A general location - city/state and the sun exposure in the rock mulched bed will be needed for useful plant suggestions.

Central NJ.. sun exposure from sunrise up until about 1:00 in the afternoon. The butterfly bush is doing just fine with the rock bed there!

Butterfly bush will grow in the cracks of a disused concrete parking lot :-) Other shrubs may not be as forgiving.

If this is an area that gets regular irrigation, you could try a hydrangea. They prefer morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Viburnums and the dark leaved ninebarks also don't mind afternoon shade.

I'd want something shorter and evergreen there like a groundcover juniper, Blue Star Juniper or one of the J. conferta cultivars. You don't want to crowd the walkway and gate.

Deja vu?

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6267365/landscape-ideas-help#n=14

tj