I don’t know much about plants and just about manage to keep a few container plants alive in my back garden but I’m looking to spruce up the front. I have a driveway with paving to the side that has enough room for some containers but it gets full sun from sunrise to late afternoon and I’m worried whatever I put there will die with no shade most of the day, especially in summer.

I‘d ideally like something that will come back next year, is low maintenance and looks pretty. I did try lavender last year but it all died. I think maybe I overwatered it or the pot wasn’t big enough.

Any advice welcome.

After living in a city for 8 years with no patio or outdoor space of my own - I’ve moved to a larger space that has a beautiful, small patio. Exploring a whole new world of plants that I can leave outdoors for the summer has been so much fun. A lot of my indoor plants have moved outside full time for the summer (bird of paradise, succulents, wandering dude) but this has also allowed me to unlock a whole new genre of plants and blooms that I previously never any reason to buy or think about. Some of my new patio plants are my new favorites in my collection.

My current favorite is my Moss Rose (also know as the 10 AM plant which is when it’s peak bloom daily) - it puts out fresh blooms every day and has these really cool Dr Seuss succulent looking stems.