Question
Hi, I am in zone 6 (I think--TN?).  We have shrubs along the front of the house facing East.  We would like to have something to plant between the house and the shrubs because it is so hard to mow there!  The soil is not very good--it stays dry because it is under the eaves of the house---it would get morning sun.  I'm not a big fan of hostas--(a neighbor suggested), so do you have any suggestions for us?  Flowering, ground cover or foliage---any ideas would be appreciated.  Grass doesn't even do well there! Thank you for your time.

Answer
Carol,

If you have a good nursery around, not just a home improvement store, you might take a look at Nandina (sometimes it's marketed as "heavenly bamboo" but it's not related to bamboo).

There are several varieties that vary in leaf color and height.  "MoonBay" and "Harbor Dwarf" & "Firepower" are varieties that come to mind.  Those names might vary region to region, so check the tag for mature height.

Nandina is tough and low maintenance...I've used it in lots of different conditions, including under eaves.  It's evergreen, but the leaves aren't just green.  They have reds and yellows and greens depending on the variety and time of year.  They hold berries in the fall and winter.   Stay away from plain old Nandina domestica, though.  It's the original, and it tends to spread by shoot too fast for most people.

You could also try some of our state flower...Oregon Grape.  Again, like Nandina, there are varieties that vary in height, so you should be able to find one that suits the spot. Oregon Grape is evergreen, tough, low maintenance and a little prickly.  Yellow flower in spring, and bitter berries in the summer.

Hope the helps.
Mark in Portland