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Best small evergreen shrubs for front of house


12 Best Low Maintenance Evergreen Shrubs For Front Of House

It looks kind of lonely to see a house with empty front landscaping, no matter how good the architecture is.

But a house accented by living green ornaments and evergreen shrubs is worthy of a double look.

What is a greater kind of plant to use than an evergreen shrub? That will stay small, are low-maintenance and evergreen?

They maintain color in all seasons, short and very manageable.

But before you finally decide, you must first ready enough space that can accommodate the evergreen shrub for your house.

Make sure that its height will not block your house. Anyways, evergreen shrubs enjoy being trimmed.

Without dragging it further, here is a list of the best evergreen shrub for the front of the house.

Surely, this kind of plant will make your house look and feel fresh.

Table of Contents

12 Best Evergreen Shrubs For Front Of Houses

Before we begin, below are our top 3 recommendations for fertilizing your shrubs and trees in your landscaping.

From the get-go, plants are the beautiful ornaments of our houses.

In front of houses, using low maintenance dwarf evergreen shrubs is the best choice because it will keep your house lively throughout the year, and shrubs don’t exceed 20 feet in height.

It is important to note that all kinds of shrubs benefit from regular pruning.

It helps the appearance to be kept neat and promotes flowering.

Here are the 12 best small evergreen shrubs For The Front Of House

1. Sprinter Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus Microphylla ‘Bulthouse’)

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Size

Looking into this kind of shrub, you will feel a great resemblance to The Hobbit community.

Boxwoods are low-maintenance evergreen shrubs that can transform your front yard into a wonderland of lush green.

The oval leaves turn yellowish or reddish if overexposed to direct sun or windbreak.

It will strive better in a bright location with partial shade.

It is very flexible and follows the desired shape you have set it in during trimmings.

The soil type it prefers is not anything special for as long as it drains well. It does not like to stay in soggy soil and stagnant water.

It can weaken in the cold winter. They will thank you if you give them mulch to protect its roots and burlap wraps from covering its entirety.

It is not into cold but warmer areas. It is drought and deer-resistant too.

Established sprinters only need watering when rainfall isn’t enough to let them dry out. It is hardy to zones 5-8.

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2. Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens ‘Green Mountain’)

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Size

Assuming the front of your house is big and elevated, another type of boxwood perfect for enhancing your facade is the Green Mountain.

It is quite tall; in that sense, make sure you trim it regularly, keeping it neat and your house design visible.

It is naturally conical so that you can picture a petite Christmas tree as your front liners.

Green Mountain boxwood shrubs grow moderately, about 3-6 inches a year, keeping deer away since they are resistant to their natural state.

It will require regular watering in well-draining soil. Slightly acidic soil is more preferred, though.

Compared to other boxwood varieties, Green Mountain is more tolerant of short periods of drought enjoying the full sun but can thrive in partial shade.

It can grow greenish-cream flowers too and hardy in regions 4-9.

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Below are some other boxwoods that you may be interested in planting into your landscaping.

3. Densa Japanese (Yew Taxus Cuspidate)

Size

Quite a spreader. Densa Japanese Yew is a dark green shrub with needle-like foliage, perfect for the front-of-house decoration and curb appeal.

These turn into reddish-green during winter.

This shrub is dense in nature that you may try mass planting it as your front borders.

Your location is not of much concern because it is tolerant of urban pollution.

This is one of the evergreens that can tolerate full shade.

It can grow well even under dappled light, but that doesn’t imply that they don’t do well in full sun.

Like most plants, it is not fond of stagnant water, meaning it prefers well-draining soil regardless of its acidity. Keep it evenly moist regularly.

You can protect it during winter by mulching the root areas.

A little caution in the household with pets: all species of Japanese yew are poisonous when ingested.

It bears red small fruits, but it will harm pets and humans if consumed.

It is deer-resistant too and hardy to zone 4b in the USDA map.

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4. Emerald Fountain (Tsuga Canadensis ‘Monler’)

Size

By its common name it goes by, Canadian hemlock, it is easy to infer that they are native of Canada.

They are part of the pine species but can be grown lushly as the front house furnishing too.

It is dense and conical, a perfect hedge, screen, or a stand-alone evergreen.

This species is evergreen with red-brown stems. The needle-like dark green leaves are regarded as the smallest among the genus.

It grows well in any soil type that drains well and is averagely moist. Regular watering is advised, especially in the first weeks of growing.

Emerald fountain is not drought-tolerant.

