Deck appeal and garden landscape aesthetics can be improved by planting evergreen shrubs in the front yard. Throughout the year, lush greenery in your front yard will keep your garden looking beautiful. From spring through autumn, flowering evergreen shrubs add a burst of color. In addition, by planting tiny, evergreen bushes in your front yard, you’ll get a lot of green throughout an otherwise drab winter vista.
Low-maintenance shrubs that are drought tolerant and require minimal pruning are the greatest evergreen front yard shrubs. Flowering azaleas, lovely gardenias, and arborvitae are examples of larger evergreen shrubs that may be placed along the foundation line to block out views or enhance property characteristics.
Little, dwarf evergreen bushes may be used to complement taller bushes or flower beds and give a front yard landscaping some variety and depth. The greatest evergreen shrubs for planting in a front yard are described in this article.
You’ll discover a suitable bushy plant for your landscape whether you need front yard evergreen shrubs to increase privacy, create structure, conceal a foundation line, or accent an entryway.
What Are Front Yard Evergreen Shrubs
Multi-stemmed, woody, bushy plants that retain their foliage all year are known as front yard evergreen shrubs. Evergreen foliage thrives in full to partial sun and requires little upkeep. The finest front-of-house plants include evergreen foliage. Most evergreen bushes should only grow to be 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall in height.
Dwarf azaleas, garland flowers, camellia, Japanese Pieris, and viburnum shrubs are some of the flowering evergreen front yard shrubs available. Conifer shrubs are often the greatest non-flowering landscaping plants for placing in front of your home..
Dwarf spruce, junipers, yew, and arborvitae bushes are examples of landscaping plants that are suitable for a front garden. Suppose you want to highlight a room in a home. You may use Japanese holly or conical arborvitae shrubs to create a vertical emphasis in that scenario by planting them tall and columnar.
How to Choose Evergreen Shrubs For Front Yard
Woody plants that need little care are recommended for planting in a front yard. Yet, your USDA growing zone, sunlight exposure, soil type, and drainage must all be taken into consideration before selecting shrubs. In an east, west, or south-facing front yard, for example, shrubs should be planted in full sun or partial shade.
Front Yard Evergreen Shrubs (With Pictures) – Identification Guide
Evergreen shrubs don’t have to be difficult to landscape a front yard. For ideas on plants for your front yard, continue reading to ensure year-round color and abundant bright flowers in front of your home, regardless of the zone you reside in.
Evergreen Azalea Shrubs (Rhododendron spp.)
Evergreen azalea bushes include tiny cultivars that can brighten up a sunny front yard with their stunning hues. The funnel-shaped flowers of evergreen azalea bushes, which bloom in pink, purple, yellow, white, and red hues, are well-known. These plants may make a dramatic statement on your property with their rounded growth and eye-catching floral displays.
Between 2 and 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8 meters) tall, evergreen azaleas are common. Larger cultivars do exist, though. A front yard is enhanced by ornamental azaleas. You can use them to construct privacy, cover a foundation line, produce a floral hedge, or build a shrub border by planting the sun-loving plants. In USDA zones 7 to 9, most evergreen azaleas are suitable for landscape planting. Ideal for a front yard are the following azalea cultivars:
Azalea encore ‘Autumn Princess’—Beautiful pink-red blooms with wavy petals and protruding red stamens adorn this flowering evergreen shrub. Against the glossy green leaves, the crimson blooms stand out. It can grow to be 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) tall.
Rhododendron ‘Ramapo’—This dwarf, evergreen azalea blooms with masses of purple or lilac flowers, making it ideal for compact gardens or foundation planting. In full sun, place this landscaping shrub in front of the home. It’s only 3 feet (1 meter) broad and grows to be 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall.
Azalea indica ‘Formosa’—The rounded evergreen azalea bush has trumpet-shaped flowers that are deep purple-magenta in color and reach 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) in height.
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’)
The small white blooms, tiny black fruits, and narrow growth habit of the Japanese holly ‘Sky Pencil’ make it a unique evergreen shrub. The 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 – 3 m) tall, narrow growth of this slow-growing front yard shrub Planting Japanese holly at the corner of a house, in the foundation planting, or forming an evergreen screen or hedge is ideal because of its compact, narrow growth.
To embellish an entranceway or front door, you may also grow the pencil-shaped evergreen plant in a pot. In USDA zones 6 to 8, plant the Japanese holly in full sun or partial shade.
Front Yard Small Norway Spruce Shrubs (Picea abies)
A front-of-house landscape is enhanced with needle-like foliage from many species of evergreen Norway spruce shrubs. The glossy, dark green needles of low-growing Norway spruces, their spreading nature, and little maintenance are all characteristics. In USDA zones 3 to 8, coniferous shrubs grow quickly and prefer full sun. In a sunny front yard landscape, here are some Norway spruce shrubs that you may grow:
Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’)—The weeping, drooping branches of this spruce shrub are the best landscaping feature. The shrub develops along the ground, forming evergreen ground cover with its arching evergreen leaves. It may also be grown as a small landscaping tree if stalked.
