--- title: "The 18 Best Shrubs for the Front of the House" description: "Plant these shrubs in front of your house for curb appeal, privacy, or the simple joy that their foliage and flowers bring to your yard." date: "2023-01-19" modified: "2025-08-13" authors: - name: "Lori Lovely" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/lori-lovely/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-shrubs-for-front-of-house/" categories: - "Lawn & Garden" tags: - "curb appeal" - "gardening" - "landscaping" --- # The 18 Best Shrubs for the Front of the House ![A red door on a navy house with several shrubs varieties planted out front.]() *Photo: Dolores M. Harvey via Shutterstock* Shrubs can serve as foundation plants that enhance a home’s curb appeal and add to its personality. When carefully selected, front garden bushes can add privacy, block street noise, and frame a home with natural beauty, especially when the shrubs are layered with trees or annual flowers. Shrubs can reduce soil erosion in a sloped yard, and front yard shrubbery along the home’s foundation can help shield the home from wind in winter and add shade in the summer, particularly when planted on the south side. Planting the right landscaping shrubs in front of your house can even increase your home’s property value. Studies have shown that attractive landscaping [can increase a home’s sales price by 5.5 to 12.7 percent](). To reap the greatest benefits, look for shrubs that suit your property’s growing conditions, meet your maintenance needs, offer year-round interest, and will mature to the optimal size for your landscaping. Read on for a list of the best shrubs for the front of the house, and pick up some pointers for selecting the best plants for your property. ## How to Pick the Right Shrubs ![A large two-story home with yellow hydrangea shrubs planted in front.]() *Photo: Artography via Shutterstock* Finding the best shrubs for the front yard requires planning and thoughtful assessment. Aesthetics matter—shrubs should add beauty to the landscaping and be in proportion to the size of the home and property. But practical considerations like maintenance requirements and water needs are also crucial. ### Growing Zone and Home Orientation Select a shrub suited to your area’s hardiness zone, but also consider heat tolerance, paying special attention to your home’s orientation. Garden beds along the north side of your home are the coolest, so for a northern exposure, you may want to opt for a shrub that thrives in a cooler [USDA Plant Hardiness Zone]() to ensure it survives a harsh winter. Plants along western and southern walls will experience more temperature fluctuations from heated wall surfaces. ### Water Needs Before purchasing, consider a shrub’s water requirements and also how easily you’ll be able to water it in its intended location. Don’t plant a shrub in the path of a downspout, and don’t plant it too low. Having drip emitters or a faucet nearby will save time. Opt for drought-tolerant shrubs if you live in a dry climate. ### Soil Conditions [Test soil pH](), or estimate it based on your region’s typical soil makeup, before investing in a new shrub. Also, check to see how well the soil drains in the area where you intend to plant it. Note that soil around a foundation may drain poorly, be compacted from construction work, or exhibit higher soil pH from substances like leached limestone or calcium in building materials. ### Sun Exposure and Intensity Light duration and intensity can affect how much a plant blooms or how its foliage changes color in fall. While the site’s orientation will certainly affect sun exposure, also consider the amount of shade a shrub will receive from the house, other structures, or nearby trees. ### Scale and Size Shrubs grow to different heights and widths. When selecting a shrub, particularly if it will be planted along the home’s foundation, be sure to research its expected height and width at maturity. Otherwise, it may end up looking out of place, too small (or too large) for the scale of the house or nearby plantings, or it may block windows or other plants. After [planting a shrub,]() it might look small for the first few years, but it will fill in as it grows. It’s also important to consider a shrub’s mature height when incorporating shrubs into a layered transition from trees to smaller plants. ### Fit With Home and Landscape Style Think about your home’s architectural style and whether you have (or want) a formal or informal landscape. For example, boxwood can match contemporary or formal landscapes (with some pruning), but it does not look good with native or natural landscapes. Consider flower size and color when selecting [flowering shrubs]() for the front of your home to ensure they will suit the facade and nearby plantings. ### Ability to Produce Seasonal or Year-Round Color Flowering shrubs typically bloom only in spring through late summer, but some boast other attractions, such as evergreen foliage, colorful berries, or leaves that change color in fall. To ensure your front yard has four seasons of color, balance shrub choices with trees and other plants. If you have an evergreen ground cover and an ornamental grass that features seed plumes in fall and winter, you might not need an evergreen shrub. Depending on the size of your property and how many shrubs you need, look for a few spring bloomers, a few summer stunners, and some that offer fall color. ### Expected Maintenance Be realistic about your ability or willingness to maintain your shrubs. An unmotivated gardener who selects shrubs for the front of the house that require heavy pruning or other maintenance may end up with unsightly growth, disruptive spread, or disappointing flowering. Low-maintenance bushes and shrubs are the best bet for busy homeowners or gardening novices. If you’re patient, select native shrubs that grow slowly, since they will probably need less pruning. Expect most shrubs to need one trim or [pruning per year](), so check plant information for timing. # 18 of the Best Shrubs to Plant in Your Front Yard Once you have a landscape plan in mind and have taken the above considerations into account, it’s time to start shopping for shrubs for the front of your house. Before you purchase, check with local sources for tips on how your favorite shrubs fare in your area. For instance, some shrubs may be deemed invasive in one part of the country but cause no problems in another area. Certain shrubs might also be more susceptible to disease in one climate than another. Consider these factors as you evaluate the growing requirements and selling points of the following shrubs. ## 1. Potentilla (Dasiphora fruticosa or Potentilla fruticosa) ![A large Potentilla bush with small yellow flowers.]() *Photo: Peter Turner Photography via Shutterstock* Also known as shrubby cinquefoil, this low-maintenance shrub was reclassified as *Dasiphora* in 2023, so look for plant care information and shrubs for sale under both names. A relative of roses, cinquefoil features 1-inch symmetrical flowers with five petals against delicate deep-green foliage. This [North American native]() is even more striking in its hybrid forms, which can boast yellow, white, or coral flowers. Although it fares best in cool and mountain climates, potentilla remains one of the easiest shrubs to grow. It is considered a low-water plant and requires no pruning, or a light spring pruning into a rounded shape. **Best For:** Natural or pruned look in cool climates and low maintenance **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 5 to 7 **Size:** 1 to 6 feet high; 2 to 3 feet wide **Light:** Full sun ## 2. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.) ![Light purple and bright pink rhododendron plants growing in large bushes. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Because rhododendron varieties are evergreen and have larger leaves, these perennial shrubs are sometimes used in privacy hedges. Like their azalea relatives, rhododendrons are low-maintenance woody shrubs that can offer some wind protection near the front of a house, especially the evergreen varieties. They produce bell-shaped flower clusters in white, pink, purple, red, or orange in mid to late spring. Although they are colorful stunners, rhododendrons can be susceptible to insects and diseases, along with deer damage; they also prefer acidic soil. So be sure to follow care instructions and consider an alternative shrub if deer frequent your front yard. **Best For:** Specimen or screening plants, lots of flower color options **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 4 to 8, depending on variety **Size:** 6 to 10 feet high; 5 to 8 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade, dappled light ## 3. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) ![A bright pink Azalea bush. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* [Azaleas]() are rhododendrons that bloom earlier (April) and have tubular-shaped flowers. They feature dense, dark foliage crowned in the spring by vibrant, sometimes fragrant, blooms of white, purple, pink, red, yellow, or orange. Most prefer partial shade, but some azalea varieties are [shrubs that can handle full sun](). Azaleas prefer moist, acidic, but well-draining soil. If you need shorter shrubs, select a dwarf azalea. All can be pruned for shape, size, and structure. They typically add a natural, informal style to landscapes. **Best For:** Added bursts of spring color **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 4 to 8, depending on variety **Size:** 3 to 15 feet high; 2 to 6 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade, dappled light ## 4. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) ![Light pink, blue, and lavender hydrangeas blooms.]() *Photo: iStock* For showy, long-lasting blooms in white, pink, blue, or purple (depending on your soil’s pH) from summer through fall, the [hydrangea]() can’t be beat. Most are deciduous, with lush green foliage. Their natural form lends an informal look, but many varieties are amenable to pruning to shape. This easy- and fast-growing shrub prefers partial shade or an eastern exposure in your landscape. **Best For:** Informal landscapes or cottage gardens **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 9 **Size:** 2 to 15 feet high; 2 to 12 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 5. Rose (Rosa spp.) ![Pinkish-red rose blooms on a bush.]