Any suggestions

Before we can suggest any shrubs we need to know where you niece lives and what the soil is like.

Hi,
i used fatsia japonica (fake castor oil plant), bamboos, phormiums, grasses and hebes in my borders which are all good structural/architectural plants and also low maintenance. Bamboos do tend to grow quite large and can be invasive, phormiums and fatsias also get quite big so please be aware of this when planting the space!

globe artichoke is nice and fennel .as for new builds the gardens often have all the left over brickwork and rubbel dug in somewear.the invasive bamboos can be put in a strong plastic bucket.you cut the bottem out and bury it to ground level.any shoots come over the top as the sides of the bucket naturaly slope up.you could even plant any shoots that come out in a bucket in pots and grow plants to swap or sell

There are three which I would recommend and give me a lot of pleasure they are Globe Artichoke wonderfull grey foliage and large thistle type flowers, Phormium (New Zealand Flax and Euphobia you will see them all on my Photos on my page. plant shrub roses between them?

lol

Just came in from the garden noseypotter to find great minds think alike!

Just beware of fennel - it does flower and then if it is allowed to go to seed, they go everywhere and are dreadful to remove as the tap roots go down so deep.

i havnt had that much of a problem spritz but though my gardens low maintanance i like doing a bit of a look about ,pick some weeds,pick up the rubbish and last but not least look at my plants.i love my globe artichoke not that i dont like the others you understand lol telm8 .i love the globe because its colour blue on such a narley looking foliage.i never eat it as i wouldnt be able to see the flowers.

How about a low maintance Alpine border .And just container planting.

good ideas

Not exactly architectural plants but good for ground cover (to reduce weeding) and with coloured leaves (for a long season of interest) are heucheras

cool