Depending on your area, you could try peace lillies. hostas, philadendrons or azaleas or if you're after seasonal colour you could fushia's, lobelia, impatiens, coleus, perilla. Find out what direction your entrance faces and how much sun they plants will get then head down to your local nursery - the good nurseries will have staff there that will be a font of information. The other tip is to walk around your neighbourhood and see what your neighbours who have a similar set up are doing - what thrives in their place will work in yours. Good luck.

Thankyou georgi02, The entrance is facing south, so doesn't get much sun, I was thinking more of the architectural type of plant, no flowers. I have tried peace lillies but they wernt successful. Yes i think probably best to go visit a nursery.

Yes quite like this, thankyou oskuee

The conifer (blue-green) isn't doing too well but the star jasmine looks as though it just wants a bit of liquid fertiliser for extra nitrogen. It should then flourish and fill the boxes and you could then keep it clipped in a formal shape. It's pretty forgiving and you could prune it back if you don't like it sprawling, and give it a feed after.

You could try cliveas, dark strap leaved plants that look rather like agapanthus, except they have fantastic orange flowers about now, and tolerate dry shade. Their dark green leaves look good all year round.

Thanks everyone for all your comments, I have decided to keep the Maples and the dwarf nandinas in the flower beds and in the boxes take out the conifers and maybe hedge the jasmine, thanks for helping me reach my decision