As a matter of fact, it may be damaged from a temperature higher than 95 degrees F if exposed for long periods.

In rare cases, extremely hot weather can be fatal to it. The zone of the hardiness of T.canadensis is 4 to 7.

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5. Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis ‘Sea Green’)

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Size

Of all possible names for a shrub, why sea green? It is because this variety of Juniper has bluish-green foliage, the color of the beautiful sea.

The branches arch like the fireworks on display.

It bears blueberries which are in question if edible. To be safe, you better not eat it.

Deer will not be interested in lurking around, but likewise, it doesn’t attract any beneficial insects.

Sea green juniper is a high-maintenance shrub that asks for a regular check-up.

It cannot last in very wet soil. But aside from the watering issue, it can thrive in any soil type that drains well.

It does well in full sunlight and is tolerant of urban pollution.

It is an important characteristic of juniper, making it a popular genus in gardening. Daily smoke and heat are not fatal to juniper.

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6. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus Densiflorus “Myersii”)

Size

I saw it and fell in love with it. Asparagus fern or foxtail fern is a low-growing evergreen with unique-looking dense foliage.

It arches with feathery stems and bright green leaves.

Asparagus fern, despite its name, is not a true fern and not edible like asparagus.

Hence, it is a true family of the Asparagus genus. The plant is a native of South Africa.

The evergreen shrub for front of houses is not into direct light.

The color ranges from yellow, pale green, or deep green if under direct light, full shade, or partial shade.

Foxtail fern can tolerate cool temperatures but up to 25 degrees F only.

Lower, and it will be deadly to the plant. During the cold season, the plant tends to rest but is not dormant.

Asparagus fern prefers moist soil that drains well.

It appreciates heat, so you may tag it drought-tolerant.

At the same time, it is tolerant to salt sprays. It is hardy to zones 9-11 and can sometimes be invasive.

If you are looking for ideas on what type of ferns to grow, you can look at our post on the most popular ferns to grow indoors or outside.

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Table could not be displayed.

7. Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum)

Size

The scarlet flowers of the shrub will surely steal your interest.

Evergreen azaleas, or Azaleas for short, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with shiny green leaves that turns reddish during winter.

It blooms red flowers in mid-spring.

It is native to Japan, where it tolerates cooler summer. It is winter hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9.

Although azaleas are categorized as winter hardy, it is still safe to mulch them, especially when the winter wind is very prominent.

Mulching will keep the soil cool in summer but warm during winter.

This plant requires constant moisture and benefits greatly in rich, fertilized, acidic soil (ph of 6.5).

It is prone to root rot when left on water not drained well from the soil.

Azalea survives more in areas where there is no extremely hot season.

It enjoys more on dappled light outdoors or filtered sunlight for as long as it is not direct.

Unfortunately for this evergreen, it is vulnerable to pests and diseases.

But with proper attention, it can grow healthy and limit problems.

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8. Georgia Petite Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis X Delacourii ‘Georgia Petite’)

Size

By far, it is like a wedding aisle in your front yard, and up-close Georgia Petite Indian Hawthorn looks like blossoms of popcorn from its pink buds.

It is in great contrast to its dark green foliage that is very dense.

It has a mild fragrance that can last throughout the year. The flowers turn to dark blue ornamental berries afterward.

Indian Hawthorn prefers to be in evenly moist soil.

Before it can establish a vast root system, it requires regular watering.

However, it can be reduced to weekly once they mature.

Similar to most plants, it favors soil that drains well despite average acidity or fertility.

The plant grows well in a spot receiving good sun to a slightly shaded area.

It is mildly drought-resistant but a true disease-resistant shrub.​

In its native habit, Asia, it grows aggressively in the wild. However, the dwarf version, like Georgia petite, is very manageable.

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9.

Brilliant Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis ‘Brilliant’)
Size

Make this your flowering hedge because the big red flowers of this tropical hibiscus stand out against the green stem and leaves.

The flowers are naturally designed with red stigma and yellow anthers.

The flowering evergreen shrub is tough against deer, so that you may use it as a bed, border, or foundation in front of your house without worry from stray animals.

It likes soil that is consistently wet but drains well. It will like it more if the soil is rich and treated.

When it comes to strong winds, it rather chooses a well-protected area than being swayed heavily.

It will tolerate being sheltered but more in full sun.

It must be watered thoroughly until winter when you can greatly reduce it during its initial growth.

Despite being tolerant of other conditions, it is sensitive to changing temperature.

