Boxwoods!!!

There is a dwarf English Laurel (Otto something?) that seems popular these days. There's a small broadleaf evergreen called Cleyera (sp?) that I like that also has some red color in it. Makes me think of a dwarf photina or something. Also check out something called a Skimmia.

I believe the cleyaras get really big. 10' or so in a reasonable amount of time. They have some very old ones down further South that are 40'+.

I HATE boxwoods. (*grin*)I want something 'pretty', and something that the BF won't have to do anything to---'cause he ain't gonna.

I LOVE our Boxwoods! They are pretty and I can trim them to any shape I want. They are low-to-no maintenance and work as hedges, solitary shrubs, containers, ornamentals, and topiary's. What more could you ask for? I got some Horticulture magizine a few months back and the cover story was on Boxwoods. WOW! They were freakin' awesome! But if you don't like them then that's cool; to each his or her own. We have minatures too!

Skimmia skimmia skimmia

That dwarf English laurel is "Otto Lukens" and they do very well here. Mine came through the recent horrific freeze with flying colors!

If the area is somewhat shady, you can always plant some camellias!

We just planted 5 Otto Luyken Laurels in the front of our house (which is very shady most of the day) - they look really beautiful, and I think they're supposed to bloom profusely with tiny white flowers even in dense shade (or so my Home Depot landscaping book says....)