Bird’s Nest Spruce (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’)—The 3 to 4 ft. (1 – 1.2 m) high and 8 ft. (2.4 m) wide flat-topped bushy conifer shrub thrives in the dry climate of the desert Southwest. As a foundation plant or to line a front walkway, the slow-growing, sun-loving landscaping conifer is ideal.
Dwarf Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pumila’)—Since it is slow growing, has lush, dense foliage, and doesn’t grow taller than 4 feet (1.2 meters), this evergreen shrub is ideal for a front yard landscape.
For smaller garden landscapes, dwarf Norway spruce is a fantastic option.
Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
Cape jasmine is a gorgeous evergreen shrub with orange berries and glossy green leaves that adds beauty and fragrance to partially shaded front garden settings. Because it thrives in partial shade, this outstanding landscaping plant will flourish in a west, east, or north-facing yard. 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters) tall and broad, the Cape jasmine grows. USDA zones 7 to 11 are ideal for Cape jasmine.
It is also possible to locate some stronger white-flowering gardenia trees. Cape jasmine is ideal for planting in Florida front yards because it thrives in subtropical landscapes. Evergreen cape jasmine grows nicely as a flowering privacy hedge or specimen plant, blooming from spring until early fall.
American Arborvitae ‘Emerald Green’ (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)
The evergreen conifer ‘Smaragd’ (‘Thuja’) has upright branches and upright sprays of soft, feathery scale leaves, making it a popular cold hardy and low-maintenance foundation shrub. The arborvitae, which grows slowly and reaches 12 feet (3.6 meters) in height, is ideal for the front of the house.
In USDA zones 2 to 7, the American arborvitae thrives in full sun and is therefore perfect for cold climates landscaping. It’s a front yard privacy hedge, foundation planting, specimen plant, and even a rear border tree that is easy to grow as a shrub-like evergreen shrub-like tree.
Inkberry ‘Shamrock’ (Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’)
Inkberry bushy plant is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub that thrives on poorly drained soil. It’s a tiny, easy-to-care-for shrub. Evergreen oval leaves, a slew of greenish-white blooms, and masses of dark blue-black berries characterize the Shamrock inkberry cultivar. It’s a 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) tall and broad evergreen shrub that thrives in the sun.
USDA zones 4 to 9 are ideal for Inkberry ‘Shamrock.’ Planting along a front yard fence, foundation line, or shrub borders is perfect for this multi-stemmed shrub with its upward-growing stems. It can grow in damp soil and will flourish beside ponds and streams.
Chinese Snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum)
In warmer climates, the Chinese snowball is an evergreen tree with spectacular blooms that has a spherical vase shape. The magnificent egg-shaped green leaves and huge globular white blossoms, which grow 8 inches (24 cm) wide, are among the shrub’s ornamental qualities.
USDA zones 6 through 9 are the best places for Chinese snowball. In warmer areas, however, Chinese snowball is exclusively evergreen. Other semi-evergreen and evergreen viburnum bushes to contemplate are:
Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii)—This lovely shrub, with its fragrant blooms and clusters of crimson fruit, is ideal for growing in full sun or partial shade. It is suited for USDA zones 4 to 8. In zones 7 and 8, it’s evergreen.
In warmer regions, Viburnum x burkwoodii Mohawk (shown in the photograph) is an evergreen shrub that can be planted in partial shade.
Laurustinus Viburnum (Viburnum tinus)—The fragrant flower clusters of the lovely pink-flowering plant create stunning showy metallic blue berries, which are prominent in the garden. In USDA zones 7 to 9, the bushy evergreen shrub grows to a height of 8 feet (2.4 meters).
The viburnum Laurustine has upright, rounded growth and evergreen leaves.
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)
Pink or white blooms adorn Indian Hawthorn, a species of flowering evergreen shrub. Indian hawthorn, sometimes known as ballerina or rhaphiolepis, is a decorative landscaping shrub with clusters of pinkish-white spring flowers, lanceolate green leaves, and black berries. The dense foliage and fragrant flowers of Indian hawthorn make it an attractive front yard shrub. It grows 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) tall and is an evergreen shrub for full sun.
In USDA zones 7 to 10, Indian Hawthorn is a front-yard shrub. Foundation planting, evergreen hedges, and shrub borders are just a few of the popular uses for the pink flowering shrub. You may overwinter the evergreen bush indoors in temperate regions in a planter for container gardens.
