You never get a second chance for a first impression. We know that kitchen and bathroom remodels give you a great return on your investment. However, as the tides of real estate shift, there is a new way to make your home more desirable to buyers. Lately, many professionals agree that improving your home’s curb appeal is a major key to getting the best price for your home. What better way to dress up the outside of your home than with gorgeous flowering plants?
If you are considering selling your home, a garden that requires a lot of maintenance might not be the best investment. A well-landscaped foundation, though, can add an impressive 15-20% to your home’s value. An appealing and well-balanced foundation can make or break your listing photos and impress potential buyers from the moment they pull into the driveway.
Evergreens are always a good choice for foundation plants, but I love a bit of seasonal color in my yard. Flowering foundation plants that provide lovely foliage and beautiful blooms are a winning combination every time. Here are some of my favorite flowering foundation plants to help boost your home’s curb appeal.
Gardenia
These flowers emit their strongest fragrance in the evening.
You absolutely can’t go wrong in planting a gardenia shrub. Gardenias are evergreen in Zones 8-11, and some hybrid varieties handle winters in Zones 6-7, as well. Their glossy, deep green foliage is dense and makes them a great choice for an impressive hedge. But it’s their flowers that are positively enchanting. Large, creamy, fragrant summer blooms make these a top choice as foundation plants.
Gardenias like organically rich, acidic soil. They need lots of light to do their best blooming, but they will tolerate partial shade. In very hot climates, a bit of afternoon shade is actually a good thing, as it will make your flowers last longer. These shrubs are heavy feeders, so don’t skimp on the fertilizer. Their flowers release the most fragrance in the evening, making these wonderful for planting near an outdoor living space.
Azalea
They thrive in partial shade with well-drained, moist soil.
If you want hardy plants with low-maintenance spring flowers, azaleas are a great option. These plants require little effort as they bloom on old wood. Light pruning after they flower will keep them looking tidy throughout the summer months. A great thing about azaleas is their resilience. You can neglect these plants for several years and then hard prune them to help them thicken back up.
Azaleas perform best in partial shade. Morning light is great, but these shrubs like some afternoon shade to cool them down. They prefer well-drained soil that holds some moisture. If you plant these in a sunny spot, be sure to keep them watered well. Fertilizer is usually unnecessary for azaleas.
Rhododendron
These thrive best in partially shaded areas under larger trees.
These flowering shrubs belong to the same genus as azaleas, so they have similar needs. They look similar, too. Many rhododendrons are evergreen, and they have large clusters of flowers, unlike azalea shrubs. Their care needs are much the same, though. Both are low-maintenance and provide a great deal of color in the landscape in spring.
Rhododendrons like rich, moist, acidic soil. They tend to be flexible when it comes to sun exposure. They prefer a bit of shade. Under the canopy of larger trees is a good place to plant these shrubs.
Agapanthus
Its best flowering occurs with six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
Agapanthus are wonderful for dressing up a walkway or creating a border. Also known as Lily-of-the-Nile, these flowering perennials are impressive and showy in the late spring and early summer. They can even bloom throughout the summer with proper care. In mild climates, these plants are evergreen, so they look great in the winter, as well.
In very hot climates, give these plants some afternoon shade. Elsewhere, they will flower best with six to eight hours of daily sun. Most types are not picky about soil pH, but A. africanus is a great option if you have acidic soil. Their large flower heads bloom in cool shades of white, purple, and blue.
Tea Olive
This plant needs afternoon sun protection in very warm climates.
In the American South, the tea olive plant is a symbol of warmth and welcome. Planting one of these by the front door is practically customary where I live. You can train this plant into a small tree, or maintain a shrubby shape. The evergreen foliage is attractive year-round, and the small white flowers are delightfully fragrant.
If your soil is clay-heavy, this is a great choice. It tolerates average soil as long as there is good drainage. It prefers moisture, but once established, it is very drought tolerant. You won’t have many issues with pests attacking your tea olive. In very warm climates, plant this one where it will have some shade in the afternoon.
Chinese Fringe Flower
The Chinese fringe flower benefits from some afternoon shade to stay perky.
