Please can someone help with choosing appropriate perennials.

[Flowerhorn]

I have a raised bed outside my kitchen window. It's not really properly planted and much of what I have planted isn't thriving. The only plants doing well are Pittosporum and my begonias. I have planted a fuchsia which totally died in the heat, another seems to have appeared since and that seems to be doing ok. I have also put in a skimmia that's doing ok. My pieris is clearly dying and the camellia is currently ok but I think it wishes it was somewhere else. It's a north facing bed, sort of sheltered but we are on the top of a big hill so what ever is planted it needs to be pretty hardy. I'd love anything that flowers especially if it's scented. Prefer evergreen because it's the bed I see most often. Appreciate any suggestions.

If the Pieris and Camellia are having problems, it might be because of your soil ph?

I’ve got fairly neutral soil and have a Choisya in a very shaded spot that is doing well. Tiarella, Heuchera, and Oomphalodes are also in that bed and evergreen. Pulmonaria, Brunnera and Geums are semi evergreen (but the Geums get more sunlight).

Hydrangea aren’t evergreen but you can leave the flower heads on during winter. I’ve got one with black stems that I want to see what happens over winter with. Also, Acer Sango Kuku has amazing coral stems to look at over winter (but needs acid soil so mine had a big hole dug for ericaceous compost and top dressed each year).

Outside your window? The Pittisporum might get pretty big.
My favourite plant of the moment is Gaura. Masses of butterfly like flowers, a bit messy and floppy but flowers for months.
Also Abelia which is strictly a shrub but has arching stems, evergreen leaves and flowers none stop from July to late November.

Sarcococca confusa is evergreen and had small, strongly scented white flowers in the winter months. Does very well in a North facing situation.

What about a hebe or hot lips , although they can get quite big .

Choisya is scented, common name Mexican Orange Blossom, leaves aromatic and evergreen, might need more sun. Skimmia is evergreen with fragrant flowers in spring, and if you get var Reevesii you will get berries too. It’s fine in shade, but i see you’ve got one already. For-the under layer look at Brunnera, Pulmonaria etc, Helleborus (tiny flowers surrounded by big long lasting coloured bracts), ferns, Tellima, Heuchera.

For winter interest, don’t just think “evergreen” think of berries, coloured stems, eg Cornus “Midwinter Fire”. The joy of a flower bed that you’re seeing all the year round is seeing it changing.

The Fuchsia doesn’t like drying out (there’s a reason they grow well in Ireland and the West Country), so try to establish it elsewhere in the garden

Both Pieris and camelia prefer acid soil so maybe thats why they have failed to thrive. Can you give us some idea of size depth etc of the raised bed. Or a photo would be even better.

Small variagated euonymous? eg www.rhs.org.uk/plants/97545/euonymus-fortunei-emerald-gaiety-(v)/details
A dwarf lilac? so wonderful for the scent in May www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/lilac/dwarf-lilac-varieties.htm

Daphne evergreen shrub likes lots of shade, fragrant flowers in the winter.