Evergeen shrubs, like Acuba japonica, pieris, and osmanthus.

Ostrich fern. Hellebores. I've even had luck with some lavenders.

Hi,

Is this moist soil? I would suggest Solomons Seal (pretty leaves and cute flowers) ferns, Astilbe, Hellebore and Lamium.

Jen

I'd second solomon's seal (very elegant).

Also look at the threadleaf amsonia. It is the texture of the foliage in this case more than its color, although it does have color in the fall.

With a bed 8 X 3, I wouldn't put any shubs, maybe subshrubs, like verigated box-leaf euonymous, although I do not know if they are hardy to zone 5.

There are several spireas that you could easily keep in control. Trim late in winter and easily maintail a decent height. Ogon and goldmound come to mind. They are naturally 3X3.

I have a lot of hardy begonia (b. Evansii) that has very interesting foliage most of the summer and blooms in August & september. Again I do not know zone 5.

I'm doing a little foliage bed, also facing north. I've put in heucheras, rex begonias, coleus, a monstera cutting I'm going to try, some aquilegia, lambs ears... it looks great so far, I'm so pleased with it! I've never done a foliage bed before. And it's all behind my japanese maple and a lovely weeping birch tree.

Good luck :)

I love my foliage garden. As you said the ferns and hostas.
-Brunnera
-Ligularia dentata 'Britt Marie Crawford (my favorite purple leaf plant)
-Cimicifuga
-Pulmonaria

I suggest hakone, the darker heuchera, rue (shady spot), any evergreen that pleases you. I enjoy golden cypress and blue juniper. Good luck.