Chinese fringe flower makes a wonderful foundation plant in warm climates. The foliage is delicate looking, but the plant is very heat tolerant. The leaves come in shades of red, purple, and green, and flowers are either bright pink or white. These evergreens look great all year, adding low-maintenance curb appeal to your home.
This shrub tolerates partial shade. The leaves and flowers will have a more vivid color in full sun, but some afternoon shade will keep the plant looking perkier. Pruning is not something you’ll have to worry about often. These are practically pest and disease-free.
Ginger
Use this plant as a border or accent alongside evergreen plants.
Ginger is another low-maintenance plant that adds tropical flair to the landscape. There are many types of flowering ginger, each one more beautiful than the last. Butterfly ginger is a favorite of mine. I love it for its interesting foliage and highly fragrant, lovely white flowers in summer.
Ginger is great for those with partial shade in the front of the home. Too much light will burn the plant’s leaves and keep growth to a minimum. This plant loves moist, rich soil, and tolerates partial shade or bright, indirect light. The foliage dies back in winter in most climates, so use this plant as a border or accent to other, evergreen plants.
Hydrangea
These benefit from partial shade to maintain their plump appearance.
Hydrangeas make excellent foundation plants. Their large foliage and bountiful blooms can turn the most basic landscape into a realtor’s dream. A mass planting of these shrubs makes a stunning hedge or privacy screen, as well. They have no major pest or disease issues to worry about. They also have attractive fall colors.
As their name implies, hydrangeas like a lot of moisture. They can tolerate full sun as long as they get enough water. Partial shade will keep them looking plump, but they won’t flower quite as well. These shrubs appreciate deadheading. Removing spent blooms will keep them producing flowers longer.
Roses
Water deeply at the soil level rather than frequently wetting the leaves.
Some roses can be quite high-maintenance, but for a plant lover, they are a major draw. Knock-out roses can be a great choice if you are a rose novice, as they are easier to care for. Many climbing roses are easy to grow, too. My favorite, Peggy Martin, is a vigorous climbing rose that makes a stunning impact when climbing a porch or fence.
Roses like plenty of light, and they are heavy feeders, so don’t skimp on the fertilizer. They like moisture but need good drainage. It is better to water them deeply than frequently. For best results, water the ground, not the foliage.
Weigela
This is a deer-resistant shrub that requires full sun.
Weigela is a beautiful and versatile plant for the landscape foundation. This flowering shrub is large, but manageable and has attractive foliage and showy spring flowers. It makes a nice specimen plant, and equally lovely in a mass planting, as a hedge. A little pruning after this shrub flowers is all it will need to keep looking good.
This is a nice plant if you have issues with deer and other wildlife. They aren’t likely to snack on this shrub. It isn’t drought tolerant, so if you live in a drier climate, it will need frequent watering. Plant your weigela in moist, well-drained soil. In early fall, you will be delighted with the changing colors of the foliage.
Spirea
It requires pruning post-bloom for optimal shape.
Spirea is a great flowering shrub for your landscape. The delicate, beautiful flowers will dress up the yard in spring, and the attractive foliage is highly tolerant of varying weather conditions. In the fall, this plant’s foliage changes to brilliant shades of yellow, red, and orange. Flowers come in white, pink, red, and mauve.
This plant doesn’t worry about soil type or pH. It will need some care early on, but once established, it is tolerant of most weather conditions. Hardy from Zones 3-9, you can’t go wrong with this flowering beauty. Prune after blooming to maintain an attractive shape and density.
Forsythia
Prune flowering plants after blooming to maintain shape.
For an explosion of color to usher in the spring, forsythia can’t be outdone. This shrub is a huge bloomer, covering itself with brilliant yellow flowers. It’s one of the earliest bloomers of the season. In summer, it is an attractive green shrub with long, graceful branches. Fall color isn’t guaranteed. But, depending on your climate, it can turn shades of yellow, red, or purple.
For the first few years, forsythia will need some extra care. Once established, they should survive on rainwater. Rich, well-drained soil is ideal, but this plant can adapt to most soil types. After it blooms, shape your plant and thin out the interior to prevent fungal disease, and keep it looking shapely.
