Some plants that are superbly adapted to container culture would include showy succulents. A large variety of Aloes, Agaves, Furcraeas, Beschornerias, Cotyledons, Kalanchoes, Sedums, Aeoniums, Dudleyas, Echeverias, Lampranthus, Rhipsalis, Crassulas Drosanthemuns, Senecios along with terrestrial bromeliads such as Dyckias, Puyas, Aechmeas can all grow in conditions from full sun to dappled shade, with but minimal irrigation. I prefer to group several taxa in large sized containers to minimize need for frequent watering.
Aloes and Agaves in particular make stunning container plantings. Some favorite Aloes include A. striata, tomentosa, castanaea, plicatilis, vanbalenii, speciosa, camperi, x delaetii, Johnson's Hybrid, thraskii, africana. Some favorite Agaves include A. striata, bracteosa, parryi, vilmoriana, Blue Glow, ovatifolia, franzosinii. Some of the African Euphorbias are also great, such as E. ammak variegata, mauritanicus, lambii, or European Euphorbias such as E. rigida, dendroides, characias, myrsinites.