You did not mention where you live but if you live in or near the Pacific Northwest then I recommend dwarf or slow growing conifers such as the upright junipers, taxus or yews or the thuja families of evergreens. They will be happy for many years in a container that has good drainage and you can even dress them up with lights or ornaments for the holidays.  If you live where summer weather is hot and winters are mild consider the yucca or agave for years of texture interest. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti