Gardeners use foundation plants in the front of a house to help it blend in with its natural surroundings while hiding the not-so-attractive foundation itself. These plants provide a pop of color and a more cohesive look for any landscape.
According to a Virginia Tech report, expert landscaping — especially in the front yard — can increase a home’s value by up to 20%. Although you may have no intention of selling your home anytime soon, choosing the right plants help boost your home’s curb appeal.
The experts at Epic Gardening singled out the best foundation plants, but choosing the best contender for your home depends upon several factors, including climate, color, and amount of maintenance.
Lily of the Nile
Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus praecox, is a cultivated garden plant popular in places around the world with a Mediterranean climate. If you live in Southern California or a warm coastal area, for example, the attractive lily of the Nile may be the foundation plant you seek.
These perennial plants grow between one and four feet high, thrive in full sunlight, and can live for up to 75 years. Lily of the Nile plants have long, evergreen leaves and produce beautiful flowers that are blue, purple, or white.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea is a genus of over 70 species of flowering shrubs native to Asia and the Americas. The plants produce beautiful flowerheads in the spring to late autumn.
Hydrangea plants are versatile and can handle everything from sandy coastal soil to the soil of shaded wooded areas. The plants are relatively easily to maintain, but, in drier climates, they do require more frequent watering.
The only significant downside is they are not evergreen, so they will lose their leaves for several months during the year. If you live in a warmer climate and prefer year-round foliage, the hydrangea may not suit your needs.
Gardenia
Plants of the genus Gardenia are native to tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. They produce flowers that emit a strong, appealing fragrance during evening hours.
Despite being native to warmer regions, gardenias are surprisingly tolerant of colder climates — they just won’t produce as many flowers. They’re low maintenance plants, but they can grow between 3 and 49 feet tall. Trim and prune accordingly if you don’t want to obscure the entire front of your house.
Holly
The genus Ilex, commonly known as holly, contains nearly 570 species of flowering plants. Some have spiky leaves and others are smooth, but all holly plants produce bright red berries during winter months. Enjoy the splash of color the berries provide, but don’t think about eating them — the berries are toxic to humans and pets.
Holly is a hardy evergreen plant that’s disease resistant, drought tolerant, and about as tough as the foundation you are planting it in front of. They require very little, if any, maintenance and grows between 6 and 50 feet tall.
Azalea
Plant lovers have cultivated azaleas, flowering shrubs of the genus Rhododendron, for centuries. Azaleas prefer partial to full shade, so they would work best for a north-facing house.
Azaleas are low-maintenance bushes that can grow from 3 to 20 feet tall, depending on conditions. The plants tolerate acidic soil and require very little maintenance, but Epic Gardening recommends pruning and trimming them occasionally to keep them from looking too scraggly.
In fact, if your azalea gets too unruly, you can cut it down as short as six inches tall and still expect a reasonable-size shrub in two years.
Camellia
The genus Camellia consists of more than 230 species of flowering plants native to eastern and southern Asia. Camellia leaves are used for tea, while the oil from the plant’s seeds are used for cooking and in cosmetics.
Most species of Camellia produce large, beautiful blooms between November and April. The sturdy plants require partial shade and would not work well in front of a south-facing home. Direct sunlight will scorch their leaves.
Salvia
The genus Salvia includes plants such as Salvia officinalis, more commonly known as sage. Salvia flowering plants are distributed all over the Old World and Americas.
Salvia plants produce flowers with long-lasting blooms in various colors, depending on the species. These hardy plants prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade as well as periods of drought. Some Salvia plants grow as tall as six feet, but most species top out at four feet.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus plants are known for their large, striking flowers, making them a natural choice to add a colorful accent to your front yard. Hibiscus syriacus, commonly known as the rose of Sharon, is a popular species with flowers that range from dark pink to white in color.
There are different hibiscuses for different climates, so choose one that works best for your area. Some types are evergreen and produce long-lasting flowers the size of a pie plate. The plants can grow up to 15 feet tall and prefer direct sun to partial shade.
American Beautyberry
The American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, is native to the Southern United States and is known for producing large clusters of vibrant purple berries that deer and birds cannot resist.
If you want to attract wildlife to your yard, consider the American beautyberry as a foundation plant. Not only do animals eat the berries, but the American beautyberry is also a larval host plant for the snowberry clearwing moth and spring azure butterfly, according to Epic Gardening.
If you don’t like looking at its bare branches during the winter, you can cut the American beautyberry almost to the ground and it will still bounce back in the spring.
Viburnum
The genus Viburnum consists of more than 150 different species of flowering shrubs. There are several evergreen species that retain their leaves all year. The fragrant flowers in shades of pink and white give way to clusters of berries, most of which are inedible.
Viburnum plants prefer full sun to partial shade and can grow between 5 and 15 feet tall. If you feel as if Viburnum is a strong foundation plant contender, be sure to check whether or not the one you want is considered an invasive species in your region of the country.