When it comes to front yard landscaping, selecting an eye-catching mix of shrubs and perennials is the key to creating an eye-catching design that will impress all your neighbours.
Foundation plants are low-growing shrubs and perennial flowers that cover up home foundation lines while adding beauty and structure to landscape designs. Furthermore, foundation plants offer privacy as well as structure.
1. Roses
Roses are timeless flowering shrubs that bring height, colour and texture to any garden. Additionally, they’re easy to care for year-round!
With so many shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, there’s sure to be something suitable for your front yard that ties in perfectly with its features. Plus, there are evergreens and perennials that add seasonal interest during the cold months!
There are over 300 species and thousands of hybrid cultivars of roses found worldwide, some native to North America while others being more commonly grown across Europe and Asia.
2. Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas make an excellent addition to any front yard, as they’re relatively low maintenance and come in various varieties. They thrive in zones 3-9 and prefer partial shade conditions.
Beech trees can also be used as shrubs in mixed borders and lawns for height and structure, providing height and structure that’s both hardy and visually attractive. Some varieties will fare best when given rich, moist soil conditions to thrive in.
Hydrangeas stand out with their varied palette. You’ll find hues of blue, purple and pink; their hue can even change based on the pH level in your soil! However, what sets these blossoms apart is their beautiful versatility of colours!
Hydrangeas can be divided into two major groups–mophead and lacecap types. Mophead varieties feature flowerheads resembling pom-poms while lacecap varieties have round, flat inflorescences.
3. Spirea
Spirea is a beautiful shrub with stunning flowers that’s well worth the effort it takes to grow it. Perfect as both hedge and pot plant, with minimal upkeep requirements.
Spirea makes an excellent low maintenance foundation shrub with white or pink blooms in spring that are deer resistant. But, while its blooms are striking, its foliage really steals the show!
This compact Japanese spirea stands just 30 inches in height and width, producing flat-topped clusters of blooms from late spring through summer. Adapting well to full sun environments, as well as soil types with diverse requirements. Deer resistant as an added benefit.
This vibrant yellow-green shrub makes an excellent foundation plant, especially when combined with Firepower Nandina (pictured above). Additionally, it looks fantastic during the winter. Your front door is where most visitors first encounter your house, so it is essential to select plants which require minimal care while still looking great in all seasons – particularly wintertime!
4. Japanese Yew
Suppose you want to add beauty and simplicity to your front yard without too much work. In that case, you could add numerous beautiful plants that won’t require too much maintenance – foundation shrubs and trees that require minimal care can make all the difference so that more time can be spent enjoying your yard than tending to its maintenance!
Japanese Yew (Taxus brevifolia) is an easy-care foundation plant suitable for shade. It looks especially beautiful when planted as massed plantings or hedges.
These plants make an ideal addition to a formal garden due to their dense foliage that creates a solid wall of green. You can trim it into sheared shapes for formal occasions or leave unpruned to grow naturally.
Yew shrubs feature lush green foliage with red berries that appear during winter and fall. Unfortunately, however, the toxic yew berry can kill dogs, cats, horses, and humans if consumed, so family gardens should avoid planting this species where children or animals play.
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