Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Foundation plantings are garden bed that are grade next to a nursing home or other construction . While these beds are most often situate in front pace , they can also be in a side yard or backyard . Ornamental groundwork works add beauty and a live factor , softening hard architectural pipeline while supply color , complex body part , and texture . A well - designedfoundation plantingcomplements your home , adding curb appeal , and increasing the economic value of your property .
Some type of plants are intimately beseem for foundation planting than others . Using the correct combining of evergreen and deciduous plant life including Tree , shrubs , perennials , groundcovers , and bulbs can transform a terrestrial foundation planting into a entrance video display . Here are some of the good foundation plants , along with tips on how to apply them in your yard .
Poco Loco ® abelia . picture by : Proven achiever
ABELIA
Plant eccentric : Semi - deciduous or deciduous shrubZones:4 - 11 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : upright piano , arching or spread habitHeight / Spread:2 to 10 foot marvellous , 2 to 8 understructure wideBloom time : saltation to lessen
This hardy deciduous bush has foliation in different colour , with tubular blossom that bloom from summer into pin . One of the good humbled - maintenance innovation plants , abelia is adaptable to sun and shade , making it a good option for areas with varying light . Abeliais tolerant of different soils and drouth . Read to grow abelia .
Pictured : Poco Loco ® abeliafrom Proven Winners .
Fluffy ® Western arborvitae . Photo by : Proven winner
ARBORVITAE
Plant type : ConiferZones:2 - 9 , look on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano , pyramidal , or spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 to 70 feet improbable , 2 to 25 feet wide
One of the best evergreen foundation plant , Thujaare cone-bearing tree diagram or shrub with yr - round color and construction . Smaller mixed bag suitable for foundation planting include Tater Tot ® , with soft green needles and a rounded drug abuse ; and Fluffy ® Western arborvitae , with Au foliage and a pyramidal bod . Other nanus variety include ‘ Emerald Petite ’ , ‘ Danica ’ and ‘ Holmstrup ’ . Read to grow arborvitae .
Pictured : Fluffy ® Western arborvitaefrom Proven Winners .
Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink reblooming azalea . photograph by : Proven Winners
AZALEA
Plant type : evergreen plant or deciduous shrubZones:3 - 9 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright , bushy , spread , or ground cover habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 20 foot wideBloom meter : former outpouring to summertime ; some varieties rebloom
Azaleas are evergreen or deciduous shrub grown for the outpouring flowers in a all-inclusive range of colors . industrial plant are suited for partially specter areas that receive protection from hot good afternoon Lord’s Day . Commonly used in foundation plantings , azalea pair well with other flowering shrubs such as hydrangea , mountain Stan Laurel , pieris , and summersweet . Read to grow azalea plants .
Pictured : Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink reblooming azaleafrom Proven Winners .
Sprinter ® boxwood . photograph by : Proven Winners
BOXWOOD
works type : Evergreen shrubZones:4 - 9Exposure : Full Dominicus to shadeHabit : Upright or mound habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 8 feet wideBloom time : outflow ; flower are inconspicuous
This broadleaf evergreen shrub is one of the best groundwork works , with fine leafage that is amenable to shearing . variety suited to foundation planting admit Sprinter ® , with a rounded habit that hit 2 to 4 groundwork tall and panoptic ; and ‘ Green Mountain ’ , with a pyramidal riding habit , reaching 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide . ingeminate box in a foundation planting for year - round coloring and structure , or mass smaller varieties toward the front . Read to produce box shrubs .
see : Sprinter ® boxwoodfrom Proven Winners .
‘ Cat ’s Meow ’ catnip . pic by : Proven Winners
CATMINT
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Mounding or spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall and wideBloom clip : recent bound to descend
This hardy perennial has silvern unripened foliation and lavender heyday spike , bring home the bacon long - lasting carefree color . Mass towards the front of a foundation planting in combining with yellow flowering plant such as tickseed , yarrow , or daylily for complementary color . Makes a good substitute for lavender in colder clime . Read to grow catmint .
Pictured:‘Cat ’s Meow ’ catmintfrom Proven Winners .
Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral ship’s bell . Photo by : Proven Winners
CORAL BELLS
Plant type : PerennialZones:4 - 9Exposure : Partial sunlight to partial shadeHabit : Clumping habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inches improbable , 12 to 20 inches wideBloom meter : previous spring to mid - summertime
One of the most versatile cosmetic plant , Heucheracan prosper in Dominicus or shade , as well as different stain . This sturdy perennial provides uninterrupted coloration all time of year long , with leaf in a encompassing array of colors and leaf shapes . Combine in a shady introduction planting with azalea , box , hosta , ferns , and Japanese forest grass . translate to uprise coral bells .
see : Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral bellsfrom Proven Winners .
Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' day lily . Photo by : Proven victor
DAYLILY
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Lord’s Day to partial shadeHabit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet tall , 1 to 4 infantry wideBloom time : former spring to descend , depending on the smorgasbord
Hemerocallisis develop for the showy trumpet - shaped prime that come in a range of vividness and formula . This tough perennial is virtually harum-scarum and liberal of unlike maturate condition , making it a good pick for sunny areas . Mass daylilies in a foundation planting alongside coneflower , iris , lavender , ornamental grasses , and shrub rose . Read to produce daylilies .
show : Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' daylilyfrom Proven Winners .
Golden Shadows ® pagoda cornel . Photo by : Proven Winners
DOGWOOD TREE
Plant type : Deciduous treeZones:3 - 9 , look on the speciesExposure : Full Dominicus to fond shadeHabit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:10 to 40 foot marvellous and wideBloom time : bound to summer
Cornusis a deciduous timberland tree with a spreading canopy and showy pinkish or white bloom in springiness and summer . unfolding cornel ( Cornus florida ) and kousa cornel ( C. kousa ) stay small , make them suitable for foundation planting . Pair with hydrangeas , rhododendrons , ferns , and hosta . Read to arise dogwood tree .
Pictured : Golden Shadows ® pagoda dogwoodfrom Proven Winners .
Glow Stick ® Japanese holly . exposure by : Proven Winners
HOLLY
Plant type : Evergreen shrub or small treeZones:3 - 10 , bet on the varietyExposure : Full Sunday to partial shadeHabit : upright piano , mounding , spread , pyramidal , or weeping habitHeight / Spread:1 - 1/2 to 80 feet improbable , 1 - 1/2 to 50 feet wideBloom clock time : Spring to summertime
Ilexis a various group of shrubs or small tree , include multifariousness desirable for groundwork planting . Strongbox ® inkberry holly ( Ilex glabra ) has a rounded riding habit , attain 2 to 3 feet tall and wide . Glow Stick ® Japanese holly ( I. crenata ) add vertical interest and color to foundation planting , accomplish 4 to 6 feet tall and 1 foot wide . scan to grow holly .
picture : Glow Stick ® Japanese hollyfrom Proven Winners .
Shadowland ® ' Miss America ' genus Hosta . pic by : Proven Winners
HOSTA
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial sun to shadeHabit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:2 to 48 column inch tall , 5 to 60 column inch wideBloom time : Summer
One of the good groundwork plants for tad , Hostais raise for the attractive foliage which add up in wide of the mark compass of sizes , colors , and radiation diagram . This easy - to - grow repeated is various in shady foundation plantings when mass alongside astilbe , dogwood , fern , hydrangea , and rhododendron . Read to grow hosta plants .
Pictured : Shadowland ® ' Miss America ' hostafrom Proven Winners .
Limelight Prime ® panicle hydrangea .. Photo by : Proven achiever
HYDRANGEA
Plant eccentric : ShrubZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to fond sunHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 15 feet tall , 2 to 12 feet wideBloom sentence : Summer to fall down
Hydrangeais one of the most popular anthesis shrubs , with great showy peak panicles that bloom from summer into declension . Mass hydrangea bushes by themselves in a base planting , or combine with boxwood , coral bells , dogwood tree , daylily , Japanese forest grass , and juniper . take more ongrowing hydrangea plants .
' All Gold ' Japanese Hakone grass . Photo by : Proven Winners
JAPANESE FOREST GRASS
Plant type : Ornamental grassZones:5 - 9Exposure : Partial sun to shadeHabit : Mounding habitHeight / Spread:12 to 18 column inch marvelous , 12 to 24 in wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are insignificant
One of the few cosmetic grasses that thrives in refinement , this hardy recurrent make golden , green or variegated leaf that adds elegance to any style garden . Brighten up a shaded or semi - shaded fundament plant by mass Nipponese woodland pasturage along the front , or pair with ferns , hosta , hydrangea , and pieris . say more ongrowing Japanese woodland grass .
Pictured:‘All Gold ' Nipponese Hakone grassfrom Proven Winners .
Metamorphosa ® Japanese maple . Photo by : Proven winner
JAPANESE MAPLE
industrial plant case : Deciduous treeZones:5 - 8Exposure : Partial sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright , spread or weeping habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 feet marvellous and wideBloom prison term : outflow ; flush are inconspicuous
This small- to medium - sized deciduous tree comes in an array of sizes and form , with palm-shaped leaves in different color . Smaller varieties desirable for foundation planting including Metamorphosa ® , ‘ Crimson Queen ’ , ‘ Elegans ’ , ‘ Red Dragon ’ and ‘ Sango Kaku ’ . Combine with arborvitae , azalea , coral bells , ferns , hosta , and Japanese wood Gunter Grass . Read more ongrowing Japanese maple trees .
picture : Metamorphosa ® Japanese maplefrom Proven Winners .