Camellia
Camellia shrubs are lovely, evergreen bushy plants with dazzling semi-double and double blooms. They come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, and white. Pink, red, white, and multicolored Camellia camellia blooms may be found. Camellias may bloom all year and have a lengthy blooming period depending on the cultivar.
In USDA zones 6 to 9, camellia shrubs are a excellent choice for landscaping a front yard. Partial sun or full shade is ideal for the attractive evergreen bushy plants. Camellias may be used as a foundation plant, screen, hedge, specimen plant, or container to enhance a front entrance in a front garden landscape.
Small Evergreen Shrubs for the Front Yard
To boost curb appeal, make your home more appealing, and raise its potential value, choose dwarf, evergreen shrubs for planting in your front yard. For a front yard, choose the best small bushes with evergreen leaves.
Garland Flowers (Daphne cneorum)
Garland flower is a trailing ornamental low-growing evergreen vine with masses of star-shaped pink blooms that create a beautiful carpet of color in partial shade. Garland flower only grows up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, making it ideal for adding color to a front yard.
USDA zones 5 to 8 are ideal growing conditions for the low-growing blooming shrub. For front-of-bed planting, choose Garland flowers. To add color and texture to your front yard, you may plant the pink-flowering dwarf shrub. Rock gardens, mixed beds, and coastal gardens are some of the other uses for garland flower.
Boxwood (Buxus) Shrubs for the Front Yard
To enhance curb appeal, boxwood evergreen bushes are excellent for the front of the house. Boxwood plants are able to thrive in both full sun and partial shade. They provide evergreen foliage in a barren winter landscape. They are, however, a wonderful background for summertime blooming perennials. Planting boxwood bushes in USDA areas 5 through 9 is recommended. Front-of-the-house planting possibilities for dwarf, evergreen boxwood shrubs include the following:
Littleleaf Boxwood (Buxus microphylla ‘Compacta’)—The shrub develops 1 foot (0.3 m) tall in full sun and thrives there. Foundation planting, container planting, and growing along a border are all excellent uses for the full-sun dwarf evergreen.
Korean Boxwood ‘Nana’ (Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Nana’)—The green, spoon-shaped tiny leaves and capacity to retain its lush, green foliage throughout the year are among the appealing traits of Korean boxwood.
Boxwood ‘Silver Beauty’ (Buxus sempervirens ‘Silver Beauty’)—The bright variegated green and creamy-white leaves of this dwarf boxwood evergreen shrub are striking. Buxus variegated shrub is a 3-foot-tall conical-rounded plant that grows from 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm).
Boxwood, or Buxus sempervirens ‘Silver Beauty,’ is a type of boxwood.
Dwarf Evergreen Yew Shrubs (Taxus)
Dwarf yew evergreen bushes are ideal for placing in front of a residential house. Yew bushes grow 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 meters) tall and prefer full sun to deep shade. The glossy bright green needle leaves of yew bushes, as well as the red seed-bearing cones that appear in the autumn, are identifying features. For a front yard landscape, here are some examples of low-growing evergreen yew bushes:
Dwarf Bright Gold Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata ‘Bright Gold’)—The growth of this dwarf yew cultivar is upright and spreading, with a mounding tendency. The 3-foot-tall (1-meter-tall) slow-growing bush The magnificent leafy foliage is green needles that turn golden yellow in the winter when it is growing in full sun.
Canadian Yew (Taxus canadensis)—The little coniferous shrub has delicate, evergreen, aromatic foliage and dramatically colored red berry-like cones. It is also known as ground hemlock. 3 to 5 feet (1.5 – 1.5 meters) tall and 6 to 8 feet (1.8 meters) broad, Canadian yew bushes
Anglo-Japanese Yew (Taxus x media ‘Densiformis’)—This dwarf, evergreen has deep, evergreen needle leaves that are suitable for growing in full sun to shade in USDA zones 4 to 7. The shrub’s coral-red cones, which emerge in the autumn, are one of its appealing characteristics. In a front garden, plant the shrubs as a low-growing hedge.
Taxus x media ‘Densiformis’ has a spreading low growth habit, making it an excellent evergreen ground cover plant
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
The creeping juniper is a low-growing coniferous shrub with a spreading nature that thrives in the winter. Since it grows no more than 1.5 feet (0.5 m) tall and spreads up to 8 feet (2.4 m) wide, creeping juniper is an excellent front yard evergreen shrub. In freezing temperatures, the sun-tolerant, cold-hardy landscaping shrub remains green.
Cavatine Dwarf Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’)
The little blooming Pieris japonica ‘Cavatine’ cultivar is a delight in any front or backyard, with its low-growing decorative shrub form and showy clusters of brilliant white flowers. Pieris dwarf Japanese grows to be approximately 2 feet (0.6 meters) tall and broad. This evergreen shrub’s dangling conical clusters of bell-shaped white blooms have decorative value.