Q.Finding a Shrub
I have an area in front of my porch that has a small dwarf plant in first row then boxwood (that are small) and a place in front of the porch that is empty that I would like to fill. I would like something that would possibly detour water and could grow up to 4 or 5 ft. tall. I live in Alabama if this helps in your suggestion to our landscaping question. Please help.
Knowing your location is always a good place to start in deciding what plants to use, because you want to select plants that are hardy in your area. Alabama is mostly zone 8, with some zone 7b in the northern part of the state. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/
The next important question is the amount of light - full sun from the south all day, shaded north-facing area, or something inbetween.
Also to be taken into consideration is the type of soil (sandy, clay, or a mix), drainage, and whether you want to irrigate or just let the plant go with rain that falls from the sky. Also you'll want to decide between evergreen, colorful foliage, or flowers.
I don't quite understand what you mean by "detouring water," and I'd really need a picture before I could make a sensible design suggestion for you, but I can give you a list of plants from which you might choose. http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/hgic1053.html
Also, I suggest you make use of the county extension service. They are a wonderful source of information and suggestions for homeowners like yourself. This link will help you locate the nearest office:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-extension-service.htm
