Buddleia and Rowan assistance!

[SkodaLabia]

I have a flower bed approx 6 feet from my house, separated from the house by a path. I'm shuffling existing plants around to better use the space and I'd like some height there.

I have a Rowan Commixta Embley and a white buddleia in need of homes. Obviously the rowan is the lovelier thing, but I'm a bit nervous about planting it so close to the house. Is there any way to underplant a buddleia to make it feel woodlandy and tree-like?

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

Epimedium is a great plant to grow around the base of shrubs and will look good most of the year. Bulbs such as crocus and winter aconites do well in the same situation.

[GingerKitCat]

I've pruned my purple buddleia into a tree form. The foliage begins at 5ft so I have lots of lovely things planted underneath where it receives the sun. It does shoot up from the top however and requires a regular haircut/thinning to keep it in check. It's against a fence so that restricts it a little. If it was in an open bed I'm not sure I'd be so brave

[SkodaLabia]

Thanks both. I've been considering epimediums, so that's good.

Hhm. Mine is currently about 4 feet tall, with young growth right from ground level. Perhaps if I stay on top of it and prune it every early spring I could keep it to between 3 and 4m? Or is that being naive?

I was worried about planting the rowan there because of the density of the foliage when they're more mature. It would be in front of a window, am I right?