Regional location? Light exposure? Soil conditions? Other requirements, in addition to smallness?

Zone 7, I believe. Southern exposure, mostly sun, but some shade in late afternoon. I'm not sure on the soil content, but I'm in southern Oklahoma, and will have some clay. I would like something with slow growth rate. the bed is under eave, so will have to be pruned if it grows above 5 feet or so.

I also would like evergreen. I like the look of the rounded, soft touch holly. Is anyone familiar with this? I wish I was more helpful, but I'm a very novice gardener! Thanks for any help!

a pic would sure be nice ...

when i think of these nightmare.. architect created beds.. i think trellis ... and climbing plants... like clematis for perennial... and morning glory for annual ...

good luck with evergreen ... unless you want to go all espaliered on some plant ... and that would be quite a long term hobby ...

ken

https://www.google.com/search?q=espaliered&biw=899&bih=745&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwio6tLYpf3KAhVHkIMKHTWPCJYQ_AUIBygC&dpr=0.9

Two feet is really narrow, particularly if your siding is not masonry since shrubbery will hold moisture near the siding and hinder any needed maintenance, and you will need to water if under the eaves unless you are planting succulents. As Ken said, a photo would be nice.

Thank you both. House is brick. And I agree, nightmare design. I have always hated it. I'll try to get a picture posted.

'Helleri' is a dwarf form of Japanese Holly or Ilex crenata. The ones in the pic are golden, the green one is more common. Happily Japanese Holly lends itself to occasional trimming. They are neat & tidy.

Given how narrow two feet is (and I HAVE one of these in my front near the door), I'd suggest totally forgetting shrubs (unless dwarf like you showed).

Mine came with cannas and a rosebush and is behind the walkway to the house. I successfully didn't water the rose last year and it's gone. I would like to remove the cannas some way this year...and plants small perennials that will fit versus the rose (nightmare for a walkway) and big leafy cannas.

dbarron, cannas are perennial, winter-hardy in your area? Interesting.....

laketchum28, in addition to my Helleri Holly suggestion consider Skimmia, Daphne, Sweetbox. There is one concern, if you have a hot, dry, Oklahoma sun all afternoon, these broadleaf evergreen suggestions may not work.

Sam, I can't even grow skimmia in my eastern exposure! Sweetbox needs shade or burns terribly. Daphne is very temperamental in general. I love those plants though. But have you experienced Oklahoma heat?? I mean we're talking 100 degrees for days on end at times.

Right you are Dave, so the OP must be realistic about broad-leaved evergreens in Oklahoma southern exposure, mostly sun. Let's try something else, Fragrant Sumac 'Gro-low' would do well in the hemmed area described. Not evergreen but worth considering, the plants in this pic have been trimmed.

Most of these shrubs are too wide, of course. If the climate and soils were suitable Gumpo azaleas might fit - that's what is needed, something so dwarf as to be nearly miniature. Maybe some kind of small conifer.

here you go laketchum28,

If the Helleri Holly mentioned earlier doesn't suit consider Ilex crenata 'Twiggy' pictured here. This is a really small leaved form of Japanese Holly, here it is kept to 18" by trimming.
Here is another great, tidy cotoneaster called 'Tom Thumb'. Also consider 'Streib's Findling' (you'll have to search for this one)

As much as I like 'Red Sprite' Winterberry I don't recommend it for one simple reason. The red berries get lost in front of red (I assume) brick.

Another idea would be a bed of variegated Liriope. When it gets ratty just mow with mower on its highest setting before new growth in spring.

Dave, that's a valid idea (and I see it used commercially a lot), but darn, it's a boring one ;)

I'd go to an independent garden center when they are well stocked and see what they had that might work. Unless you order in you're going to end up with something on the local market anyway - identifying something suitable elsewhere and then hunting for it at local outlets - which people often do - is kind of a cart before the horse.

Embothrium has a point, but if I make my decisions I'm not above mail ordering one of whatever it is and propagating it (assuming it's possible)...I have several salvia greggii cuttings that overwintered indoors to go into my hell strip in a month or two.

The standard meserve/Blue Prince Hollies can be kept pretty small. Diablo Ninebark can be be cut to the ground and regenerate...so you can mow it down completely when it outgrows the spot. It has interesting bark for winter interest.

Otherwise you could try perennials with a "shrubby" look. Shasta daisies, Baptista Australis, echinacea. That would be easier, but wouldn't give you any interest in the winter.

We still really have no idea what this situation looks like. It's 2 feet wide bounded by the house wall is all I have gathered so far. Th OP seems to have lost interest so maybe we'll never find out.

Diablo ninebark is a huge shrub that is totally unsuited for the described conditions. True you can mow it to the ground and it will regenerate, but it only looks good in its full form. A dreadful choice.

I would suggest groundcover sedums, and there are so many that you could keep the area interesting by planting several types in blocks along the bed. They'll like the sun and dry conditions.

I think I would use a combination of ornament and plants. So tall ornamental pots with sedums and ground-planted sedums or other xeric plants around them if you want low water, or as Ken suggested, a trellis (and irrigation) with an ornamental vine such as an annual or a smaller type 3 clematis that is hard-pruned every winter, leaving a bare trellis for decoration.

A rock garden would work. You would have to choose climate appropriate plants, of course.

It might be too hot for sedums in southern Oklahoma. While visiting the Phoenix Botanical Garden I asked a member of the staff about the lack of sedums there. He said it was too hot for them. I was surprised.

I spent the summer of 1964 in Wichita Falls, Texas, (Shepard AFB) right near Oklahoma. It was HOT!

Mike