Hosta
This plant prefers deeper watering once or twice weekly.
For the shaded landscape, hostas are a nice choice for borders and walkways. These low-mounding plants have pretty foliage and bloom for about a month in the summer. The low rosettes of leaves send up tall stems which hold clusters of white or purple flowers.
Hostas grow well in partial to nearly full shade. Gold varieties need more light but other varieties will be most colorful with more shade. Fertilize these plants once a year in the spring to give them a jump in the growing season. They like water but don’t overdo it. Water deeply, but infrequently. Once or twice a week should do the trick.
Daylily
Maximize daylily blooms by maintaining nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.
Cheerful daylilies make wonderful foundation plants for areas that won’t support larger shrubs. Beneath windows, along walkways, and around a mailbox, these are all great spots for mass planting. Daylilies are tough plants with grass-like foliage and brightly colored flowers. They bloom reliably and have very few issues to worry about.
The ideal soil type is rich and well-drained. However, these plants are very tolerant. They do like their fair share of nutrients, so fertilize them regularly. Deadhead the blooms to help the plant focus energy on producing more. Daylilies can get crowded, which will decrease flowering. Thin out your plants every two to three years. Consult with your local extension office before planting to see which species aren’t invasive in your region.
Hardy Hibiscus
Plant this in full sun for optimal growth and flowering.
Cold hardy hibiscus is a wonderful foundation plant that produces large, gorgeous flowers with tropical flair. In a wide range of colors and several petal formations, these stunners will light up your landscape. The blooms are quite attractive, not just to humans but to pollinators, as well. Be aware, though, that deer love to munch on these plants and it is classed as an invasive species in certain regions of the US.
They will tolerate some shade, but it will stunt their growth and flowering. This plant prefers rich, well-drained, acidic soil. Fertilize your hibiscus regularly, but beware of over-fertilizing. Too much phosphorus will kill it. Deadhead the blooms for continual blooming.
Tropical Hibiscus
These plants require plenty of water for their large, short-lived flowers.
If you’re gardening in a tropical climate, try tropical hibiscus for stunning foliage and huge, eye-catching blooms. This shrub can bloom year-round and is evergreen. Prepare to see an abundance of butterflies. They love these large, colorful flowers. They won’t survive freezing weather, so north of Zone 9, they need to be container plants.
Tropical hibiscus plants are moisture lovers. They need an abundance of water to produce their large flowers. Each bloom will last only a day, but they produce a ton of buds. Deadhead to keep them blooming and fertilize regularly. These shrubs are fast growers and make an excellent and dramatic privacy hedge.
Camellia
Maintain a well-pruned canopy to prevent fungal issues in shaded conditions.
Camellias are wonderful winter bloomers with glossy, evergreen foliage. They make a beautiful backdrop for flowering perennials in spring and summer. During the cooler months, they take center stage with large, showy white blooms. These shrubs do their best growing and blooming in dappled light or partial shade.
As your camellias grow larger, their canopy will help protect and cool the roots. They like moist, rich, acidic soil with good drainage. Camellias are fairly resistant to pests and diseases, but fungus can be an issue because they like the shade. Keep the interior of the plant pruned to allow airflow.
Catmint
This plant thrives in various soils with good drainage.
Catmint is a wonderfully low-maintenance flowering perennial that makes a nice foundation plant. It is low growing, making it nice for borders and under windows. A mass planting can be a striking focal point in the landscape. This member of the mint family is a big bloomer and doesn’t require much care.
Catmint isn’t picky about soil composition, as well as the drainage is good. Once established, this plant is drought tolerant. It doesn’t need regular fertilizing. If the plant gets leggy, cut it back in the spring to make it grow back fuller.
Abelia
Choose a sunny location for planting your abelia.
Abelia shrubs are low-maintenance and easy to grow! They add color and depth to the landscape and make a wonderful low hedge in a mass planting. These semi-evergreen plants are frost tolerant and will retain their leaves in the warmer areas of their range. In the cooler zones, they will defoliate over the winter and come back in the spring. Once established, these shrubs are heat and drought-tolerant as well.
