Hello all!

I live in Southern NJ, inland, near Philly.

The back of my Western Exposure perennial bed has had several years of failed rhododendrons. When we first moved, there was a old woody one that I kept clipping back because whole branches would shrivel up & die, til finally I pulled it out, assuming there was some issue with it. I replanted with new rhodos, and lost one at the end of last year. The one remaining is not doing well. So... I'm looking for suggestions for an alternative.

The location is a Western exposure - however the section where the rhodos are planted is against the house, under a dogwood, which is shaded until around 4pm by a very large oak. The most sun it gets is after 4 when the sun is low, but in the summer, the daisies and phlox block most of that sun as well - so it really doesn't get much direct light at all - mostly dappled. It is protected for the most part from snow, and is a dry area of the garden - I do have to water regularly. There is a boxwood against the house that does well, and a cyrpress in that same section that does well (though it gets more sunlight).

I'd like to find something that is (in order of preference):

evergreen

blooming

not too tall (won't grow much more than 5 ft - that's where the front windows start) or happily trimmed

Really, anything that would come back each year, tolerate the drier & less sunny conditions would be wonderful, but I've a preference for green all year since its up against the house, and looks quite bare right now.

Thanks for your help!