36 Bushes in Front of House Ideas
Bushes in front of a house can significantly enhance its curb appeal. They add color, texture, and depth to the landscape. Evergreen shrubs like boxwood or arborvitae provide year-round interest while flowering bushes like hydrangea or spirea offer seasonal blooms. Compact varieties like Tater Tot Arborvitae or Barberry Admiration are perfect for small spaces.
Bushes can also serve as natural barriers or privacy screens. Properly maintained, they frame the entrance and create a welcoming atmosphere. Choose bushes that fit your climate and desired maintenance level to ensure they thrive and beautify your home’s exterior. Regular pruning keeps them tidy and healthy.
1. Boxwood
Boxwood shrubs are versatile and elegant plants that gardeners have cherished for centuries. Their dense, glossy foliage offers year-round beauty. Boxwoods thrive in various climates and can be shaped into hedges, topiaries, or left natural. They excel as foundation plantings, borders, or standalone features.
Boxwoods prefer well-draining soil and can adapt to light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Regular pruning keeps them tidy and promotes dense growth. These low-maintenance shrubs resist pests and diseases, making them a reliable choice for novice and experienced gardeners.
2. Yew
Yew shrubs are hardy evergreens known for their dark green needles and red berries. These highly adaptable plants can grow in sun or shade. Gardeners often use yews for hedges, privacy screens, or accent plants. They respond well to pruning, allowing for easy shaping and maintenance. Yews grow slowly, which makes them manageable in landscapes.
Their dense foliage provides excellent shelter for wildlife. However, yew berries and foliage are toxic if ingested. These shrubs prefer well-drained soil and can tolerate various soil types. With proper care, yews can live for many years and become striking features in mature gardens.
3. Fire Chief Arborvitae
Fire Chief Arborvitae is a compact evergreen shrub that adds vibrant color to gardens. Its foliage turns bright red to orange, especially in cooler months. This plant grows to about 2-4 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for small spaces. Fire Chief thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-draining soil. It’s relatively low-maintenance and doesn’t require much pruning.
Gardeners use Fire Chief Arborvitae as a focal point in mixed borders or for foundation plantings. It is hardy in USDA zones 5-8 and resists many common diseases. Its striking color provides winter interest when other plants are dormant. This shrub attracts wildlife and resists deer, making it versatile for various landscape designs.
4. Mountain Fire Pieris
Mountain Fire Pieris is a striking evergreen shrub known for its colorful foliage and delicate flowers. New growth emerges in bright red, creating a fiery display in spring. As the leaves mature, they turn deep green, providing year-round interest. Mountain Fire produces clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring.
This shrub prefers acidic, well-draining soil and partial shade, though it can tolerate full sun in cooler climates. It grows slowly, reaching maturity 3-6 feet tall and wide. Gardeners use Mountain Fire Pieris in woodland gardens, as foundation plants, or in mixed shrub borders. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens or container planting.
5. Blue Star Juniper
Blue Star Juniper is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub prized for its striking blue-gray foliage. It forms a dense, rounded mound that typically reaches 1-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. This juniper thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant, making it a low-maintenance choice for rock gardens, borders, or as a ground cover.
Blue Star Juniper adds texture and color contrast to landscapes year-round. Its compact size suits small gardens or containers. Gardeners use it to create serene backyard retreats or to accent pathways. This hardy plant resists pests and diseases, and its unique color stands out against green foliage or colorful flowers.
6. Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae is a fast-growing evergreen tree that can reach heights of 40-60 feet. It forms a dense, pyramidal shape that provides excellent privacy screening. This tree thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil types. Once established, Green Giant is drought-tolerant and resists deer browsing.
It requires minimal pruning and is relatively disease-free. Gardeners value it for its rapid growth rate, often growing 3-5 feet per year. The tree’s dense foliage offers year-round interest and serves as a windbreak. Plant Green Giants 5-6 feet apart for proper air circulation for best results.
7. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Emerald Green Arborvitae is a compact evergreen shrub that grows 12-14 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It maintains a natural conical shape without much pruning. This variety prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It needs well-draining soil and regular watering, especially during its first year.
Emerald Green is hardy in USDA zones 3-7 and can withstand cold winters. Its dense foliage provides excellent privacy and wind protection. In hot climates, it benefits from afternoon shade. Wrap the shrub with burlap or create a windscreen to prevent winter damage. If growth seems slow, fertilize sparingly in early spring.
8. Barberry Admiration
Barberry Admiration is a dwarf deciduous shrub known for its striking foliage. It grows 12-18 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide, perfect for small gardens or containers. The leaves are coral-red with thin golden-yellow margins, creating a vibrant display. This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil types.
Admiration is drought-tolerant once established and resists deer. It requires minimal maintenance and can be pruned to maintain its compact shape. In fall, the foliage turns a fiery red. Use it as a border plant, in rock gardens, or as a colorful accent in mixed plantings.
9. Tater Tot Arborvitae
Tater Tot Arborvitae is a miniature evergreen shrub that grows 1-2 feet tall and wide. Its compact, globe-shaped form is ideal for small spaces or container gardens. This low-maintenance plant prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Once established, Tater Tot is drought-tolerant but benefits from regular watering during hot spells.
