P.S. I plan to eliminate the 90 degree bend in the gutter downspout so it empties into the rock bed instead of the grass.

Put the water on the lawn.

You could probably fit a Mugo Pine or one of the many dwarf spruce cultivars in that space and the short height means no worries about it blocking the winter sun.

Perhaps a Physocarpus, ninebark. Fully hardy for your location, size appropriate and lots of variation in foliage color - wine red, gold, copper/orange and blends. Also produces pale blush flower clusters in late spring and offers exfoliating bark for winter interest. And can be pruned as desired to keep size in check if necessary.

" Put the water on the lawn. "

At this time of year in CO, lawns are dormant. They look like that regardless and no amount of water will help until the proper growing season.

Here are a few suggestions:

@gardengal48 you are spot on as always with what will work for the space, as well as the fact that our lawns are dormant right now. Thank you.

I will say our HOA has Diablo Purple Leaf Ninebark planted in the common space north of my house, and for whatever reason the wine red/purple color just doesn’t excite me. I moved in the summer so I haven’t seen them in Spring yet though- that does sound spectacular. I’ll check out the copper/orange and blends.

Thoughts on the medium-size cultivars of Burning Bush/Winged Euonymus, Upright Red Chokeberry, Althea/Rose of Sharon, Hydrangea, Mockorange, Lilac, Serviceberry, Sumac, or Viburnum…or even a dwarf Ginnala Maple if shaped when young? Brilliant color is a priority, and fragrance would be a nice bonus. I don’t think my neighbor to the south will care if the shrub hangs over the center of the unused rock bed by a couple of feet, and likewise with the lawn. That would give me up to about a 6x6 footprint, and I’m also fine having it pruned every year or two. I just don’t want to be constantly fighting something that wants to completely outgrow the space.

Lilacs or cotoneaster acutifolius var. lucidus

"Put the water on the lawn."

I was thinking more along the lines of where that water might best be absorbed into the ground and possibly into the aquafer in a semi-arid climate. Not why the lawn is brown in the winter. Duh.

No to Burning Bush. From your list of shrubs, I'd be looking for a Korean Spice Viburnum.

Look at Coppertina or CenterGlow ninebarks if you want great foliage color. All the viburnum offers is some scent over a very short bloom time. Ditto the lilac, mock orange, cotoneaster and hydrangea (nice flower but no scent and no foliage color). And a serviceberry - a tree - is way too big for the space.

The ninebark is a 4 season shrub.

DO NOT PLANT IN THE ROCKS NEAR YOUR UTILITIES ...

the plant should be planted near the grass edge ...

not quite as far out as dougs suggestion;.. and note the pretty blue tree in his suggested pic.. will be two or 3 times the height in that pic.. and rather quickly outgrow your tiny lawn ...

whatever shrub you decide on.. you will have to be proactive on rejuvenation pruning.. to insure.. over the years.. that it does not take over your very small front lawn...

do understand that height estimates are usually at about 10 years.. and plants do not magically stop growing at some given height.. without some intervention by you ...

how about you step across the street and give us a pic of the whole front of your house.. in one pic... no angle from the side ...

ken

ps: is there plastic under the rock ... and is the wood fence half yours.. half the neighbors ...

in hindsight.. i would have continued the retaining wall around the corner.. and incorporated it all into that bed.. so i could have grown some annuals to hide the utilities.. not shrubs or trees... is the wall cemented or glued.. could it be expanded??

Here you go Ken. A front view and a side view, as well as a look down the street to see what other people on the street have done. I only own half of the pictured fence. Also, the retaining wall in the back was necessitated by a big drop off in elevation between the back door and backyard grade. The patio was elevated to provide more useable space without a big staircase down or a steep slope. The side and front have much more normal grades with respect to the house.

Note that we are in an HOA and - while it is not overly restrictive and I actually have one of the three board seats, I can’t necessarily just fill up my front lawn area. That said, a large shrub or small shade/ornamental deciduous tree in that lawn area in front of the rock bed could work. While I appreciate the suggestions from some folks for a Mugo Pine, Spruce, etc. in that area, I don’t want any kind of evergreen on the south side of my yard. Screening other than the utilities isn’t an issue on that side, as the neighborhood is nice. I do want to maximize my bang for the space if I can only do one planting though- hence why something short like Mugo Pine doesn’t appeal to me.

I would love to plant a Tatarian Hot Wings Maple in that lawn area just off the rock bed. Pros: great color and hardiness, as well as some degree of shade without getting into something that would overhang the house or conflict with the big Autumn Blaze Maple in the treelawn. Cons: doesn’t really accomplish the goal of low screening of the gas meter and sprinkler valves, etc.

Anyone have shrub/tree recommendations if I move the planting location to the edge of the lawn, providing more of an available planting footprint?

What about a fastigiate tree? Not sure what would be recommended for your climate, but there must be some.

Theres sime really oretty ninebarks that arent the red. I love amber jubilee. serviceberries would do the trick. one of the smaller shrub types- like regent. dense shrubby structure, pretty flowers, yummy berries, and red fall color. Mine theive in northern colorado.

Also a clove currant (yellow flowering) might do well there, though not sure if it will too hot with rock all around. a nice shrub rose would be pretty too, though would need to make sure there was space for thr meter reader to access the meter.

For the shrubs you have listed for your corner, be sure to check potential invasiveness for your area— some you have listed (eg rose of Sharon) could be problematic, whereas others you are considering (serviceberry, viburnum, some forms of hydrangea, ie anabelle, etc) are beneficial North American natives. Sumac is native but I don’t think you’ll want it due to its spreading potential and the shooters it sends out. You may want to consider some dogwood varieties for your corner— ive always had good luck with the ‘ivory halo’ variegated cultivar, but this won’t give you the scent/floral interest you are looking for (but you could always layer some blooming perennials in the foreground of whatever shrub you choose).

For the small tree you are considering further away from your house, my favorites are serviceberry, eastern redbud, pagoda dogwood and other dogwood varieties, but check local natives for your zone as I’m in MN.

Thank you very much to all who commented. Also, I verified that there is no landscape fabric beneath the rock bed.