() *Photo: iStock* Roses, beloved symbols of love and beauty, are some of the most popular shrubs for full sun. Many hybrids are available in colors ranging from white to pink, red, lavender, orange, and yellow, and the flowers can be single or double. Heirloom cultivars are often fragrant. Most rose bushes grow to a manageable height for placing in front of a house. [Pruning roses]() can be tricky due to the technique and thorns, and some varieties are susceptible to disease. Knock Out roses are known to be particularly easy to grow. **Best For:** Pairing with foliage plants in full sun **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 9 **Size:** 3 to 6 feet high; 3 feet wide **Light:** Full sun ## 6. Boxwood (Buxus spp.) ![A boxwood shrub shaped into orbs. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* With its glossy leaves, the boxwood is one of the most popular [low-maintenance evergreen shrubs](), and it can be a good choice for small spaces. One option, Franklin’s Gem boxwood, reaches about 2 feet tall, making it ideal for placing in front of taller shrubs or along walkways for year-round greenery that won’t overtake the sidewalk. Winter Gem, a slow-growing [type of boxwood shrub]() reaching 6 to 8 feet tall, is easy to control by pruning to shape. Gardeners with some pruning savvy can shape their boxwoods into topiaries or hedges. **Best For:** A manicured, neat appearance in partial or full sun **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 5 to 9 **Size:** 2 to 20 feet high; 2 to 8 feet wide **Light:** Full sun to partial shade ## 7. Juniper (Juniperis spp.) ![A small, pointy juniper shrub near a fence. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* [Evergreen shrubs]() that thrive in full sun, junipers can be short enough to act as ground cover or tall enough to be hedges or trees. Some varieties, such as Stricta and Blue Star, have an aquamarine or blue tint to their foliage. Most spread up to 4 feet, which is perfect for [foundation planting](), and most grow slowly. Look for varieties that grow to the height you desire. The shrubs can handle most soils, are drought-tolerant, and are considered low-maintenance evergreens. Some junipers are prone to disease or contribute to seasonal allergies, so check with local sources. **Best For:** Low-effort winter color **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 9 **Size:** 2 to 15 feet; 3 to 10 feet **Light:** Full sun ## 8. Yew (Taxus spp.) ![A line of small, rectangular Yew shrubs line a walkway. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* A soft-needled, slow-growing evergreen conifer, the yew is usually counted among low-maintenance bushes in landscaping for shady areas, although it can also handle sun. Its dense foliage and ability to grow to various sizes make it a popular privacy hedge choice in cool growing zones. However, dwarf varieties offer height options, and yews are easy to prune to size or shape, endearing them to gardeners who value formal landscapes. In late summer to fall, red berry-like fruit punctuates their finely textured green foliage. Be careful of placement: All parts of the yew plant are toxic to people, dogs, cats, and horses. **Best For:** Any space that calls for an attractive evergreen **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 4 to 8 **Size:** Up to 20 feet high; 3 to 20 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 9. Euonymus (Euonymus spp.) ![A yellow and green euonymus shrub rests near a home entrance. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Another of the shrubs for shade in the front of the house, euonymus varieties are low-maintenance, hardy shrubs that can grow to roof height. Of the more than 175 varieties, Burning Bush is probably the most familiar cultivar, thanks to its fiery red fall foliage that makes it among the best evergreen shrubs for the front of the house. It also features modest growth, eventually reaching about 6 feet high and wide. Other varieties grow taller, and all of these fast-growing shrubs can be left to grow naturally or manicured to shape or to form a hedge. **Best For:** Beautiful fall foliage or forming a compact hedge **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 6 to 9 **Size:** 4 to 15 feet high **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 10. Lilac (Syringa spp.) ![A garden with purple and white lilac bushes.]() *Photo: Degtiarenko Olga via Shutterstock* The go-to shrub for cool climates is also one of the most colorful shrubs for the front of the house, with fragrant blooms that emerge each spring. Although it loses some of its appeal after blooming, the shrub produces blooms on old wood, so you can prune it for shape and even into a hedge after the flowers fade. Lilacs attract pollinators but are deer- and rabbit-tolerant. Choose *Syringa vulgaris* ‘Yankee Doodle’ for deep purple flowers, or opt for the white flowers of *S. vulgaris* ‘Angel White.’ Beware: The Japanese tree lilac (*S. reticulata*) is invasive in some regions. **Best For:** Fragrant spring blooms in spots with full sun **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 7 **Size:** 12 to 16 feet high; 8 to 12 feet wide **Light:** Full sun ## 11. Holly (Ilex spp.) ![A green holly plant with red berries and frosted leaves. ]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* This holiday favorite is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub with dark-green, glossy notched leaves and bright red [winter berries]() that attract birds. Most are low-growing shrubs, but American holly (*Ilex opaca*) can grow to a staggering height of 30 feet; it and other varieties can form a trimmable privacy hedge. Many holly varieties grow slowly and do well in a range of sun exposures. Mature hollies are drought-tolerant and can handle a variety of soil types. The fruits are slightly toxic. **Best For:** Producing pretty berries in winter and small flowers in spring **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 5 to 9 **Size:** 2 to 12 feet high; 2 to 10 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 12. Weigela (Weigela florida) ![A large, bright pink Weigela bush grows in a backyard.]() *Photo: MirSiwy via Shutterstock* Among spring’s most colorful shrubs, weigelas feature yellow, white, pink, or red funnel-shaped blooms. Some types have variegated or purple leaves, adding to the colorful display. The sun-loving weigela comes in a wide range of sizes and is one of the good shrubs for the front of the house, working well as a foundation plant or large specimen shrub. Dwarf varieties are less likely to obscure windows on the front of the house. If you want to prune weigela for shape, do so after flowering stops, since blooms form on the previous year’s branches. **Best For:** Spots with full sun (for the most blooms) and moist to well-draining soil **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 4 to 8 **Size:** 6 to 10 feet **Light:** Dappled shade to full sun ## 13. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) ![Purple and red berries grow from a Serviceberry bush.]() *Photo: weha via Shutterstock* Also called shadbush or Juneberry, the native serviceberry grows as a multistemmed shrub or small tree. Around May, the shrub produces five-petaled white flowers that drop to form purplish pome fruits. The fruits are edible for people and wildlife and usually ripen a few months after appearing. As the weather cools, the leaves turn yellow, rust, or deep red for fall interest in your front yard. Some types require careful pruning to maintain a vase or natural shrub shape instead of tree-like growth. Look for downy serviceberry (*Amelanchier arborea*) or Allegheny serviceberry (*A. laevis*) for attractive multistemmed shrubs that can grow to small tree height. Serviceberry attracts pollinators and provides foraging for birds, and even deer and elk in winter. **Best For:** Native shrub that provides year-round interest **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 2 to 8, depending on cultivar **Size:** 6 to 25 feet high; 4 to 15 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 14. Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) ![Bright golden, yellow forsythia shrubs.]() *Photo: iStock* The bold yellow flowers of the forsythia herald the coming of springtime in many areas. Once its foliage appears, dimming the yellow buds’ brilliance, this [fast-growing, low-maintenance shrub]() blends into the landscape through fall. Deciduous forsythia can grow taller than some shrubs, although its arching branches can be pruned to shape, making it an excellent choice for hedges. Cut a few budding branches for indoor color in vases and prune the shrub to the desired shape after blooms fade. Forsythia tolerates poor soils, moderate drought, and partial shade, but blooms best in full sun. **Best For:** Locations with ample space to spread **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 8 **Size:** 2 to 10 feet high; 2 to 12 feet wide **Light:** Full sun ## 15. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) ![A Butterfly Bush grows with pink cone-shaped blooms.]() *Photo: Dirk M. de Boer via Shutterstock* Although controversial for its non-native status and tendency to be invasive in some areas, butterfly bush is one of the most attractive shrubs you can plant for front yard charm. While traditional varieties reseed easily in some regions, it does not spread invasively throughout the country, and it’s a great choice for dry climates. Look for new varieties bred to be sterile if invasiveness is a concern. *Buddleja davidii* ‘Purple Haze’ is a sterile, low-growing cultivar, and *B. davidii* ‘Miss Violet’ grows to about 5 feet. Although not a food host for native butterflies, the attractive [plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators](). **Best For:** Attractive pink to purple flowers on a shrub with natural-looking growth **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 5 to 9 **Size:** 5 to 12 feet high; 8 to 10 feet wide (2 to 3 feet high and wide dwarf varieties) **Light:** Full sun ## 16. Spirea (Spirea spp.) ![A spirea bush with white blooms on a sunny day.]