If you have started growing it in full sun or partial shade, you better not change it halfway through the growing time.

Else, it will affect its blooming time and see bud drops.

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10. Chinese Snowball (Viburnum Macrocephalum)

Size

Native to mainland China, the Chinese snowball Viburnum is a woody evergreen shrub that produces a cluster of flowers in round form.

The flowers come as green but quickly turns white.

The white and round form of its flower makes it worthy of being called snowball.

Each little white flowers are 1.25 wide and 8 inches in a cluster. The inflorescence has no fragrance.

The shrub is hardy to USDA zones 6-9. It has a medium growth rate and has moderate care required.

It grows well to direct sunlight but can prosper in partial shades, too, with a minimum of 2 hours of direct sun.

It prefers slightly acidic soil that has good drainage.

Watering it in moderation can keep its preferred soil to be moist.

Chinese snowball is resistant to damage by deer and can attract beautiful butterflies in the garden.

However, It is not resilient to cold winds and asks for protection instead.

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11. Carol Mackie (Daphne X Burkwoodii)

Size

A variegated Daphne shrub, Carol Mackie, is the most popular Daphne evergreen in mild climates.

The leaves of the shrub are green outlined with yellow to creamy white lines.

In full bloom, it bears white to pink flowers in masses forming tubular shoots.

It is grown hardy in zones 4-9.

Daphne’s are fastidious shrubs that don’t appreciate replanting once established.

It is better to be careful planting it with the long-term garden landscape in mind.

It does well in full sun and on a partial screen as long as the soil in its area has good drainage.

Though it likes a moist environment, overwatering can cause root rot.

Matured Carol Mackie is drought tolerant and cannot be damaged by deer.

It is impressive, but a flaw is its habit of suddenly dying without a probable reason.

Another thing, they are weak against snow, and the damages can be fatal to the Daphne.

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Related post: 10 Stunning Yellow Shrubs To Add To Your Landscaping

12. Camellia (Camellia Japonica)

Size

Maybe one of the most popular evergreens, Camellia shrubs grow best in cold climates.

It is a winter-hardy plant that can tolerate temperatures limited to 10 degrees F.

The cold temperatures of fall and winter can promote its flowering.

Flowers in bloom may be white, pink, red, yellow, and lavender; the leaves are oval and glossy green.

Camellias are not very flexible to change of environment.

Some other plants may be brought in and out of the house but not Camellias.

They prefer a bright spot in dappled sunlight and a wide area where it can freely spread.

It will require protection from the direct heat of the afternoon sun and strong winds too.

In terms of soil, it likes a moist acidic one that is well fertilized. As for drainage, it prefers soil that drains well.

Camellias are not okay where standing water is though it enjoys moist soil.

In reality, this plant has shallow roots and will benefit from mulching.

Camellias are native to China, Korea, and Japan.

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FAQs

Are All The Evergreen Shrubs I Should Plant Green?

No, some plants are blue, red, or purple. The choice is yours. However, you should carefully study your landscape to match it before deciding on the plant variety.

What Should Be The Distance Between My Plants And My House?

Some plants spread wide, considering their growth span. Ideally, plant the shrub 5 feet from the house.

How Are Shrubs Propagated?

Depending on the species of the shrub, you may start from seeds or through division. You can buy them in stores in containers too.

What Is The Growth Rate Of Shrubs?

There slow or fast growers. Shrubs that have a rapid growth rate mature in a month. The slower ones can take years.

How Long Does An Evergreen Shrub Live?

Evergreens have a generally long lifespan. It can take 10 or more years. Conifers can live up to 100 years!

Related post: 3 Simple Ways on How To Propagate Landscaping Bamboo Plants

Conclusion

Shrubs can be the good front liners in your yard.

They can be trimmed handsomely too. Make sure your hedge trimmer blades are sharp, as it will make your landscaping job a lot easier.

If you like all-year colors, evergreen shrubs are the ones you need.

Always follow their care facts, and you’ll see yourself enticed by how beautiful your front landscape can be.

Also, know your zone so you won’t waste your time cultivating a plant that won’t thrive.

You also want to consider their growth spans on how long the evergreen shrub will live.

Evergreen shrubs for the front of your house are a classic and modern design that will never go out of style.

Lindsey Hyland

Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.

