Help with shrub selection

(Zone 6a)

Would love some ideas on what to plant in front of my new house. It's a duplex, in Massachusetts. Front is southern exposure, good full morning of sun. Each side is 9", and there is a basement window/half moon cut out under each. The red scroll you see in the picture is my idea of a bed shape that might work. I did buy two purple clematis for each lattice, but that's it. A clean slate!

I'm hankering to get going, and will be buying 2-gallon sizes. My only thoughts so far: dwarf cypress, japanese willow, blue holly, mock orange? But how many, where? I'm thinking it needs to be symmetrical too, but not sure.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Thumbnail by dishlicious
(Zone 5b)

how deep do you plan on making the beds? that will help determine what you can fit in there.

(Zone 6a)

I'm thinking it needs to be pretty much in line with the porch. So, starting next to the porch is about 5' deep for about 5' across, then it swoops in to about 2.5', then back out to about 3.5' for the last 2.5' of width.

Did that make sense? I'm guessing dwarf varieties will be needed, or serious yearly pruning.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bella Vista, AR(Zone 6b)

Are you doing both sides of the duplex to match each other? Also, are you going around the corner towards the driveway, incorporating your downspout area?

(Zone 6a)

Great questions. I think both sides should match. I wasn't going to go around the corner just yet (money?!), but was thinking maybe putting something on that corner to break up the symmetry would be nice. Small tree? I just don't know how you would treat the bed with the downspout. Can you come out further just on that side to accommodate something?

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