Definitely go with evergreen. We had boxwood under a very long window box at a previous home. They're always a pretty green, and you can trim them however you like. We kept ours trimmed to just below the bottom of the window box. You could easily go lower if you want more of the stone exposed.

Your window box looks great!

Thanks cholebud!! I am leaning that direction...but then I keep reading that they can get burned or not survive the winters so I am a little nervous...you think they will do okay?

Well, that depends. What planting zone do you live in?

I live in Minneapolis...I usually look for zone 3? or 4

I have never tried boxwood because I thought I was too far north. So I guess I can't help you on that. I live in 5B.

How deep is that bed? It looks kind of narrow for shrubs. Plus, the closer you plant to a structure, the less rain it gets. And more reflected heat off the structure.

You're right, it's not deep. What would you plant there? I just need some suggestions - I have no idea what would work there - it's a weird, narrow space.

Well, I'm not sure. The only shrub that occurs to me right now is a blue star juniper. I planted some this year and they seem to be fine. They are described as a slow-growing dwarf evergreen with a maximum height/spread of 3 feet. Would that fit?

Ground cover is what I would do, like a sedum. They like hot and dry. But obviously they wouldn't be green in the winter.

I live in Toronto, have boxwoods, and they do just fine in the sun and in the cold.

You could try a not too tall ornamental grass there

Hatetoshop, are you in Zone 7a? Thats a bit more temperate than Minneapolis.

bkalgren, take your photo to a local nursery and ask for suggestions. We're in Southern CA so it's very different. However, I would ask them about boxwood and a variety that might work. If so, it would look really nice. We have some planted along an exterior wall where the soil's not that deep...no problem.

Try googling "green velvet boxwood." It's one of my favorite varieties and looks like zone 4 would be okay.

You only have room for ground cover.

Groundcover only. If Vinca minor is hardy where you live, I'd plant that, though I'd never suggest it for most situations since it escapes to the wild.

Boxwood is touch and go. I suggest dwarf globe arborvitae. Such things exist. I had one at my last house. Possibly dwarf mugo pine, although they can get big or stay small, depending on genetics. But if they get big, it takes a long time.

I think a ground cover would be fine, too. The exposed stone is nice. Again, I would check at a nursery.

What is the width of the bed?

Take a picture of the area with you to the local nursery. They are a wealth of knowledge for your particular zone