Question

house   I have a couple questions about our landscape.  We built about 6 yrs. ago and had a nursery do our landscape design.  As you can see by the pictures attached the right side of the yard is sloped. The back row of plants against the stone is burning bush. We were told the height of them would be proportionate to the height of that side of the house.  They really haven't grown as tall as I thought in six years. I was thinking of putting a trellis up the middle of stone between the windows with a climber like autumn clematis. The house faces west but that side gets some late afternoon shade from trees on the side of the property. We are in northeast Ohio.  
My other question is about the 2 pyramidal holly on either corner of the two arched windows. They also have not grown and would like to replace them. Any ideas? The left one gets full sun all day and the right one gets some late day shade. Please ignore the lawn,we have since replanted the lawn. Any other suggestions would be appreciated My window boxes are my pride and joy. This picture was taken early summer,but  by mid summer their spilling out over. Thank you.

Answer
A very lovely home.  An excellent source for all-things Ohio-specific can be found at your local Ag extension:  http://extension.osu.edu/  

Over the years, Ohio gardeners have tried many trees & shrubs, and there are about 50 publications to help you in your quest for that 損erfect plant?  http://extension.osu.edu/topics/garden/trees-and-shrubs

Perhaps a bit much to slog through, so a suggested replacements for the pyramidal holly (and not on the listed link, below):

Clethra, Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) ?With frilly white flowered display and wonderful floral aromas, at 4 to feet tall & wide ?The C. alnifolia 揌ummingbird?is a compact cultivar (40?tall or so), so be careful. This plant tolerates both full sun & part shade.  

If you want to replace the holly with another evergreen, look at the Pendular Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi 'Pendula') but NOT the upright variety, as that would be too big for the space ?40-50?tall. The drooping, pendular form grows more slowly, and can be trimmed to keep it compact, if it really likes this space and grows  vigorously.

Also possibly the Dwarf Alberta Spruce, but it is a very slow-growing tree, so buy the largest one you can afford.  

Other suggested evergreen trees for Ohio:  http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1081.html
Since it is a relatively narrow space,  specifically look for 揈recta? 揅olumnar? or 揚endular?evergreen varieties, as they are typically slower growing &/or smaller in stature than their bigger cousins.  Plus I think they are just more interesting to look at on a wintery day.   An example of that would be the Weeping White Pine (Pinus strobus 憄endula? a lovely & graceful tree.

Good replacements for the Barberry:

Beautybush or Callicarpa (Callicarpa dichotoma, or C. japonica) can grow 4 to 8 feet (depending on the variety) with an equal spread.  These produce red, purple, and white berries ?Lovely & delicate.  

Cayuga Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum 慍ayuga? Purple leaves with a beautiful, fragrant pink flower.  This Viburnum tends to be round, at 4-6 feet tall by 4-5 feet wide. Many other varieties of fragrant Viburnum are also stocked in nurseries, so research the plant抯 mature size and make sure there is enough room in 10 years.

Viburnum varieties just for Ohio: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1062.html
Also perhaps Boxwood, Yew, Holly representing the evergreens and Abelia, Mock Orange & Cotoneaster from the deciduous camp.

Regarding the Clematis, it is a deciduous plant, so for half the year the trellis would be quite visible and prominent.  That is OK, if you plan for it to be an architectural feature and not just a 搗ine-holder?

I stumbled across this very well-put together Ohio nursery site, with both a plant selector AND a list of suggested plants.   

Selector (on home page, to the left): http://www.oaklandnursery.com/

Plant Lists for vine (10 other suggestions besides Clematis), shrub & tree ideas: http://www.oaklandnursery.com/doc/ShrubsHomeLandscape.pdf

I hope these suggestions help.  My wife accuses me of presenting too many links without 揷hoosing?a specific plant for folks, but I think part of the adventure is in the hunt-- Like shopping for that perfect pair of shoes to go with the dress?

That sloped front yard would be a great opportunity for a rock retaining wall & planter, but alas that is another question...Hope it helps & good luck with your beautiful home!  ~Marc