there arent many shrubs.. that will stay within in that small area ... unless you are willing to prune them .. force them .. into such ...

i would suggest you stick with perennials ... imo ...

ken

Thanks Ken. I do gravitate towards perennials so that's what I'll stick with.

How do you mow the lawn where it's real narrow? Think lawn shape before the bed shape so the beds won't look like cutouts. Surprisingly, it makes what to plant where, easier.

What side of the house is the bed on? How much light does this area get? Can you take a picture from further away so we can see the surrounding area better?

Mike

The bed is shaped that way so that we don't have to mow in between the bulkhead and chimney. It's an awkward spot and it'll be much easier to maintain as a bed and then mow around it. Not sure what narrow part you're referring to. I left the leftover black plastic on the ground; it kind of looks like that's another bed, maybe that's it? I'll take another picture or two today once I rake it smooth. It's a full sun, south facing bed. Thanks!

Sounds like a good place for caryopteris.

It did look like another bed to me. There's no grass on the inside side of the plastic. I shoulda known because it's not buried. :-)

I would put a shrub like dwarf buddleia, or maybe a re-blooming rose in front of the niche in the wall. Maybe a line of small shrubs (no more than 2) in the narrow part. For small shrubs, I would look at nandina 'gulf stream', purple-leaved ninebark, and 'golden ruby' barberry. Other plants mixed in the bed could be variegated hostas, dwarf golden chinese sedge, blue hostas, liriope muscari, daylilies, chrysanthemums, and sedums. I'm not sure if all of my suggestions would work in z6, or if I have made it out to be larger than it is, if so, someone will correct me.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I picked up some plants yesterday: verbena bonariensis, pink and white speedwells, agastache kudos coral, dianthus sugar plum, centaurea montana black sprite and a half priced lavender. They fit the space pretty well with room to spare. I did think about getting a climbing hydrangea but I have the non-climbing kind close by so I think I'll try a clematis. So no shrubs this time but maybe sometime in the future. I have a micro chip buddleia in another garden so I was thinking about moving it in the fall...

Verbena bonariensis is tall and skinny so I plant it amongst Miscanthus so it appears that the grass is blooming.

I would move the buddleia. Didn't think about dianthus. That is one of my favorites. Easy to care for. After they mature (they are semi-evergreen here) they will need to be cut back after first bloom to prevent them from looking ratty.

I do think the area would look better with less variety and some massing of the same plants.