Evergreen shrubs are a great way to make your front yard look beautiful all year round. They stay green even in winter, which makes them perfect for adding some color to your yard when other plants are bare.
Imagine walking up to your house and seeing a lovely green entrance.
Taking a walk around your neighborhood can give you ideas for your own yard, and evergreen shrubs are a great place to start. You can choose from many different types, like Boxwood and Holly, which have pretty berries and rich green leaves.
Let’s explore 17 charming evergreen shrubs that can enhance your landscape and make your home look amazing.
Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is a versatile and popular evergreen shrub known for its dense, bushy growth and ability to maintain a neat appearance year-round. Ideal for formal gardens and landscapes, boxwood is often used for hedges, borders, and topiary. It thrives in a variety of soil types and requires minimal maintenance, making it a favorite choice for homeowners. With its glossy green leaves, boxwood adds elegance and structure to the front of the house, providing a timeless appeal.
Juniper (Juniperus)
Juniper (Juniperus) is a versatile evergreen shrub known for its durable nature and adaptability in various landscapes. With a variety of species and cultivars, junipers can feature low-growing ground covers or tall, upright forms, making them suitable for front-of-house planting. Their dense foliage, often in shades of green, blue, or gold, provides year-round interest while thriving in well-drained soil and full sun. Additionally, junipers are drought-tolerant and require minimal maintenance, making them an ideal choice for any garden.
Holly (Ilex)
Holly (Ilex) is a classic evergreen shrub ideal for the front of your house, known for its glossy leaves and vibrant red berries. This hardy plant not only adds a festive touch during the winter months but also provides year-round greenery. Hollies come in various sizes and varieties, making them versatile for different landscape designs. They thrive in well-drained soil and can tolerate both sun and partial shade, creating a beautiful border or focal point in your garden.
Rhododendron (Rhododendron Spp.)
Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.) is a stunning evergreen shrub ideal for enhancing the front of your house. With their large, vibrant blooms that can appear in a variety of colors, rhododendrons add a burst of beauty to any landscape. These shrubs thrive in partial shade and prefer well-drained, acidic soil. Their attractive foliage remains lush year-round, providing a solid backdrop even in winter. Easy to maintain, they are a perfect choice for creating a welcoming entrance.
Azalea (Rhododendron Spp.)
Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are vibrant, flowering shrubs that add a splash of color to the front of the house. These evergreen plants showcase a variety of hues, including pink, red, white, and purple, typically blooming in spring. They thrive in well-drained, acidic soil and prefer partial shade, making them ideal for garden beds or borders. With their lush foliage and stunning blossoms, azaleas enhance curb appeal while providing year-round greenery.
Yew (Taxus)
Yew (Taxus) is a versatile evergreen shrub that adds elegance to the front of any house. Known for its dense, dark green foliage, Yew can be easily shaped through pruning, making it ideal for formal hedges or naturalistic landscapes. This hardy plant thrives in various conditions, including shade, and can tolerate drought once established. Additionally, its small red berries provide visual interest, attracting birds while remaining safe for gardens, as its foliage is toxic to humans and pets.
Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus)
Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a popular evergreen shrub known for its glossy, dark green leaves and robust nature. Often used as a hedge or screening plant, it can grow up to 10 feet tall and thrives in various soil types, making it a versatile choice for garden landscapes. Laurel is particularly appreciated for its ability to withstand pollution, making it ideal for urban environments. Its fragrant white flowers in spring attract pollinators, adding seasonal interest to your front of house greenery.
Arborvitae (Thuja)
Arborvitae (Thuja) is a popular evergreen shrub known for its dense, coniferous foliage and ability to provide year-round privacy and protection. With various species available, it can be shaped into hedges or left to grow naturally, making it versatile for landscaping. Arborvitae thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full to partial sunlight. Its lush green branches offer a stunning backdrop, adding a touch of elegance and structure to the front of your house.
Mahonia (Mahonia Spp.)
