I have several ideas for plants in hot pots. The first is any type of yucca plant and I like the yellow and green foliage of the variegated yucca. This spiky plant is evergreen. For adding colorful flowers try the robust lantana plants, ice plant, the succulent Scavolea such as Blue Star or the metallic purple leaves of Persian Shield plant or Strobilanthus.  If you are thinking narrow shrubs than the Sky rocket juniper is heat tolerant. Any of the sedums or succulents can also take heat. You did not mention what climate zone you garden in. If you live in a desert climate than even the above plants may suffer in the intense summer sun. In that case native cacti or other native desert plants would be the practical solution. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti