It looks kind of lonely to see a house with empty front landscaping, no matter how good the architecture is.
But a house accented by living green ornaments and evergreen shrubs is worthy of a double look.
What is a greater kind of plant to use than an evergreen shrub? That will stay small, are low-maintenance and evergreen?
They maintain color in all seasons, short and very manageable.
But before you finally decide, you must first ready enough space that can accommodate the evergreen shrub for your house.
Make sure that its height will not block your house. Anyways, evergreen shrubs enjoy being trimmed.
Without dragging it further, here is a list of the best evergreen shrub for the front of the house.
Surely, this kind of plant will make your house look and feel fresh.
Table of Contents
- 1 12 Best Evergreen Shrubs For Front Of Houses
- 1.1 1. Sprinter Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus Microphylla ‘Bulthouse’)
- 1.2 2. Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens ‘Green Mountain’)
- 1.3 3. Densa Japanese (Yew Taxus Cuspidate)
- 1.4 4. Emerald Fountain (Tsuga Canadensis ‘Monler’)
- 1.5 5. Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis ‘Sea Green’)
- 1.6 6. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus Densiflorus “Myersii”)
- 1.7 7. Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum)
- 1.8 8. Georgia Petite Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis X Delacourii ‘Georgia Petite’)
- 1.9 9. Brilliant Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis ‘Brilliant’)
- 1.10 10. Chinese Snowball (Viburnum Macrocephalum)
- 1.11 11. Carol Mackie (Daphne X Burkwoodii)
- 1.12 12. Camellia (Camellia Japonica)
- 2 FAQs
- 3 Conclusion
12 Best Evergreen Shrubs For Front Of Houses
Before we begin, below are our top 3 recommendations for fertilizing your shrubs and trees in your landscaping.
From the get-go, plants are the beautiful ornaments of our houses.
In front of houses, using low maintenance dwarf evergreen shrubs is the best choice because it will keep your house lively throughout the year, and shrubs don’t exceed 20 feet in height.
It is important to note that all kinds of shrubs benefit from regular pruning.
It helps the appearance to be kept neat and promotes flowering.
Here are the 12 best small evergreen shrubs For The Front Of House
1. Sprinter Boxwood Shrubs (Buxus Microphylla ‘Bulthouse’)
Size
- 4 feet tall, spreading to 3 feet
Looking into this kind of shrub, you will feel a great resemblance to The Hobbit community.
Boxwoods are low-maintenance evergreen shrubs that can transform your front yard into a wonderland of lush green.
The oval leaves turn yellowish or reddish if overexposed to direct sun or windbreak.
It will strive better in a bright location with partial shade.
It is very flexible and follows the desired shape you have set it in during trimmings.
The soil type it prefers is not anything special for as long as it drains well. It does not like to stay in soggy soil and stagnant water.
It can weaken in the cold winter. They will thank you if you give them mulch to protect its roots and burlap wraps from covering its entirety.
It is not into cold but warmer areas. It is drought and deer-resistant too.
Established sprinters only need watering when rainfall isn’t enough to let them dry out. It is hardy to zones 5-8.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Weekly
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Period: White flowers in Mid-Spring
- Hardiness zone: 5-8
- Special note: A flowering evergreen poisonous, both orally and topically to dogs
2. Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens ‘Green Mountain’)
Size
- 5 feet tall, spreading to 3 feet
Assuming the front of your house is big and elevated, another type of boxwood perfect for enhancing your facade is the Green Mountain.
It is quite tall; in that sense, make sure you trim it regularly, keeping it neat and your house design visible.
It is naturally conical so that you can picture a petite Christmas tree as your front liners.
Green Mountain boxwood shrubs grow moderately, about 3-6 inches a year, keeping deer away since they are resistant to their natural state.
It will require regular watering in well-draining soil. Slightly acidic soil is more preferred, though.
Compared to other boxwood varieties, Green Mountain is more tolerant of short periods of drought enjoying the full sun but can thrive in partial shade.
It can grow greenish-cream flowers too and hardy in regions 4-9.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular to Weekly
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Hardiness zone: 4-9
- Bloom Period: White flowers in Mid-Spring
- Special note: Hate the smell of cat urine? Unfortunately, this evergreen emits an odor like that after pruning but it doesn’t last long. All kinds of boxwoods are toxic
Below are some other boxwoods that you may be interested in planting into your landscaping.
