In my experience, my hellebore tolerate the afternoon sun well, as long as I remember to water. They tell me if I need to! Leaf burn hasn't been an issue. I've read on the hellebore forum that they're more sun tolerant than we give them credit for.

There are excellent heuchera that will take afternoon sun. They're semi-evergreen in that they do retain their foliage during the winter. It's not 2' tall, though. Remember that these have received full afternoon sun at my house where it never, ever rains. They might not work at your house. And of course, this list is far from complete, particularly when you consider you're a whole zone north of me.

(Purples) Obsidian, Black Beauty, Can Can, Plum Pudding, Vesuvius, Color of Beauty, Harmonic Convergence, Saturn's Rings,
(Greens) San Gineua (sp?), Florist's Choice, Splendens, Dale's Strain
(multi-colored leaves) Mardi Gras,
(Ambers) Carmel, Peach Melba,

Low-Growing junipers are so boring when there are so many interesting varieties out there.

I hope this helps?
Christine