Mahonia, commonly known as Oregon grape, is a versatile evergreen shrub that adds year-round interest to the front of a house. With its glossy, holly-like leaves and bright yellow flowers in early spring, this hardy plant also produces blue-purple berries that attract birds. Mahonia thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, making it ideal for various landscapes. Its low-maintenance nature and striking appearance make it a popular choice for gardeners seeking an attractive, resilient shrub.
Skip Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)
Skip Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is an evergreen shrub known for its glossy, dark green leaves and dense growth habit, making it an excellent choice for front-of-house landscaping. Reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet, this hardy plant is ideal for hedges or privacy screens. Skip Laurel is also drought-tolerant once established, thrives in partial shade to full sun, and is relatively low-maintenance, providing year-round interest and a lush backdrop for other garden elements.
Camellia (Camellia Spp.)
Camellias (Camellia spp.) are beloved evergreen shrubs known for their stunning, showy flowers and glossy green leaves. Blooming from fall to spring, these hardy plants add color and elegance to the front of your house. They thrive in well-drained, acidic soil and prefer partial shade, making them ideal for foundation plantings. With varieties ranging from delicate pastels to vibrant hues, camellias provide year-round visual interest and a touch of sophistication to any landscape.
Smoke Bush (Cotinus Coggygria)
The Smoke Bush, or Cotinus coggygria, is a stunning deciduous shrub known for its unique, fluffy flower clusters that resemble puffs of smoke in late summer. This versatile plant showcases vibrant foliage that shifts from green to deep purple or brilliant orange in fall, adding seasonal interest to any garden. Smoke Bush thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscaping in the front of your house.
Privet (Ligustrum)
Privet (Ligustrum) is a popular evergreen shrub known for its dense, lush foliage and versatility in landscape design. Often used for hedging, it can be easily shaped and trimmed to suit various garden aesthetics. Its glossy leaves provide year-round color, while its fragrant white flowers in the summer attract pollinators. Privet thrives in a range of soil types and can tolerate urban conditions, making it an excellent choice for the front of the house.
Wax Myrtle (Myrica Cerifera)
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) is a versatile evergreen shrub known for its aromatic leaves and attractive, dense foliage. Growing up to 10 feet tall, it thrives in a variety of soil conditions and is tolerant of both salt and drought. This resilient plant produces small, waxy berries that attract birds, adding life to your garden. Its fine texture and natural form make it an excellent choice for privacy screening or as a backdrop in mixed borders.
Nandina (Nandina Domestica)
Nandina (Nandina domestica), also known as heavenly bamboo, is a versatile evergreen shrub that adds beauty and structure to the front of your house. With its delicate, feathery foliage, Nandina features vibrant green leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and burgundy in the fall, creating a stunning seasonal display. It thrives in varying sunlight conditions and is drought-tolerant once established, making it a low-maintenance choice for landscaping. Additionally, it produces small white flowers followed by bright red berries, attracting birds and enhancing curb appeal.
Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum Carlesii)
Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum Carlesii) is a delightful deciduous shrub known for its aromatic blossoms and lush foliage. Typically reaching heights of 4 to 6 feet, it features clusters of fragrant white to pink flowers that bloom in spring, attracting bees and butterflies. The leaves turn a vibrant red in autumn, providing seasonal interest. This hardy plant thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full sun, making it an excellent choice for front gardens or as a foundation planting.
Pine (Pinus Spp.)
Pine shrubs (Pinus spp.) are an excellent choice for the front of your house, bringing year-round greenery and a classic aesthetic. With their varied sizes, shapes, and needle types, they offer versatility in landscaping. These hardy evergreens thrive in different soil types and are drought-resistant once established. Pines not only provide structure to your garden but also create a sense of tranquility. Their ability to attract wildlife adds an extra layer of charm and ecological benefit.
Conclusion
Incorporating these 17 evergreen shrubs into your front yard is like weaving a tapestry of texture and color that enchants throughout the seasons. Each shrub, from the classic elegance of Boxwood to the vibrant cheer of Holly, offers a unique charm that enhances your home’s curb appeal. So go ahead, breathe life into your landscape! With a little care, your garden will become a year-round invitation to all who pass by, infusing joy and beauty into everyday life.
