Just bought my Emerald Arborvitae for an intended hedge so I hope I have better luck with it than you have had. The limiting factor with your site is the shade. I like using boxwood as a hedge but sounds like your situation may not be bright enough. Same goes for the so-called "Sky Pencil Holly". I have Fargesia bamboo in semi-shaded area that does quite well (it's a clumping species so it won't run wild). You also might consider "Cephalotaxus harringtonia fastigiata" (it's the upright growing, Japanese Plum Yew) and is fairly shade tolerant, though it can get to be 3-five feet wide and 8 to 10 feet tall (unpruned).

Maybe this.

Here is a link that might be useful: The U.S. National Arboretum presents Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil', a unique form of Japanese holly that makes a living exclamation point in the landscape!

Columnar golden yew is a nice tightly upright grower. You won't get much of the gold colour in the shade, but it is still a nice shape.

I think the Ilex would do OK in shade too.

Is this tree shade with root competition, building shade, or what?

Karin L

Go with _Podocarpus_. It fits the bill.

Which Podocarpus?

Dear bboy,
Our _Podocarpus_ is the Southern Yew (_Podocarpus macrophyllus_).