Gardening Ideas Landscaping Ideas 10 Best Foundation Plants For The Front Of Your House By Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone Arricca Elin SanSone is a lifestyle and garden writer whose work has appeared in many national publications including Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce, PureWow, and others. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on April 26, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images Foundation plantings often are overlooked and underappreciated, but they don’t have to be utilitarian and boring. The right foundation plants can add instant curb appeal by providing color, texture and structure. A combination of evergreens and deciduous plants including small shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers, keeps your foundation planting bed interesting. Although there’s no set rule, planting about a third to half evergreens with the remaining deciduous shrubs and perennials sets you up for year-round appeal. Plant the tallest items at the back of the bed, tapering down to shortest ones at the front of the planting area closest to the walk. Space plants adequately so that there’s at least one plant’s-width between the house and other plantings. Most importantly, read plant tags and descriptions, and pay attention to your plant’s overall mature size. That quart or gallon-sized pot doesn’t take up much space now, but you don’t want to create a maintenance nightmare in a few years. Overgrown is never a good look, and you don’t want to plant something with the intention of pruning it back if it gets too big. Finally, make sure the plant is suited to survive conditions in your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). Here are our favorite foundation plantings for the front of your house: 01 of 10 Carex Getty Images Botanical Name: CarexSun Exposure: Shade to part shadeSoil Type: AverageSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (6 to 7) Carex is a handsome perennial that offers year-round textural interest and color to shady locations. It’s a mounding plant that reaches a foot to 18 inches tall and wide. Carex looks best when planted as an edging plant or in mass plantings as a groundcover. There are many different varieties, but ‘Everillo’ has attractive lime green foliage that turns golden, while ‘Everest’ has pretty white markings. 02 of 10 Spirea Getty Images Botanical Name: SpireaSun Exposure: Full to part shadeSoil Type: Average but well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (6 to 7) Spireas are some of the easiest flowering shrubs to grow because they’re tolerant of many different types of soils and conditions. They’re fast-growing, and many can become quite large, topping out at 10 feet. Look for a dwarf variety for foundation plantings, such as ‘Double Play Dolly,” which stays 2 to 3 feet tall and wide and has beautiful orange new growth that fades to chartreuse followed by hot pink flowers. 03 of 10 Catmint Getty Images Botanical Name: NepetaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: AverageSoil pH: Acidic to alkaline (6 to 8) You’d be hard pressed to find a tougher plant than catmint. This perennial, which ranges from 10 to 20 inches tall and wide depending on the variety, blooms for months, doesn’t care much about soil types, and attracts pollinators all season long. It has a pleasant spicy-minty scent that discourages deer and rodents from devouring it. Planted in groupings, it’s a handsome middle or front of the border plant for any foundation planting. Look for well-behaved varieties that keep their upright forms, such as ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ and ‘Cat’s Meow.’ 04 of 10 Abelia Getty Images Botanical Name: AbeliaSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Type: Average, well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (5 to 7) This handsome shrub has colorful, variegated foliage and a nice mounding shape that stays around 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. Abelia blooms profusely, attracting pollinators, but deer tend to avoid it. ‘Miss Lemon’ is especially pretty with yellow and green variegation and pink flowers, while ‘Kaleidoscope’ has gorgeous orange-red coloring with white flowers. 05 of 10 Daylily Getty Images Botanical Name: HemerocallisSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Average; will tolerate sandy to clay soilsSoil pH: Slightly acidic (6 to 6.5) If you can’t grow anything else, try daylilies. These tough-as-nails perennials don’t mind poor soils and come in every color imaginable, ranging from 8 inches to 5 feet tall. Flowers can be a petite 2 inches up to 8 inches across. One caveat: They’re a favorite of deer, so if Bambi visits your garden frequently, choose a different plant. ‘Happy Returns,’ ‘Dragon’s Eye,’ and ‘Barbara Mitchell’ offer reliable blooms in the heat. 06 of 10 Agapanthus Getty Images Botanical Name: AgapanthusSun Exposure: Part sunSoil Type: Average clay to loam but may not bloom well in sandy soilsSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6 to 7) Also called Lily of the Nile, this pretty perennial has evergreen strappy leaves and lovely blue, purple, or white blooms that attract pollinators from spring to fall. Agapanthus is especially attractive when planted in groupings at the front of borders. It ranges from a foot to 18 inches tall, depending on the variety. Hummingbirds love agapanthus! Look for ‘Ever White’ and ‘Ever Sapphire’ as true stand-outs in your foundation plantings bed. 07 of 10 Panicle Hydrangea Getty Images Botanical Name: Hydrangea paniculataSun Exposure: Full to part sunSoil Type: Well-draining sandy to loamSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6 to 7) Panicle hydrangeas are some of the most reliable bloomers, flowering on new (this year’s) growth, so you won’t risk cutting off the flowers if you want to prune in the spring. They come in a staggering array of varieties, but newer dwarf types are just right for foundation plantings. Give them at least four hours of sun for best flowering. Afternoon shade is beneficial in hot climates (zones 7 and warmer). Dwarf varieties include ‘Bobo,’ which gets 3 tall and wide, and ‘Fire Light Tidbit,’ which reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. 08 of 10 Boxwood Getty Images Botanical Name: Buxus microphyllaSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Average, well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.8 to 7.5) These shrubs are classics for a reason: They’re evergreen, they’re less tasty to deer than many other types, and there are many different cultivated varieties, or cultivars, available in different sizes. Some types of boxwoods can be sheared to shape, while other varieties can be left natural. Consider ‘Baby Gem’ which reaches 4 to 5 feet tall and wide, or ‘Sprinter’ which is a fast grower, retains its shape, and maxes out at 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. 09 of 10 Deutzia Getty Images Botanical Name: DeutziaSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Fertile, moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (6 to 7) Deutzia is a real show-stopper in the spring with beautiful bell-like flowers that pollinators love. Some varieties of this deciduous shrub become quite large, but others measure just one to 2 feet tall and wide. ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom’ is an especially lovely, low-growing type. 10 of 10 Inkberry Holly Getty Images Botanical Name: Ilex glabraSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Type: Average but well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly acidic (6) Inkberry holly has pretty, glossy evergreen foliage in a nice, dense rounded mound. It’s an alternative to boxwood that can be left natural or pruned to shape. New varieties such as ‘Gem Box’ stay 2 to 4 feet tall and wide, while ‘Strong Box’ reaches 3 feet tall and wide for the perfect stay-small foundation planting. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit