Indian Hawthorne is nice and should grow well in your zone. There are named varieties available that are resistant to leaf spot.

What about azaleas? So many to choose from.

Betty

Indian Hawthorne would be a good choice but it isn't a fast grower...and it could defoliate once every few years in Wilmington....for a remarkable flowering hedge, although this won't be fast either, sassanqua camellias work very well.

Azaleas are perfect for you.

Sue

I just planted some Loropetalum (Chinese fringe flower bushes) in front of my home this year. They are beautiful and they flower all summer. I'm going to move my azaleas to another spot in the yard because these things are growing. They can get really really big if you don't cut them back in the fall.

Here's a link so you can see what I'm talking about:

Here is a link that might be useful: Fringe Flower Bushes

A variety of evergreens and deciduous flowering shrubs would most complement a cottage style garden. Boring straight lines of the same plant used as a hedge is icky. Be creative. Use groups of odd numbers. Play light foliaged or variagated plants off of bugundy foliaged or dark green foliage. Many china roses will be virtually evergreen in your climate and will bloom from April through November. Look at Cramoisi Superieur, Old Blush, Ducher, Louis Philippe, and Hermosa. These are well foliated shrubs with blooms, not leafless thornsticks with candy apples on the ends.