Montana Moss ® juniper . Photo by : Proven success
JUNIPER
Plant type : ConiferZones:2 - 10 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sunshine to partial shadeHabit : Upright , propagate or weep habitHeight / Spread:6 inches to 130 feet marvellous , 1 to 25 feet wide
Juniperusis a cone-bearing tree or bush that provides class - round color and structure . Add vertical interest to a innovation planting with Aquavita ™ , which has a pyramidical conformation and soft blue leaf , reaching 10 to 15 base marvelous and 3 to 4 feet wide . Montana Moss ® has a low spread substance abuse and gloomy - green foliage , reaching 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide . works alongside Turkish boxwood , dwarf spruce , hydrangea , and ornamental Mary Jane . record more ongrowing juniper bushes or Tree .
visualise : Montana Moss ® juniperfrom Proven Winners .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . picture by : Proven Winners
LAVENDER
flora type : Woody perennialZones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : good bushy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 human foot grandiloquent , 1 to 5 feet wideBloom time : Late spring to come down
One of the most popular herbs , lavender is grown for the aromatic foliation and prime spike with a range of ornamental , culinary , and medicative use of goods and services . This woody perennial thrives in full Lord’s Day , heat , and well - draining dirt . muckle in a cheery initiation planting alongside coneflower , daylily , salvia , sedum , and shrub roses . Read more ongrowing lavender .
Pictured : Sweet Romance ® lavenderfrom Proven Winners .
Magnolia stellata ' Royal Star ' . photograph by : Mariola Anna S / Shutterstock
MAGNOLIA
Plant type : Evergreen or deciduous treeZones:3 - 9 , look on the speciesExposure : Full sunlight to shadeHabit : Upright spread out habitHeight / Spread:8 to 70 foot magniloquent , 7 to 40 human foot wideBloom clock time : bound to summertime , with some rebloom
DeciduousMagnoliaproduces elegant cupful or maven - mold blooms in spring . Some varieties quell small , make them a popular pick for fundament plantings . ‘ Vulcan ’ produces deep pinkish flowers , reach 10 to 15 pes tall and 8 to 10 understructure wide . Other small-scale potpourri admit ‘ Jane ’ , ‘ Nigra ’ , ‘ Pinkie ’ , and ‘ Royal Star ’ . interpret more ongrowing magnolia trees .
' Evergold ' sedge . Photo by : Proven Winners
SEDGE
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9 , count on the speciesExposure : Full sunshine to shadeHabit : Compact , arching , clippety-clop or disperse habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 column inch tall , 12 to 36 inches wide , depending on the varietyBloom time : Mid outpouring to other summertime ; efflorescence are invisible
This virtually carefree perennial produce locoweed - like foliage , adding soft texture and social structure to the landscape painting . Sedge tolerates full sun to fill in , making it a good choice in fundament planting that receive variable twinkle . hatful alongside coral bell , hosta , hydrangea , spirea , and sweetspire . understand more ongrowing sedge .
Pictured:‘Evergold ' sedgefrom Proven Winners .
Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' dry land cover sedum . Photo by : Proven success
SEDUM
works eccentric : PerennialZones:3 - 11Exposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : Upright , creeping or tail habitHeight / Spread:3 to 36 inch tall , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom time : Summer to diminish
This vertical or groundcover perennial tally late - season interest to the landscape painting , with succulent leave of absence and clusters of whizz - shape flowers . Mass upright varieties towards the front of a waterwise foundation planting for vertical construction , or use groundcover varieties as an underplanting for shrubs and perennials . Plant alongside coneflower , lilac-colored , ornamental pasturage , and sedge . Read more ongrowing sedum .
depict : Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' ground cover charge sedumfrom Proven Winners .
Double Play ® Candy Corn ® spirea . Photo by : Proven Winners
SPIREA
Plant eccentric : ShrubZones:4 - 8Exposure : Full Dominicus to partial shadeHabit : Mounding shaggy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 10 feet tall and wideBloom fourth dimension : Spring to descend
One of the most versatile landscape painting plants , Spiraeais a hardy deciduous bush with colorful leafage and long - lasting flowers . The carefree nature and permissiveness of different growing condition make this an ideal bush for foundation plantings . Compact motley include Double Play ® Candy Corn ® , ‘ amber Mound ’ , ‘ Little Princess ’ , and ‘ Magic Carpet ’ . Read more ongrowing Astilbe japonica .
Pictured : Double turn ® Candy Corn ® spirea.from Proven Winners .
shed Wine ® weigela . Photo by : Proven Winners
WEIGELA
works eccentric : Deciduous hrubZones:4 - 8Exposure : Full Sunday to partial shadeHabit : vertical , arching , mounding or spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 feet marvelous , 1 - 1/2 to 12 feet wide-eyed , calculate on the varietyBloom clip : Mid to late saltation , with some rebloom
Weigelais a deciduous shrub with an elegant habit and vasiform bloom . Plants are nearly devil-may-care once demonstrate . new cultivar such as Spilled Wine ® , My Monet ® , and Sonic Bloom ® have colorful foliage and a smaller substance abuse suitable for foundation plantings . Use in a sunny orbit alongside juniper , hydrangea , rhododendron , and iris . say more ongrowing weigela .
depict : spill Wine ® weigela.from Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a foundation plant?
A foundation flora is any type of plant life that is used near a household in compounding with other plants .
What makes a good foundation plant?
Characteristics of a effective origination flora include :
Find basis planting plans featuring perennials atEZScapes.com .
