Oh that's smart! We did something similar with our shady side yard, just filled it with different ferns and hellebores. It looks full and green all year without any fuss.
Walked through a whole garden expo last weekend and this young couple was filming themselves smelling every single lavender and rosemary plant on display. They'd take a big whiff, look at the camera, say something, then move on. Never actually bought anything I don't think. Meanwhile I got a flat of petunias for like twelve bucks and some cheap basil that was half dead. That basil is doing GREAT now by the way, best three bucks I ever spent. Instagram wouldn't care about my sad little petunias but they make the front porch look alive and that's all that matters to me.