Many grow bird of paradise in containers. It seems to flower best if somewhat root-bound. On impulse I bought a small plant I had never seen before, and now I can't find it in any of my gardening books. This annual will bloom spring to frost given sun and a good garden soil. The blue flowers open each morning and close in the afternoon.
Mature height is about a foot.
You will find your plant has a sprawling habit and will spread 15 to 18 inches. Monthly applications of a balanced fertilizer will encourage good growth and flower production. It produces a lot of foliage and tries to run all over the place, but it has never bloomed. I have pruned it yearly to force it to grow upward and bushy. Wisteria can take years to bloom.