They are adaptable to partial shade, but they won’t bloom as profusely. Well-drained, fertile soil is preferable, but they will adapt to poorer soils, as well. This plant is in the same family as honeysuckle and can bloom in spring or fall depending on the variety. It also displays fall colors, often blushing shades of pink.
Deutzia
This thrives with full sun for optimal blooming and fall color.
Deutzia is related to hydrangeas and is a beautiful spring bloomer. This underutilized plant has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. This plant comes in many sizes and is versatile as an anchor in the landscape. The foliage is attractive in a blue-green shade, that turns gold in the fall. With three seasons of interest, this plant makes a great foundation shrub.
It’s not difficult to care for deutzia. Full sun exposure will give you the best blooming and fall color effect. In warmer climates, a bit of afternoon shade is preferable. They need well-draining soil, but composition is not especially important. Water your plant regularly in its first year. After that, it should be fairly drought-tolerant. Fertilize once per year, in the spring to give this plant a strong bloom.
Stonecrop
The stonecrop offers various sizes and colors of flowers in summer and fall.
If you have a dry climate to contend with, stonecrop is a wonderful addition to the landscape. This small, shrubby succulent is highly drought tolerant and works excellently as a border plant. The shallow root system of this plant makes it easy to transplant, so there are no worries about spreading. Simply remove any plants that don’t fit your landscape and move them or share them!
Stonecrop needs good drainage and can thrive in poor soil types. It is efficient in its use of nutrients. This plant comes in a variety of sizes and colors and produces small, attractive clusters of flowers in the summer and fall. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant.
Lavender
Prune lavender after blooming to maintain its density.
Some gardeners struggle with lavender, and most times it is a matter of loving it too much. Lavender has low care needs and prefers poor soil. This shrubby herb makes a wonderful border and has good cold tolerance. This is a great landscape plant for dry, hot climates. As a native to the Mediterranean region, those are the conditions it prefers.
Eight hours or more bright light is preferable. It can handle partial shade, but won’t bloom as readily. Sandy, alkaline soil with good drainage is its preference. Water your lavender infrequently, and don’t worry about fertilizer. After your lavender blooms, prune it to keep it bushy and dense.
Salvia
The salvia plant generally requires minimal watering and no fertilizer.:
For easy texture and color in your landscape, salvia is a great option. This plant has an herbaceous appearance, but it is a vigorous grower that can become shrubby if you allow it. It will fill in any space you give it, and blooms exceptionally well with very little attention. It also attracts pollinators.
Salvia is versatile in terms of its environmental needs. It likes well-drained soil and doesn’t mind clay or sand. Full sun will bring the best blooming habits, but most varieties are fine in partial shade, too. This plant is somewhat drought tolerant, so make sure to water it during periods of little rain. Fertilizer is typically not needed. Prune in the fall for bushier growth in the spring.
Lilacs
Fertilize this plant annually in spring with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
Lilacs are a joy to have in the landscape. Their size and blooming habits make them very desirable as foundation plants. You can train these plants into a small tree or keep them closer to the ground in a shrubby shape. They will grace your landscape with the most wonderful flowers in spring. Lilacs are delightfully fragrant and typically peak right around Mother’s Day.
This plant needs well-draining soil, but pH is not imperative. Feed this plant once a year, in the spring. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they will stunt blooming. Rather, opt for a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus. This will give you the most blooms.
Aronia
The aronia plant thrives in acidic to alkaline soil with boggy conditions.
Aronia is an attractive shrub that produces small, white, or pink flowers. It bears edible, dark red fruits and offers fall color, making this a great landscape anchor. It is versatile and easy to grow. This plant likes some shade in the afternoon in warmer climates.
This plant prefers acidic soil, but it is adaptable to alkaline soil. It tolerates boggy soil, so this is a great plant for areas with less than optimal drainage. Aronia has very few issues with pests and diseases. It is best to water it during dry spells, but in general, it adapts well to its environment. This plant rarely needs fertilizer. A top dressing of compost once a year should provide plenty of nutrients.
