Maybe a dwarf nandina? Nandina domestica nana.

This is the one without berries. Most people put them in full sun and often they can look very harsh there. Many people put them in a row, and they can look very contrived.

In early times in the nursery in which I worked, our dwarf nandinas lived in the bush-house. This area was covered by a layer of shade-cloth, allowing some sun but nothing harsh. Nothing that beat down relentlessly. The nandinas looked so attractive to me with their somewhat red, somewhat green, somewhat softer colours.

Years later, with a new manager, our dwarf nandinas were put in full sun. Sigh. They never looked good again, not to me.

Barberries tend to seed around in many areas of the east coast and their invasiveness has made them illegal in some states. Check out whether they are on your state's invasive species list.

'Silversword' azalea

Does something like Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearl' do well in your area?

Never heard of it, I'll have to search it