A camellia is ideal and fits all of your criteria except no flowering (interesting request!). They are not deciduous so they look great all year round, they love shade or partial shade, they have dark green glossy leaves, you can easily prune the lower branches off (for the snake-watch), they do not like wet feet, will not damage your foundation - and the biggest benefit of all - SLOW growers! You do not have to constantly trim them. In fact, you can let years pass between trimming/shaping. In my book, they are the numero uno foundation plant.

You may already know this, but just in case: whatever shrub you select, plant the center trunk at three feet from the exterior of the house. Don't do what so many builders/landscapers do with new homes, putting cute little shrubs one foot from the house. There are too many reasons to list why you should not do that.

I like camellia too. I think they are partial to acidic soil, so you would have to consider that. Cleyera like shade, also fairly slow growth, glossy evergreen leaves with reddish new growth, no blooms. Several cultivars - I have Jade Tiara. Pittosporum would probably do well for you - they can be somewhat freeze damaged around here in DFW.

Viburnum? (short fragrant flowering on some varieties)

hmmm...camellia and viburnum. I'll have to do some research to see what varieties might work best but that's a good start!

thanks!

I had viburnum (builder installed) and would not suggest planting them next to the house unless you don't mind trimming them weekly. Viburnum like to grow big and wide and tall. They can easily go over 10 foot tall in a few short years. They definitely serve the purpose if you need to create a big, tall barrier, like a hedge between properties or a sound-barrier berm. I would not recommend them as a foundation plant against the house because they require weekly maintenance.

Camellias are not cheap but well worth the money for the long-term return. Here is what I suggest.

Get the planting bed ready and do any maintenance required on the house in that area (wash windows, paint, repair, whatever). Wait until November/December/January, when camellias arrive in the stores and nurseries. They are sold during those months because camellias are a fall/winter/early spring bloomer.

Purchase plants when they are blooming, so you can actually SEE what the flower looks like and know that you like it, and not have to go by that photo on the card! Haha! Buying plants only in bloom is one of my personal rules for camellias, roses, crape myrtles - anything where it matters. Camellias range from white to pink to red to yellow to variegated/mixed.

I recommend Japonica varieties over Sasquana varieties. Camellia japonica have larger leaves and are heartier plants. Sasquana are somewhat fussy. After you look at just a few, you will be able to tell the difference without even checking the tag.

Plant them so that centers are 3 foot from the exterior of your house and space them at least 5 foot apart (trunk to trunk).

Below is a link to some real camellia eye-candy!

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Bob Ehrhart's World-Famous Camellia Garden

I have a mispelling: it is "sasanqua" (not "sasquana")

Use the right variety of holly that fits the height you want, a burford would be about that height.