Low Growing Shrubs for the Front of the House: 16 Great Choices

Attractive low growing shrubs for the front of the house are great for reducing yard maintenance. While most gardeners love to work in their garden, they may not love pruning their shrubs every year. One way to make landscaping easier while increasing your home’s curb appeal is to move beyond the typical overgrown azaleas and rhododendron and choose foundation plant varieties that stay compact. The list of 16 low growing bushes featured in this article consists of both evergreen shrubs and flowering choices. They’re the perfect solution for homeowners who don’t enjoy pruning!

Finding the right low growing shrubs for your foundation plantings is a key to reducing maintenance.

Why low growing shrubs for the front of the house are best

Dwarf shrubs for the front of the house are a wise choice for several reasons. Aside from their minimal pruning requirements, many of these compact shrubs for front yards are evergreen and provide year-round interest to the landscape, while others produce beautiful blooms. Some even have interesting bark. Plus, many of these low growing shrubs for the front yard produce flowers that support bees and other pollinators. And lastly, as you’ll see in the plant profiles below, most exhibit extensive cold hardiness, some as far down as USDA zone 3.

6 Flowering low growing shrubs for the front of the house

I’ll start by introducing you to 6 deciduous low growing shrubs for the front of the house. These gorgeous flowering shrub choices stay compact yet still provide color and texture to your foundation plantings.

Dwarf Korean lilac shrubs produce fragrant blooms in the spring.

Dwarf Korean lilac (

Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’)

This flowering shrub produces lovely, pink to purple, sweet smelling flowers in late spring. Requiring full sun, the bushes top out at 4 to 5 feet in height, without pruning. It makes a great compact flowering hedge, and the foliage not prone to powdery mildew like traditional lilacs are. It flowers profusely and is hardy down to -30°F. When it comes to low growing shrubs for the front of the house, the deer-resistant dwarf Korean lilac is a real stunner.

Little Lime hydrangea blooms profusely yet stays small.

Dwarf hydrangea Little Lime® (

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’)

Little Lime hydrangea produces panicle-shaped clusters of light green to white blooms in summer and is hardy to -30°F. Topping out at 5 feet in height, it thrives in full sun to part shade. Like other hydrangeas, Little Lime prefers moist soil. It’s a multi-stemmed shrub and is especially easy to care for. Unlike mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) whose buds often freeze out in cold climates, the flowers on Little Lime are produced on stems that develop in the spring, so there’s no risk of the buds freezing out. This compact hydrangea looks so lovely in front of a house. Guests will no doubt ask about this beauty. The smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens), such as ‘Annabelle’, are another group of low growing shrubs for the front of the house worth growing. Their blooms are globe shaped rather than being panicle shaped.

Summersweet Clethra is a must-have if you love summer blooms.

Summersweet Clethra (

Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’)

If you’re looking for a low growing bush for foundation plantings that produces pretty summertime blooms, Clethra is my top choice. This compact variety attracts several types of bees and butterflies. It handles everything from full sun to heavy shade (though it won’t bloom quite as well with less than 4 hours of sun per day). Reaching a maximum height of just 4 feet and winter hardy in zones down to -30°F, it even tolerates wet soils. This is a cultivar of a North American native plant that’s very easy to grow. ‘Hummingbird’ is known for its slow growth and compact, mounded shape. It also produces more creamy white flowers than the straight species.

Virginia sweetspire is a lovely shrub and ‘Little Henry’ is a compact variety.

Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire (

Itea virginica ‘Sprich’)

Known as the Little Henry® sweetspire, this full sun, low growing shrub for in front of the house produces drooping, cylindrical spires of white flowers in early spring. The stems are red-hued which adds another element of interest. In autumn, the foliage of this compact shrub turns a brilliant orange or red. It is hardy to -20°F and thrives in full sun to partial shade. The blooms strut their stuff anytime from early June to late July. Damp to wet soil is preferred, but as long as you don’t let the soil get bone dry, Virginia sweetspire will do just fine. This is a dwarf cultivar of a North American native shrub.

Shrubby Cinquefoil produces vivid summer color in the landscape.

Shrubby Cinquefoil (

Potentilla fruticosa, syn. Dasiphora fruticosa)

In the summertime, there are few low growing shrubs for the front of the house that outshine the cinquefoil. Smothered in bright yellow, orange, pink, or white blooms (depending on the variety), this pretty, compact shrub is a vigorous grower for full sun to part shade conditions. It is attractive to bees and butterflies and survives winters down to -30°F. Growing to a maximum height of just 4 feet, the soft, feathery shape of this shrub is quite distinct. It makes a great deer-resistant flowering hedge or foundation plant. If you trim off the spent flowers, the bush often reblooms and may even be in near-continual flower from early summer through autumn.