It’s hardy in USDA zones 3-7 and can withstand cold winters. The dense, green foliage provides year-round interest. Prune lightly in spring if needed to maintain shape. Apply a slow-release fertilizer in early spring for optimal growth. Tater Tot works well in rock gardens, as a border plant, or in mixed shrub plantings.
10. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are popular flowering shrubs known for their large, showy blooms. They come in various species and cultivars, with flower colors ranging from white to pink, blue, and purple. Most hydrangeas prefer partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Depending on the variety, they typically bloom from late spring to fall.
Regular watering is crucial, especially during dry spells. Prune hydrangeas according to their specific type, as some bloom on old wood while others on new growth. Flower color in some varieties can be influenced by soil pH. Hydrangeas work well as foundation plants, in borders, or as garden focal points. They also make excellent cut flowers for arrangements.
11. Rhododendron
Rhododendrons are popular flowering shrubs known for their large, showy blooms. They thrive in partial shade and prefer acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. These plants need consistent moisture but can’t tolerate soggy conditions. Gardeners should water them deeply once a week, especially during dry spells.
Rhododendrons have shallow roots, so mulching helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Prune them right after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth. Fertilize sparingly in early spring with a formula designed for acid-loving plants.
12. Azalea
Azaleas, close relatives of rhododendrons, are beloved for their vibrant spring flowers. They prefer partial shade but can handle full sun in cooler climates. These shrubs need well-draining, acidic soil rich in organic matter. Water azaleas regularly to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulching helps maintain soil moisture and temperature.
Prune azaleas right after they finish blooming to shape the plant and promote bushier growth. Fertilize in late winter or early spring with a specialized azalea fertilizer. Watch for pests like lace bugs and diseases such as root rot. Azaleas make excellent border plants, foundation plantings, or standalone specimens in gardens.
13. Lavender
Lavender is a fragrant herb known for its purple flowers and aromatic foliage. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Once established, this drought-tolerant plant prefers dry conditions. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so let the soil dry between waterings. Lavender needs little fertilizer; too much can reduce flower production.
Prune in early spring to maintain shape and promote new growth. These plants attract bees and butterflies, making them great for pollinator gardens. Lavender is used in cooking, aromatherapy, and crafts. It’s also known for its calming properties—plant lavender in rock gardens, herb gardens, or as a low hedge.
14. Rosemary
Rosemary is an evergreen herb prized for its fragrant leaves and culinary uses. It loves full sun and well-draining soil. This Mediterranean plant is drought-tolerant and prefers dry conditions. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Rosemary doesn’t need much fertilizer; excess nutrients can reduce its aromatic qualities.
Prune regularly to maintain shape and prevent woody growth. This herb can be grown as a small shrub or trained into topiary forms. Rosemary attracts beneficial insects and resists deer. It’s commonly used in cooking, especially with meats and roasted vegetables. The plant also has traditional medicinal uses.
15. Viburnum
Viburnum is a diverse genus of flowering shrubs known for their attractive foliage, flowers, and berries. These versatile plants adapt to various light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Viburnums prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots. Once established, they’re relatively drought-tolerant.
Prune after flowering to maintain shape and size. Some species produce edible berries, while others offer ornamental value. Viburnums provide year-round interest with spring flowers, summer foliage, fall color, and winter berries. They attract birds and butterflies, enhancing garden biodiversity.
16. Spirea
Spirea is a versatile flowering shrub that gardeners love for its showy blooms and easy care. It thrives in full sun and prefers well-draining soil. These plants bloom profusely in spring, with some varieties offering a second flush of flowers later in the season. Spirea adapts to various soil types but favors slightly acidic conditions.
Once established, it’s drought-tolerant, needing water only during dry spells. Pruning after flowering helps maintain shape and encourages denser growth. For optimal performance, apply a slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Spirea attracts butterflies and serves as an excellent border plant or foundation shrub.
17. Weigela
Weigela is an old-fashioned shrub that’s making a comeback in modern gardens. It boasts tubular flowers in shades of pink, red, or white that bloom in late spring. Gardeners prize Weigela for its low maintenance and ability to attract hummingbirds. Plant it in full sun for the best flower production, though it can tolerate partial shade.
Weigela prefers moist, well-draining soil but adapts to various conditions. It needs deep water when young, but once established, it rarely needs extra irrigation. Prune after flowering to shape the plant and encourage new growth. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release formula. Weigela is relatively pest-free and deer-resistant.
18. Burning Bush
Burning Bush, known for its brilliant red fall foliage, is a popular landscape shrub. It grows well in full sun to partial shade but needs direct sunlight for the most vibrant autumn color. This hardy plant adapts to various soil types, preferring well-drained conditions. Water regularly during its first growing season to establish deep roots.
Once mature, Burning Bush is drought-tolerant, needing water only during prolonged dry spells. Prune in early spring to maintain shape and control size. Be cautious with fertilizer, as it can promote excessive growth. Burning Bush is low-maintenance and resistant to most pests and diseases.