Our house faces West and gets sun from 12 noon on. No trees in front only small plants. It is a narrow strip of planting area in front of our house about 4 feet wide from our house foundation to pavers for the driveway and parking area. The arbecola is doing well but I do not like the variegation colors playing off our house. The front of our house looks so blah and washed out. Dark green plants would look so much better. That's why I was thinking Green Island Ficus. I need something short or at least something that I can trim so our windows don't get covered. Something 3 feet or so. Am fearful of ficus next to the foundation even if it is a "slow grower" and not like the other ficus plants. But love its looks. Really need some guidance. Thanks!

watering shouldnt be an issue, if your house was built properly. from what i remember watching Holmes on Homes, the lawn should be sloped away from the house. or a gravel trench that slopes towards a drain and directs water away from the house. a water/vapor barrier along the outside of the foundation.

Though some folks hate them I like Abelias. Butterflies love them and you can either prune them back or let them spread. I also like the bush forms of Crape Myrtle (those newer ones with almost black foliage and white flowers are on my "must have" list). Another favorite is the native Wax Myrtle - nothing special to look at but the fragrance of the leaves when you brush against them is a big plus and the birds love them.

Still, until the tree is dead and gone, you need to remove some bottom limbs so your house does not look smothered. Clear to even with your eaves. And it will help nearby plants to get more light. There will still be shade for the house. Given the shade that's in the picture, it's VERY hard to say what could grow there. My picture is a suggestion for arrangement, placement, sizes, forms (loosely). The only thing I know is a shrub for sure is the one below the window. You might get recommendations for what could grow that size and in that light from someone locally. The orange flowered plants would be perennials and the rest could be perennials or shrubs that grow low.