Help with a container plant?

We bought a posh pot - a square wooden planter to sit at the front door. Measures 13" diameter and is 14" deep. Looking for something special to put in it. Faces due west and is in deep shade until lunch time. Any ideas? The garden centre had one with a fancy yukka-type thing in it but I have no knowledge of these or how to keep them. The front door area gets very hot in summertime sun and very cold and frozen in winter - might not be possible to keep anything in it all year round. Any advice gratefully taken! TY.

 

In the summer time you could have something like hardy geranium or the tender geraniums sometimes called pelergoniums. They can take the heat but as any container it has to be watered once or twice a day in the hot weather.
For the winter can have spring bulbs, they won't mind getting frozen. As well can plant wallflowers on top for some interest. Make sure that there's drainage holes in the container.

 

Love especially the idea of wallflowers, they will perfume the front steps

 

Yes I've always grown wallflowers, they're great for early bees that are around.