Planning porch containers for winter

I have a garden of containers on inset entry-way porch of the thrift store next door. I plan on bringing some of them as soon as the weather cools: caladiums are part of three containers out of four, and I learned this spring that caladiums cannot take cool weather AT all!

For the largest of the containers, however, I would just as soon transplant the cold-sensitive plants into smaller pots for indoors, and refill the large pot with winter-hardy plantings.

Besides evergreens and ornamental kale/cabbage, what are some decorative outdoor container plants that can weather winter in the Pacific Northwest in a sheltered little nook?

Sarcococca confusa http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/shrubs/Sarcococca_confusa.html is a nice shrub for right by your doorway. I'm not sure, but it could probably handle a pot for a winter, then you'd want to transplant it.

A yew tree is nice in a pot with some ferns and maybe a little ivory.

Also, there are smaller ilex (holly) (regular or japanese).

Oops. Now I see that you said "besides" evergreens. I have a contorted hazelnut in a pot on my front walkway. I love to see the shape against the little conifer right next to it. Sedges add some nice color and shape. Pansies are, of course, nice. Hellebores will come out in January. Pieris and hebe shrubs hold their leaves in winter.