How about winterberrys? They are deciduous hollys. I have one female and a male. The female has bright red berries the birds allegedly eat and add winter interest if they don't.

Since this is more a question about particular plants as opposed to design, you might want to ask this on the shrubs forum or the forum for your particular area that seems most active (perhaps Carolina gardening, southern gardening, or southeast coastal gardening.) You will want to add info on light as gardenSofM suggested, but also if you know whether your soil is acid or not and what you mean by small to medium, perhaps 2' to 4' tall(?) Does width matter? Do you want them all the same or a mixed selection? If your soil is acid, you might want to consider a small rhododendron. They bloom for a short time in spring, but most of the year are smooth green leaves. Would you consider small conifers? If so you can ask on the conifers forum. Here's a list of all the various forums - if you click on the forum's name it will take you to the forum.

I wouldn't use H. arborescens or H. macrophylla in a settng with 8 hours of sun since both do best with morning only sun or dappled sun. I'd use some variety of H. paniculata which is the most sun tolerant of the hydrangeas. I am in a much cooler setting than you, but mine do fine in all day sun. I don't know how they would do for you in VA, but none of the other hydrangeas will be happy with 8 hours of sun in your zone. As far as combining boxwoods with hydrangeas, I'd first be sure that you and other family members are fine with the scent of boxwood foliage since you are looking at using them around a deck. Some folks are fine with the scent, but some folks find it extremely rank and unappealing, so wouldn't want it where they will be spending extensive time. If you are fine with it, I'd visit the blog of Deborah Silver, a Detroit area designer who uses both boxwood (and other evergreens) along with hydrangeas. Just type boxwood or hydrangea into the blog's search box and you will get a number of posts that include plantings that use one or both. Most of the gardens she plants are fairly formal, and often she plants rows or hedges of Hydrangeas, often combined with evergreens such as boxwood, yews, or arborvitae. Her most often used H. paniculatas are Limelight and Little Lime, but there are a wide range of varieties that vary in plant height and width as well as in branch stiffness (stiffer branches hold the flower heads more upright) and the shape, size, and density of the flower heads. My favorite is Quickfire, which is about 6' in all directions and has stiff branches that hold the flowers well upright. The flower heads are lacy looking and rounded and bloom for a long time, changing from white through pink to a rich cerise over the course of 4 months. In warmer areas I don't think the flowers last as long. Here are photos of a couple of mine which are planted in informal mixed borders. Quickfire early July. QF mid-August QF color Labor Day until frost - doesn't seem to change or fade for several weeks PinkyWinky color late August; it starts pure white in early August. PW late September PW mid-October If you do a search here on the GW hydrangea forum (type paniculata into the search box and then click on the option that pops up to search in Hydrangeas) a good number of discussions will pop up about the various types Hydrangea paniculata, many of which include photos.

Kelly I'm interested to know how things went for you? I have winter gem as well as green velvet and green mountain ... I have also had issues with winter gem and winter burn despite them being in a protected spot - I'm not a fan of the winter gem and will probably replace them... my GV and GM are planted in full sun and do well even in New England winters - the GV will slightly bronze with harsh winter winds but I have never had this happen with GM which seems very hardy... I suggest planting either in that spot and buy from a reputable nursery not big box store - the other issue to consider are spider mites which can devastate boxwood ... I use neem oil which is great for controlling them