Viburnum
They require spring fertilization for healthy foliage and blooms.
When choosing a species of viburnum, it is important to note that some types are invasive in certain areas of the United States. That said, there are many native species that make wonderful foundation plants in the home landscape. These plants are hardy and adaptable with very good heat and cold tolerance. They flower in the spring, produce fruit in the summer, and change color in the fall.
Most types of viburnum tolerate some shade, but flowering will be best when you plant them in full sun. They prefer moist soil but don’t like soggy roots. Proper drainage is important to this shrub. Prune your viburnum yearly to maintain dense, attractive foliage and shape. Fertilize once a year, in the spring, to set it on track for a robust season.
Goat’s Beard
This grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Goat’s beard is a low-maintenance plant with a big personality. It makes a major impact on the landscape and can be an excellent foundation plant. The foliage is attractive and shrubby, with a fern-like texture. The most impressive thing about this plant is the flowers. In late spring, tall stems explode into large white flower clusters that look frothy and beautiful.
This plant is versatile in terms of conditions. It prefers moisture to drought and will tolerate most types of soil. Soil pH is not an issue for goat’s beard. To keep this plant happy, mix some compost in with the soil at the time of planting. Fertilize once yearly, in the spring.
Virginia Sweetspire
Plant this shrub in full sun for vibrant fall colors.
Virginia sweetspire is another good choice for those with less than optimal drainage. It tolerates more moisture than many similar plants. The shape of this plant is lovely, with long, arching branches that give it a weeping quality. This is a great plant to use as a transition between the home and surrounding plant life.
This plant will flower best and show off the most vibrant fall colors when planted in full sun. It will tolerate partial shade, but it won’t be as eye-catching. In hot climates, this shrub will need water more often. It doesn’t do well in dry climates or in the absence of rain. It doesn’t mind the heat, though, as long as the soil stays moist.
American Beautyberry
The plant’s green berries turn magenta in late summer.
I’m a big fan of this shrub, and I’m always surprised that it hasn’t caught on more as a landscape element. American Beautyberry is an attractive shrub with foliage and structure that resembles a hydrangea. It blooms in early summer, producing lots of inconspicuous pink flowers which are attractive to pollinators. The real stars of the show, though, are the fruits that follow those flowers.
In late summer, green berries ripen to a gorgeous shade of magenta. They dress up the landscape and attract songbirds to the yard. These berries persist through the fall and provide food for overwintering birds. This plant is tolerant of clay and sand. In the fall, the foliage changes to yellow.
Japanese Pieris
The Japanese pieris is a year-round beautiful and deer-resistant shrub.
This is a gorgeous evergreen shrub that will impress throughout the year. Japanese pieris is a slow-growing shrub that tolerates full sun or partial shade. It is sometimes called a lily-of-the-valley shrub because of the resemblance between their flowers. The cascades of small bell-shaped flowers appear in spring. At the same time, new foliage begins to unfurl in shades of red and pink.
The buds form over the summer and fall and persist through the winter. This makes it a wonderful foundation plant, as it is beautiful year-round. Deer aren’t attracted to Japanese pieris but pollinators are. Keep pets and children clear of this shrub, as all parts, including the flowers, are toxic.
Sweetshrub
Plant this fragrant shrub in full sun near your house entryway.
If you have a shady yard, consider adding some sweetshrub plants to your landscape foundation. This shrub tolerates nearly full shade and produces striking red flowers. The flowers, foliage, and bark of this plant are all fragrant or aromatic. The fragrance of the flowers is one that seems to differ form nose to nose. Some smell fruit and others smell spice.
While it will tolerate a range of light exposure. The fragrance of the flowers makes this a great plant for keeping near the house. Plant it near your entryway to greet guests. It is very easy to care for, only needing water during dry periods. Space your shrubs eight to ten feet apart to avoid fungal issues.
Final Thoughts
All of these wonderful plants make excellent foundations in the home landscape. With our newfound discovery linking landscaping to a significant increase in value, it makes sense to invest in this area of the home. Whether you are preparing to sell or simply want to boost your home’s curb appeal, beautiful foundation plants are a sound investment.
