I'm torn between 'Summer Wine' ninebark and 'Wine and Roses' weigela. Here's a photo of where I want to put it, right at the corner of the foundation. 'Wine and Roses' has deeper purple foliage which I like, but the ninebark has so many assets like winter interest. For context, the plants nearby are 'Lemon Princess' spirea and 'Hummingbird' clethra on the left and lady fern, variegated polemonium, Sarcococca, and 'Cream Cracker' shrub dogwood on the right. Looking eastward from the front door. The purple shrub is Loropetalum. A view from the front. The dogwood shades the area only very early in the morning.

Wow - thanks for the suggestions everyone! Lilsprout - I have that creeping sedum in a few other spots! Can't believe it never occurred to me put some here! Pwin - love both of those but I'm pretty fond of that spirea. I'll look into that for sure! mnwsgal - I've got lady's mantle (thriller) just planted it. Always loved it! samhain10 and nirenjoshi - love the dark towers - its perfect for what I'm looking for! amna - I have both creeping thyme and creeping jenny in different beds or containers but never thought of growing them together. My apprehension from creeping jenny is that I've heard they can get a little carried away in a garden. What's your experience? princessgrace79 - I LOVE that Lysimachia firecracker! I'm definitely looking into this one. Do you grow it? Pictures? :) Dee - thanks for the suggestions. I love that weigela - I'll have to check out that thread and do a search for your other purple thread. I have Obsidian and love it so I might be getting more! a2zmom - I'm really starting love this Dark Towers. And those coreopsis are beautiful. Which ones are they? I have a small coreopsis I just planted ($0.99 starter plant - I can't find the name but it kind of looks like cosmic eye). Also love lobelias, and still might get some for a different garden, but I'm trying to stick to shades of purple and yellow flowers in this area. wantonamara - always liked false shamrocks. I'll have to read into them and see if they're hardy here and find a nice spot for them. sandyslope - There are a few dark foliage sedums that I've seen and love (Lydia Windsor is one, I think). I also love Sweet Kate. I have some "regular" spiderswort and love it thought I wouldn't call it "well behaved" here lol THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS - KEEP UM COMING! :)

The "funnels as planters" link is awesome! I'm a huge fan of whoever made 'em. TYVM, I DID love it! This cute minuscule plant in a mini garden is more purple in person than my camera can handle capturing in a pic. It's about the same size as a quarter, in outside mini garden for 4 yrs. Same for Graptopetalum paraguayense 'Ghosty,' also in mini garden for 4 yrs. Just found this, Sedum 'Ayers Rock.'

Florida_Joe, yes I have the same experience here with the term "full sun" that appears on many plant tags. The altitude and extreme dryness here outside Denver at about 5,500 feet seems to impact their ability to withstand full sun. Most plants that say "full sun" actually do better in filtered sun here. But I will say that cannas seem to thrive in it.