Do you need more shade? If so, I might plant a dogwood in the middle of the bed. Otherwise, I'd go for maybe a mix of broad-leaved evergreens (rhodos, azaleas, Mt. laurel) for a mix of bloom times. Underplanted with creeping or woodland phlox, if you have the space. You want a mix of bloom times for your shrubs.

This is assuming the location gets a plenty of shade. If some of it is in deep shade and the rest sunny, pick sun-loving shrubs for the sunny bits, like Tiny Wine ninebark.

Thanks for the responses. I don't need shade, I was thinking three layers like in the front closest to the grass i want something low and colorful then the middle layer like some hostas then in the back against the brick not sure. I dont want something too big.

Ken the blue blob in the back is a brick oven that i built.

Flowers are nice, but in a bed like that, I'd go for a mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, variety of leaf shapes and colors, dwarf ones so don't need a lot of upkeep. Lots of options in that realm. Hosta are fab, they fit most of my criteria . . . they mix well with heuchera. Some of the low growing yews or arborvitae are a bit harder to find but they're out there. . . .

So much depends on where this is located on your property… and from what direction you will be viewing it… in general I would go with evergreens that need no maintenance and stay the same height… zig-zag placement…and well spaced ….toward the back of the bed….the easy way to add color… if there is enough sun is just to install pretty ( empty) pots for a little height and just drop flowering pots of mixed annuals into them for the summer…if this area faces the street …a row of some of the other evergreen suggestions at the outer border of the bed… will keep it lookin pretty in the winter…here are two examples of drop ins using the hanging plants that Walmart stocks up on every spring

Here is the look I am targeting.

I like the hydrangeas in the back. I would like Hostas in the middle but don't know which ones would look ok and the front either the Daylilies or something similar that is not too big.

How will that look in the winter?

"How will that look in the winter?" Bare, Very bare.

most likely covered in snow

Oh no… but … another reason for some evergreens?.. can you ever go out there in the winter?… when I lived in Aspen we even definitely sat outside on sunny days

in between the hydrangeas and daylilies do you think winter heath would look ok?

Yes!…that sounds perfect

I am beginning to think I should be asking you what to plant in my garden😋… I am however mostly trying to reduce our garden…my back and our lifestyle are asking for less not more..we are surrounded by so much natural beauty to focus on …and are really only here for the summer… so that is my “excuse”.. right now I am outside where we watch tv…and relax in the afternoons and evenings

The wall is an expensive snd attractive festure thst should ve highlighted, not concealed. To that end, If you want hydrangeas, get bobos which are small. i appreciate the blue stove but it is jarring. I do not like the stella d’oro daylilies. You need an evergreen groundcover to unify the bed.

I was thinking of Invincibelle Wee White Smooth Hydrangeas. I dont know what most of the names of the plants so if you can provide me some names of what you recommend i can add them to the picture and see what it will look like.

I agree that the brick wall is a feature and should not be hidden. too many daylilies all lined up like soldiers. How much sun does this get? not knowing sun and keeping low growing, If take inspiration from below and throw some evergreens mixed in and leave room in the front for annuals. A

nice big planter to right would be nice too. Also yew prostrata is not hard to find here and inhave many that look nice all year long.

I don’t know your weather but will Winter Heath, Erica carnea, survive in Chicago?

Erica carnea needs acid soil. Is your soil pH below 6? Some forms are cold hardy enough for Chicago if the pH is right. I have grown ’Vivelli’ in my garden which is colder than the Chicago area.

It looks like it gets a fair amount of sun, in which case one of the smaller Hydrangea paniculata cultivars such as Bobo rather than any of the smooth hydrangeas/Hydrangea arborescens which IME are not as ornamental in settings with much more than morning sun. The flowers tend to fade quickly and the leaves often lose moisture faster than it can be replaced in hot afternoon sun.