Take a look at Spirea 'Golden Elf', a small yellow leafed shrub that I adore.

i use google IMAGES ... to compare various plants ... and highly suggest you also use such.. to find the latin names ...

with the hundreds of pix.. its a great way.. to get a 'feel' for the plants ...

i dont have time this morning to start you off ... ken

thanks, ken good suggestion. I have used google images, Monrovia, Daves Garden, etc. I was hoping for on the street feedbsck from folk who have grown and can offer a sense strengths and liabilities since I dont have much experience (e.g., spirea is tough and generally a winner with enough sun, ligusrums similar but prone to mildew or scale, abelia very pretty but performance more variable than other two...).

Im trying to decide whether to trash the abelia I have or get more. Im probably getting 12-16 shrubs so want to incr. my chances of cultivation and aesthetic success. thanks for any help,

Depending where in zone 7 you are, Abelia will remain evergreen to semi-evergreen in winter. That can be a big plus over spirea. You don't say how large or small your shrubs should be.

In my yard Abelia 'Twist of Lime' has better coloration than Kaliedascope. Twist of Lemon might be comparable to 'Twist of Lime'. All colored Abelias need good sun for color.

If you don't have deer issues, another really nice low spreading shrub is Euonymus fortunei 'Roemertwo' ('Gold Splash' is the trademark name) -- if you can find it. It can look good even with some shade. Prune to keep dense maybe twice a year.

There's also Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls'.

Yes, but the Deutzia will not be happy in full sun. One of mine thrives under north side of a dogwood, others on the east side of house facing a slope which delays sunrise.