‘Little Princess’ spirea is bursting with pink blooms by mid-summer.

Spirea ‘Little Princess’ (

Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’)

Japanese spirea has long been adored for its low maintenance requirements and reliable blooms. But many varieties grow too large for the front of the house without regular pruning. ‘Little Princess’ is a dwarf shrub that stays super compact, topping out at a height of just 30 inches! It produces flat-topped clusters of pink flowers from late spring through summer. Not only is this compact Japanese spirea easy to grow (just provide full sun), it is also deer resistant and handles a wide range of soil conditions. The growth is dense and rounded.

10 Evergreen low growing shrubs for the front of the house

Next, let’s look at some low growing shrubs for the front of the house that are evergreen. Because they hold onto their green leaves or needles year-round, they’re a prime choice for almost any climate, except for very warm ones. Their evergreen foliage provides shelter for winter birds and looks lovely when topped with a light layer of snow. Let’s meet 10 compact, low maintenance evergreen shrubs for the front yard.

Dwarf mugo pine is deer resistant and evergreen.

Dwarf Mugo Pine (

Pinus mugo cultivars)

There are several varieties of mugo pine that are compact and make perfect low growing shrubs for the front of the house. They are drought resistant, deer resistant, and can be used as a great low hedge. Regular mugo pines grow large (up to 20 feet in height) so be sure to look for dwarf varieties, including the dwarf mugo pine (P. mugo variety pumilio) which reaches just 5 feet tall, ‘Teeny’ which tops out at a mere 1 foot tall, and ‘Paul’s Dwarf’ which grows to 3 feet. All are fully evergreen, non-flowering, and very low maintenance. Hardy down to -40°F. Full sun is best. Deer resistant.

Dwarf Hinoki cypress is a personal favorite due to its deep green color and fan-shaped needle clusters.

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’)

Though the deer absolutely adore feasting on the green foliage of this shrub, I won’t garden without it. I have two, and both are covered with a layer of deer netting year-round. I find them to be the finest of the low growing shrubs for the front of the house because their deep green, fan-shaped foliage is so distinctive. An Asian native, dwarf Hinoki cypress are very slow growing. It takes 10 to 15 years for them to reach their maximum height of 6 feet. Plant this foundation plant in full to partial sun and avoid waterlogged soils. The straight species grows very tall, so be sure to seek out the dwarf form. It’s quite winter hardy, down to about -30°F.

Round Arborvitae (

Thuja occidentalis varieties)

Most gardeners are probably familiar with tall, pyramidal-shaped arborvitae varieties, but did you know there are also compact arborvitae that are globe-shaped? I love these little cuties! One of my favorites is Mr. Bowling Ball®, but other options are ‘Little Gem’, ‘Hetz Midget’ and ‘Globe’. In late winter, when covered with a dusting of snow, these petite shrubs are extra fun. New growth emerges in spring, but there’s no need to prune this shrub to keep it round and compact. Skip this plant if you have a problem with deer. Choose a full sun to partial shade location and plan for a height of 3 feet. Most are hardy to -40° F.

Dwarf globe blue spruce has unmistakable blue-green foliage.

Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (

Picea pungens ‘Globosa’)

Deer resistant? Check! Pest and disease resistant? Check! Compact growth habit? Check! Unique foliage color? Check! And those aren’t the only traits this fun shrub for the front yard possesses. It’s also very hardy (-40°F), drought tolerant, and fun as all get out. Think of it as a classic blue spruce shrunk down to a tiny size. Dwarf Globe blue spruce reaches 4 feet tall and wide at maturity, but it struggles in climates with very hot summers.

Bird’s nest spruce shrubs have been popular in gardens for many years.

Bird’s Nest Spruce (

Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’)

Another compact spruce variety, bird’s nest spruce has long been a favorite in the category of low growing shrubs for the front of the house. It’s been around for decades. Picea abies is known as the Norway spruce, and the straight species is a massive tree that grows to over 150 feet tall. However, this cultivar grows just a few feet in height and does so very slowly, taking several decades to reach maturity. The flattened tops of these compact shrubs look a bit like a bird’s nest, hence the common name. Hardy to -30°F and preferring full sun, it is deer resistant.

The variegated foliage of ‘Emerald n Gold’ Wintercreeper is a fun addition to the winter landscape.

