In the bed in the front of my house I have a row of boxwoods (3 winter gems and 1 cone type); in front of those is a row of 4 Palace Purple coral bells and on both ends of that row is an Astilbe. I originally planted Liriope but it became invasive (I think the garden center I bought them from mislabeled them because they are not like the ones I had at a different house I lived in) I removed them and planted as the front row Japanese Painted Ferns. Half of them didn't make it through the winter here in zone 6 central Pennsylvania. I am now considering planting annuals for this front row of plants but have no idea what would look nice. I don't want any that will become a groundcover--wanting ones that will pretty much not spread. And they can't be too tall since they are the front row. Does anyone have any ideas? TIA.
