. The problem with the Phormium in this location is that I fear it'd get too big width-wise, as it's 18" from wall to door.

I got a suggestion about using a Dracaena Marginata for the corner by the door--photo below--and I saw a gorgeous but pricey specimen at a local nursery. Almost bought it, thinking I'd use it as a point of departure for other container plantings in front of it; but got to obsessing over whether it can handle our occasional cold mornings, should I forget to check weather the night before. Anyone use Dracaena outside? It's rather protected in that corner by the door from frost, but, some mornings are in the 30's.

Good heads up on the height of zz, E. I almost ordered one, but am not yet decided on a whole game plan.

Thanks for your comments, all, about my crazy house colors. When i did it up that way, I was into pretending I live in Provence--an understandable but silly notion for the rural Marin hood I'm in. And, the boring ranch house I inherited doesn't exactly lend itself to this treatment design wise ;^) But, I do enjoy it, too.

Karen

kmick - I have a dracaena marginata potted up with a creeping wire vine Muehlenbeckia and a fiber optic grass Scirpus or Isolepsis cernus. Since it is much colder here than where you are, I think this could be an option for you. Freezing temps are below 30, 30s should be okay, particularly with frost protection. Best to use water-holding gel in the soil, and don't leave any dirt showing in the pot, for added protection. I love all of the new coleus cultivars for spring and summer color. Pinch them to get best branching.