Emerald and Gold Wintercreeper (

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald n Gold’)

If you’re looking for variegated low growing shrubs for the front of the house, then this is the choice for you. The glossy, evergreen leaves are a combination of golden yellow and rich green. It’s so low growing that some gardeners grow it as a groundcover. Emerald and gold wintercreeper has great winter interest and tolerates lousy soils and shade (though the color is best in full to partial sun). This plant has been classified as invasive in some growing zones, so be sure to check with your state’s database for invasive plants before introducing it to your garden.

Rockspray cotoneaster plants produce bright berries in the fall and winter.

Rockspray Cotoneaster (

Cotoneaster horizontalis)

Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of this shrub, but it’s for a silly reason. The arching stems make it challenging to clean leaves out in the autumn. Not a critical fault, to be sure, but one that has kept me from planting it in my own garden. However, if a persnickety leaf clean up isn’t a concern of yours, then consider the rockspray cotoneaster for the front of your house. This low-growing shrub is a broadleaf evergreen. It produces small pink to white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of orange or red berries in the fall. The spray-like branches arch out from the trunk, giving it an almost cascading look. Hardy to -20°F, choose a site that receives full to partial sun. Avoid in southern locations with hot summers.

Compact shrubs like Juniper ‘Blue Chip’ cover the ground and smother weeds.

Creeping Juniper (

Juniperus horizontalis)

A fast-growing ground cover, this low growing shrub is very popular. Reaching a height of just 18 inches with a spread up to 8 feet wide, it’s a great dwarf shrub for covering a lot of ground. Its evergreen needles are a lovely blue-green and it’s both deer and drought resistant. Full sun is best for this North American native shrub that’s hardy to -40°F. Though it has few insect pests, creeping juniper can develop fungal blight which leads to dieback of the stems and can be spread by pruning equipment. All the more reason to never prune this low growing shrub! It looks great along the front walk or on front yard slopes.

There are many varieties of dwarf boxwoods that never need to be pruned.

Dwarf Boxwoods (

Buxus species and varieties)

Boxwood is a very popular shrub for the front of the house because it is deer-resistant and easy to care for. Standard English boxwood and Japanese boxwood varieties grow large and need to be pruned yearly, but compact dwarf varieties like ‘Green Pillow’, ‘Baby Gem’, ‘Green Mound’, ‘Morris Midget’, and others are a great bet if you don’t want to have to prune. Partial shade to full sun is best. Some dwarf boxes only reach a foot in height, while others top out at 3 to 4 feet. Pay attention to the plant tag to be sure you are choosing the best variety for your needs.

Inkberry hollies produce small dark berries that the birds enjoy.

Inkberry Holly (

Ilex glabra)

The lovely dark green leaves of the inkberry holly are spineless and evergreen, and they make it among the finest of the low growing shrubs for the front of the house. Inkberry holly thrives in conditions from full sun to full shade. It’s one of those low maintenance shrubs that everyone asks about because it’s not very common (though it should be because it’s a terrific choice!). Barely noticeable flowers appear in spring, but they are soon followed by dark black berries that feed many different species of birds through the winter months. These plants need minimal pruning and top out at 8 feet tall. The shape is naturally rounded. The cultivar ‘Shamrock’ is among the most compact and worth seeking out. Native to eastern North America, the inkberry holly is hardy to -30°F.

How to plant low growing shrubs for the front of the house

As you can see, there are so many great low growing shrubs for the front of the house. Combine several species together to create an interesting design. Plan for 3 to 5 of each species to create small masses of the same texture and color. I’m sure you’ll find these compact shrubs to be easy to care for and an enjoyable addition to your front yard for many years to come.

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The best shrubs blooming all summer winter-hardy for the site.

To create comfort in the backyard of a private house, it is necessary not only to create beautiful flower beds, but also to plant ornamental shrubs. With their help, many problems are solved. From dividing the space of the garden into zones and filling the site with flowering plants to enclosing it with a green living fence.

Beautiful flowering shrubs

Using flowering shrubs is more interesting. Some of them have an amazing aroma and literally transform the garden. They can be used in mixed plantings, mixborders, along fences to create compositions that bloom all summer from different plants that replace each other in terms of flowering.

This list of flowering shrubs may include the following plants:

Evergreen Shrubs

With regular and proper pruning, evergreen shrubs easily turn into a hedge or an unusual living sculpture that will become the center of a recreation area. To do this, it is enough to skillfully cut them. List of evergreen ornamental shrubs that can be planted in the garden:

Calmia
boxwood
Yew

Garden Shade Shrubs

They are often used to create a smooth transition from grass cover to canopy. Shade-loving shrubs are also needed to create a beautiful design for fences and the shady side of a private house. The most common shade-tolerant shrubs are listed below.

