In Zone 5 Massachusetts you have a limited portfolio of evergreen shrubs that work really well as foundation plantings. Rhododendron and Yew are the easiest options...bullet-proof, easy to find, and evergreen. Many kinds of Azaleas work to.

If you want to get fancy, you could use Mountain Laurel or Blue Star Juniper.

Lots of people suggest privet or boxwood...I don't think they are very good options in Massachusetts nowadays. Privet is an invasive species and Boxwood is being afflicted by Boxwood blight. Both look kind of dated. As does Yew, actually, but yew has other things to recommend it.

Ordinarily I'd suggest holly...evergreen with berries for winter interest...but my favorite varieties aren't reliably hardy in Zone 5.
How much effort are you interested in putting in to this? You could do something elaborate with dwarf conifers and topiary. Those would be a lot of work. Things that look good in a more natural lumpy form (like Rhododendrons) are lower effort.

Your house design gives you the rare option of going with something fairly high in a couple spots without blocking windows...take advantage of that.

Here is a thread from the landscape design forum where a few design sketches are suggested.

Interesting. In that thread she asked for low maintenance, here she asked for evergreen. There she said Boston, here she said Zone 5. The moderating temperatures of the ocean and the Urban Heat Island effect mean Boston proper is usually a bit warmer then Zone 5, opening up the possibilities of all sorts of types of holly.

Anyway, people in the other thread pleaded ignorance of our clmate and were reluctant to make specific species suggestions, so here goes...

In answer to her questions on the other thread, hydrangea and juniper both work great in our climate. I don't like hydrangea for foundation beds because I think they look awful in winter (so I prefer them in parts of the yard that are only used in summer) but that's a matter of personal taste. One of the few true blue flowers.
One problem with juniper is lack of shade tolerance, but should work here.

Are you new to the area by any chance? Or just new to landscaping?

Thanks for the respond. I am new to landscaping. I love hydrangea too but they look awful in winter that I thought too (as you mentioned). From the above idea Mountain Laurel I 'd like it. But also hearing that it is not good living thing in foliage time. I am afraid but not any kids will eat but who knows..........

I am looking everygreen shrubs not more than 3 ft, and if blooms in Spring to Sumer that would be great too.

Other thought I have to alternate blue juniper with small hydrangea shrub along the foundation. In front, I am thinking Mountain Laurel or Rhododendron with lots of purple flower. (I am afraid that Rhododendron) will spread and grow quick. If Rhododendron won't work then choose any low shrub holly, plant Knock out roses next to it next to rail.

thank you!!

I'm not sure I follow your concerns about Mountain Laurel. Is there a typo?

There are a million kinds of Rhododendron and Azalea, including some small varieties and many that take well to pruning. I know I've seen Rhododendron under windows no higher then yours. Based on what you say you want, rhododendrons and azalea are the easiest way to achieve it in our climate.

I'd also consider planting Sky Pencil Holly or Blue Arrow Juniper in the gap between the paired windows and the single narrow one...

Thanks for the catch. A bit confused though...Juniper scopulorum do badly here but Juniper virginiana does great around here.

Anyway, you seem to know cultivars...can you suggest a good, Zone 5 hardy rhododendron and azalea that can easily be kept from going above the Windows? Or a dwarf columnar blue cultivar of atlas cedar or something as a Blue Arrow substitute?

Hi Edlincoln,

Thank you for all doing that.

I am located in Newton and I checked my Zone one of the link suggested in the forum.

I searched on Mountain Laurel as you first suggested above. I hope that clear.

"If you want to get fancy, you could use Mountain Laurel or Blue Star Juniper".

Do deer appear in your neighborhood? This is important to find out. It would greatly affect your choices.

No, deer

Sorry I just noticed I made a mistake above and transposed the species. I have corrected the sentence to actually make sense. Sorry for the confusion

My favorite evergreen shrub is Pieris (also called Andromeda). I have a dwarf variety "Cavatine" and it has been pretty much carefree for me. I also have yews and rhodendrons, but they require much more pruning for height than the Pieris (at least for me).

Here it is in winter

And spring

In summer it is very full with just green leaves, but still attractive.

Susan