Landscaping the front of your house is essential for creating a welcoming and visually appealing exterior. Shrubs play a crucial role in this process, providing structure, texture, and color to your landscape. Here are seven shrubs that are perfect for the front of your house, each offering unique characteristics and benefits.
Indian Hawthorn
The Indian hawthorn, also known as Rhaphiolepis x delacourii, is a versatile shrub that thrives in various conditions. With its tiny, rounded stature, it’s perfect for planting in front of your house. This shrub boasts purple-black winter fruit, brilliant spring flowers, and leathery leaves, adding interest to your landscape year-round. Additionally, its shallow roots and drought tolerance make it ideal for establishing foundations.
Chinese Fringe Flower
The Chinese fringe flower is a broad-leaved evergreen shrub that adds height and elegance to the front of your house. Its multi-stemmed growth and arching branches create a graceful silhouette, making it suitable for planting between windows or on house corners. With routine pruning, this shrub can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet, providing a striking focal point in your landscape.
Winter Daphne
Daphne odora, commonly known as winter daphne, is a charming shrub that blooms in the mid- to late winter when few other plants are flowering. Its tiny flowers emit a strong perfume, filling the air with a delightful fragrance. Plant winter daphne near your front entrance to enjoy its beauty and scent during the dreary winter months.
David Viburnum
The David viburnum is a slow-growing, compact evergreen shrub that offers year-round interest. With glossy, dark leaves and tiny white flowers in the spring, it adds texture and color to your landscape. Unlike many other viburnum cultivars, David viburnum remains evergreen, providing a lush backdrop for other plants in your front yard.
American Yew
Yews are versatile shrubs that come in various sizes and shapes, making them suitable for front yard landscaping. The American yew, or Taxus canadensis, is a low-growing variety that rarely exceeds five feet in height. Its dense foliage and compact growth habit make it ideal for planting in front of larger shrubs or as a border plant along walkways.
Bar Harbor Juniper
The bar harbor juniper is a low-growing and slow-growing shrub that adds texture and visual interest to your landscape. Its dense, spreading foliage looks stunning in front of larger shrubs or as a ground cover in front of your house. Bar harbor juniper is tolerant of various soil types, intense light, and high temperatures, making it a resilient choice for front yard landscaping.
Glossy Abelia
Glossy abelia is a medium-sized, multistemmed hybrid shrub that offers a wide range of varieties with different leaf patterns. Its glossy foliage and lengthy flowering season make it a favorite among gardeners. Plant glossy abelia in front of your house to attract hummingbirds and butterflies with its colorful blooms and create a vibrant and welcoming landscape.