Cotoneaster

Rhododendrons

Garden jasmine (shrub)

Privet Oval Aureum

Thunberg barberry

Fast-growing shrubs

Gardeners choose them when a hedge needs to be grown in a short time. Often such plantings are made combined from different types of shrubs. In this case, you should carefully consider the issue of the future size of an adult plant and its relationship to a haircut.

The most popular fast growing shrubs are:

vesicle
climbing rose
Honeysuckle

Low-growing and frost-resistant garden shrubs

The former are characterized by the fact that they do not grow above one meter. They are usually planted on the borders. They decorate flower beds. List of low-growing ornamental shrubs for the garden:

Japonica
Heather

Goof silver
Elder
Hawthorn

Mixborder of conifers and shrubs scheme

The word "mix" leads us to mixing. The second part of the word - border - sends to the borders. It turns out that in such a landing there are no boundaries. But this is not true. It just seems so. In fact, everything here must be carefully thought out and planned.

Plants in a mixborder are supposed to have dense groups that smoothly flow into one another. Moreover, it must contain elements that will remain visible in the cold season. They are shrubs and conifers. They are also called the skeleton of the composition.

Any mixborder must be divided into three parts. They will not be the same in size and shape. In the background are planted tall plants with interesting leaves. The second row is filled with flowers that are characterized by straight and tall stems. They are covered with medium height with a small number of leaves. And stunted and ground cover plants come to the fore. Plantings of annual flowers are usually placed in front of them.

Here is one example of a perennial mixborder placed along a wall or fence. Its background is decorated with plants: lafanthus, purple echinacea, chatma and clematis. The middle is filled with shrubby cinquefoil, yarrow, fennel polygon, vervain bonar, boxwood, decorative wormwood and onions. In the first rows planted: shrub cinquefoil, geranium, soft cuff, coreopsis.

1. Endress geranium. 2. The cuff is soft. 3. Majestic geranium. 4. Coreopsis whorled. 5. Potentilla shrub. 6. Ptarmic yarrow. 7. Decorative bow. 8. Fennel multi-grate. 9. Bonar verbena. 10. Boxwood. 11. Decorative wormwood. 12. Lofant. 13. Echinacea purpurea. 14. Hatma. 15. Clematis

14 Beautiful bushes for the facade of the house

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Front yard landscaping typically includes a combination of different types of shrubs and flowers, evergreens provide year-round freshness, and flowering shrubs add seasonal hues of color. Our selection of 14 house front shrubs will satisfy your needs for lush greenery and vibrant colors and elevate your home's appeal to the next level.

Before purchasing landscape shrubs, be sure to consult with a professional to learn about shrubs that may be invasive in your area.

Some of the plants on this list are toxic to pets.

1 of 14: Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Renata Tyburczy / Getty Images evenly moist areas with partial shade. This dwarf boxwood is well suited for planting in containers, as a hedge or ground cover.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 5–8.
  • Sun Exposure : Full sun or full shade but partial shade for ideal appearance.
  • Soil : Well-draining and evenly moist loamy soil.

2 of 14: Hydrangea arborescens

skymoon13 / Getty Images the same width.

This popular ornamental plant has many varieties with multicolored flowers, including Annabelle with white flowers and Bella Anna with bright pink flowers.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4–9.
  • Sun exposure : Full sun to patchy shade.
  • Soil : Medium, well drained. More water if the plant gets full sun.

3 of 14: Juniperus agnieszka

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This juniper cultivar is a low growing, dense evergreen coniferous shrub valued for its low height which lends itself well to ground cover.

This plant grows quickly, can outrun weeds and other nasty plants that may appear in the yard, and can also be an alternative to grass. This creeping juniper variety does not require cutting and reaches a maximum height of about 15 cm.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 3–9.
  • Sun exposure : Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil : Good drainage. Prefers sandy soils but is tolerant of other types.

See also: 15 beautiful types of lilies for your garden.

4 of 14: Holly (Ilex glabra)

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Holly is a slow-growing broad-leaved evergreen shrub that usually grows in sandy forests, along the edges of swamps and streams. It usually reaches a height of 1.5 to 2.5 meters, dwarf varieties such as 'Compacta' are also available with a height closer to 1.2 meters. This plant belongs to the holly family and produces dark purple berries in autumn.

