How about succulents? There's a terrific new book available by Debra Lee Baldwin, called "Designing with Succulents."

How about:

Aeonium, AEONIUM (many kinds, some that will be 1x1)
Anigozanthos 'Pink Joey', DWARF KANGAROO PAW
Billbergia, QUEENÂS TEARS
Carex, SEDGES (many many; some 1x1; go for the variegated ones that will brighten up the dark spot)
Cuphea, most are about 1x1
Liriope 'Silvery Sunproof', LILY TURF
Phormium dwarf cultivars, NEW ZEALAND FLAX (there's 2 or 3 that fill out to about 1x1)

And IMPO, a 1x1 plant will look like a lump in a 3-foot high container, so....

Add a spiller plant to the mounding (above) plant. Something that will trail over and down the sides.

Joe

Thanks for the suggestions. I went back with a tape measure and found out the planter is 2 ft. high, and 2 ft. below the mail slot, so there's a little more leeway.

Here's an example that can take shade, some drought stress, looks good year around- EUONYMUS fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' paired with a white flowered form of liriope. (sorry for the lousy photoshop selection but it would have taken forever to clean up the liriope picture)

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