() *Photo: iStock* Spirea is one of the easiest and most popular shrubs to grow in cool to temperate regions. This fast grower can hold its own in the landscape as a specimen plant, or complement groupings as a hedge or border. Bridal wreath spirea (*Spirea prunifolia*) produces tiny bouquets of sweet-smelling white flowers on loose, arching branches in the spring, while Japanese spirea (*S. japonica*) features purple flower clusters that last through summer. Various cultivars of both types grow to modest shrub height and a natural round habit, but are amenable to pruning as needed. They fare best in well-draining soil. **Best For:** Masses of cascading flowers in spring or summer (depending on the cultivar) **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 3 to 8, depending on cultivar **Size:** 4 to 8 feet high and wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 17. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.) ![White flowers grow from a viburnum bush.]() *Photo: iStock* Viburnum is a fast-growing native shrub that produces large “balls” of fragrant white flowers. This large and woody shrub must be planted where it has room to grow, but it can be successful as a foundation plant, screen, hedge, or border. Plant it a minimum of 6 feet from a house to give it room to mature. Across the more than 150 species of viburnum shrubs, foliage ranges from glossy green to dull dark green, but the foliage can turn scarlet or purple in the fall. Different cultivars like more or less sun, and all do best in well-draining, moist soil. **Best For:** Large, fragrant, showy blooms **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 2 to 11 **Size:** 6 to 15 feet high; 6 to 12 feet wide **Light:** Partial shade to full sun ## 18. Bluebeard (Caryopteris clandonensis) ![A bluebeard bush with light purple flowers grows in a garden.]() *Photo: ncristian via Shutterstock* It’s hard to find true blue flowers on shrubs; Bluebeard is named for its small blue flower clusters that bloom in mid- to late summer through the fall. Because of its abundance of cloudlike flowers, it’s also known as Blue Mist spirea, although it’s not related to spirea. Its fragrant gray-green foliage fills in quickly each spring, even after a hard prune. The flowers are especially attractive to bees and need no deadheading to maintain 8 or more weeks of blooming. Bluebeard has no common disease problems and is a drought-tolerant shrub once established; plant a group together for a low-growing, low-water hedge. Give *Caryopteris* full sun and well-draining soil. **Best For:** Abundant blue flowers in drought-prone areas **USDA Hardiness Zones:** 6 to 9 **Size:** 2 to 3 feet high and wide **Light:** Full sun ## Tips for Planting Shrubs ![A front yard with a pine tree, hydrangeas, and other shrubs.]() *Photo: Molly Shannon via Shutterstock* Successfully growing shrubs in the landscape starts with shrub selection. The information above can help you determine which shrubs will work best for your property’s conditions and needs. Also consider soil pH and drainage, and when to plant shrubs, along with these tips for placing your new plants in the ground. - Unless plant information says otherwise, plant shrubs in spring or fall. In spring, wait until after the last frost; in fall, plant early enough for the plant to establish some roots before the first winter frost. - Prepare the surrounding soil with amendments if recommended. - Loosen soil beneath the root ball, but fill it in so that the new shrub sits no deeper in the ground than it did in the container. - Always dig a hole at least twice as wide as the shrub’s current rootball or container. - Rough up or tease a new shrub’s roots to free them from the compression or circling in their container. - Place your new shrub so the crown is at the same level as it was in the pot, typically even with the surrounding soil, but according to plant directions. - Water any new shrub deeply after planting, and water even drought-tolerant shrubs a little more than recommended in care instructions for their first year or so to help them establish roots. - Monitor your new shrub to ensure it is not wilting; provide temporary shade if necessary to ease the shock of transplanting in high heat. - When planting hedges, look for credible information on the spacing of plants. They need enough room between each other to grow, but not so much space that your hedge will have gaps. ## FAQ ## Author Lori Lovely is an award-winning investigative journalist, writer, editor, children’s book author, and alpaca rancher with nearly three decades of experience in publishing. She has covered everything from motorsports to animal rights—plus construction, heavy equipment, transportation, automotive, environmental, MSW, water, wastewater, energy, solar, Native American issues, real estate, travel, and more.