  • USDA Growing Zones: Usually 5 to 9, but check with your specific cultivar.
  • Sun exposure : Partial sun to partial shade. Prefers the west side.
  • Soil requirements : Rich, acidic soil. Prefers moist soil and can tolerate standing water.

5 of 14: Pointed yew (Taxus cuspidata)

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This dwarf variety is smaller and slower growing than other varieties of Japanese yew, reaching about 1.5 meters in height. It is known for its bright leaves that turn yellow and slowly turn green.

The pointed yew is native to Japan, Korea and northeast China, where specimens can grow up to 18 meters in height with stems 60 cm in diameter. These shrubs do not tolerate wet soil well.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 4–7.
  • Sun exposure : Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil : Medium; well drained.

6 of 14: Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica)

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An erect, deciduous perennial shrub native to Japan, China and Korea. This plant reaches 1.2 to 1.8 meters in height and produces small pink flowers on new branches, so pruning in late winter or early spring will encourage flowering.

  • USDA growing zones: 3–8.
  • Sun exposure : full sun.
  • Soil : Prefers rich, loamy, moist soils but tolerates a wide range.

7 of 14: Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.)

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A flowering shrub of rhododendrons, azaleas are a group of over 10,000 varieties of various sizes and colors that are shade tolerant and bloom in spring.

There are many rhododendrons to suit almost any landscape environment, with countless colors, sizes and climate tolerances developed over hundreds of years.

  • USDA Growing Zones : usually 6 to 9, but some varieties may grow in zones 4 to 5.
  • Sun exposure : Partial shade to full shade.
  • Soil : acidic, well drained.

8 of 14: Thuja occidentalis (Thuja occidentalis)

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This dwarf, dense, rounded evergreen coniferous shrub with erect bright green leaves that turn bronze in winter. Reaching a height and width of 30-60 cm, this shrub is well suited for planting in the middle part of the front garden, between large bushes or small trees and flowers or ground cover.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 1–7.
  • Sun exposure : full sun. Can tolerate shade, but foliage will be less dense.
  • Soil : Tolerates a wide range including wet areas near waterways.

9 of 14: Photinia x fraseri (Photinia x fraseri)

Konstantinos Livadas / Getty Images appear with red tips and turn green as they mature. This plant is often planted near fences or as a decoration for the edge of a garden. It grows rapidly and can reach 3 to 4.5 meters in height and width.

These plants need regular pruning, and some people also remove the flowers they produce every spring, which are said to have a bad smell.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7–9.
  • Sun exposure : Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil : Well drained, loamy soil.

10 of 14: Camellia sasanqua

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Sasanqua camellias, reaching a height of about 4.5 meters, grow in China and Japan and usually grow at high altitudes. In late summer/early autumn, they produce fragrant single flowers that range from white to bright pink, depending on the variety. After a couple of days, petals fall from each flower, so they are not suitable for flower arrangements.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7–9.
  • Sun exposure : Prefers partial shade.
  • Soil : Rich, acidic, well drained.

11 of 14: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

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This fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves belongs to the mint family, along with many other medicinal and culinary herbs. Native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia, rosemary produces small flowers all year round in ideal warm climates and blooms in spring and summer in temperate regions. Drought tolerant, this shrub typically reaches a height of 90 cm to 1.2 meters, and it needs to be trimmed to keep a neat shape.

  • USDA Growing Zones : 6–10.
  • Sun exposure : full sun.
  • Soil : well drained; good air circulation. Dislikes humidity and does best outdoors in dry regions.

12 of 14: Daphne odora

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Native to China, sweet wolfberry blooms in late winter and early spring, usually pink tubular flowers, although some varieties bloom white or purple. This evergreen shrub, about 1.8 meters high, is relatively short-lived and dies after an average of 8–10 years. It also doesn't like being repotted or any other damage to the roots.

  • USDA Growing Zones: 7–9.
  • Sun exposure : Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil : well drained, moist. Let the soil dry out from time to time.

13 of 14: Strobilanthes (Strobilanthes dyerianus)

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The strobilant (Persian shield) comes from Myanmar. It is a flowering tropical evergreen shrub, also known as the royal purple bush. These plants typically reach 0.9–1.2 in height and enjoy warmth and moisture, which is best suited to southern coastal climates that rarely experience low temperatures. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual and is a popular ornamental given its vibrant purple foliage.