Check out one of the endless dwarf cultivars of Hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa. They thrive in our climate, are tolerant of part shade and there is a size and shape for every garden!

...Deciduous shrubs I've tried have had leaf burn.

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im thinking there might be something to this statement...

what plants burned.. and why ... the idea seems so foreign to me.. from what little i know of the pnw ... unless you just had the absolute wrong plants??? ..

or that Z tree is simply sucking all available water and your not water to offset such???

ken

I had a variegated mock orange Phildelphus variety burn in summer. I moved it to the opposite corner after 2-3 years where it doesn't get any afternoon sun and it's doing very well. I lost a new purple elderberry and a ninebark that were planted in early spring there and slowly lost leaves during early-mid summer until they were declared dead. I know how to water and how often because I assume the zelcova's roots are everywhere as it's about 60' tall and almost shades the entire back yard. There are also 60' tall evergreens across the fence that steal my water. You can see that my Edmee Gold lonicera and laceleaf Japanese maple are doing well under the same tree where they don't get afternoon sun.

The soil should be good because I've kept a compost pile there and I mow fallen leaves there for mulch.

Continuing the idea that dryness is the problem under the tree mulch with at least 4" of wood chips or other substantial material to fight this. Otherwise what does "medium" mean to you in terms of feet?

Very nice garden area. I agree with gardengal48. A Hinoki cypress would be a great addition.