3. Densa Japanese (Yew Taxus Cuspidate)
Size
- 4 feet tall, spreading 6 feet
Quite a spreader. Densa Japanese Yew is a dark green shrub with needle-like foliage, perfect for the front-of-house decoration and curb appeal.
These turn into reddish-green during winter.
This shrub is dense in nature that you may try mass planting it as your front borders.
Your location is not of much concern because it is tolerant of urban pollution.
This is one of the evergreens that can tolerate full shade.
It can grow well even under dappled light, but that doesn’t imply that they don’t do well in full sun.
Like most plants, it is not fond of stagnant water, meaning it prefers well-draining soil regardless of its acidity. Keep it evenly moist regularly.
You can protect it during winter by mulching the root areas.
A little caution in the household with pets: all species of Japanese yew are poisonous when ingested.
It bears red small fruits, but it will harm pets and humans if consumed.
It is deer-resistant too and hardy to zone 4b in the USDA map.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular
- Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
- Bloom Period: Non-flowering
- Hardiness zone: 4b
- Special note: Bears red fruits but toxic if ingested
4. Emerald Fountain (Tsuga Canadensis ‘Monler’)
Size
- 6-10 feet tall, spreading 2-3 feet
By its common name it goes by, Canadian hemlock, it is easy to infer that they are native of Canada.
They are part of the pine species but can be grown lushly as the front house furnishing too.
It is dense and conical, a perfect hedge, screen, or a stand-alone evergreen.
This species is evergreen with red-brown stems. The needle-like dark green leaves are regarded as the smallest among the genus.
It grows well in any soil type that drains well and is averagely moist. Regular watering is advised, especially in the first weeks of growing.
Emerald fountain is not drought-tolerant.
As a matter of fact, it may be damaged from a temperature higher than 95 degrees F if exposed for long periods.
In rare cases, extremely hot weather can be fatal to it. The zone of the hardiness of T.canadensis is 4 to 7.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular
- Sunlight: Part shade to full shade
- Bloom Period: Non-flowering
- Hardiness zone: 4b
- Special note: It is not poisonous to humans and animals
5. Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis ‘Sea Green’)
Size
- 3 feet tall, spreading to 6 feet
Of all possible names for a shrub, why sea green? It is because this variety of Juniper has bluish-green foliage, the color of the beautiful sea.
The branches arch like the fireworks on display.
It bears blueberries which are in question if edible. To be safe, you better not eat it.
Deer will not be interested in lurking around, but likewise, it doesn’t attract any beneficial insects.
Sea green juniper is a high-maintenance shrub that asks for a regular check-up.
It cannot last in very wet soil. But aside from the watering issue, it can thrive in any soil type that drains well.
It does well in full sunlight and is tolerant of urban pollution.
It is an important characteristic of juniper, making it a popular genus in gardening. Daily smoke and heat are not fatal to juniper.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular
- Sunlight: Full sun
- Hardiness zone: 3a
- Special note: This evergreen is not harmful to pets and humans and bears fruit but not edible. Its needle-like foliage can irritate skin during pruning. Protect yourself with gloves and long sleeves.
6. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus Densiflorus “Myersii”)
Size
- 2 to 3 feet tall, spreading 3-4 feet
I saw it and fell in love with it. Asparagus fern or foxtail fern is a low-growing evergreen with unique-looking dense foliage.
It arches with feathery stems and bright green leaves.
Asparagus fern, despite its name, is not a true fern and not edible like asparagus.
Hence, it is a true family of the Asparagus genus. The plant is a native of South Africa.
The evergreen shrub for front of houses is not into direct light.
The color ranges from yellow, pale green, or deep green if under direct light, full shade, or partial shade.
Foxtail fern can tolerate cool temperatures but up to 25 degrees F only.
Lower, and it will be deadly to the plant. During the cold season, the plant tends to rest but is not dormant.
Asparagus fern prefers moist soil that drains well.
It appreciates heat, so you may tag it drought-tolerant.
At the same time, it is tolerant to salt sprays. It is hardy to zones 9-11 and can sometimes be invasive.
If you are looking for ideas on what type of ferns to grow, you can look at our post on the most popular ferns to grow indoors or outside.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular to occasional
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Bloom Period: The evergreen blooms white small flowers in the summer. The flowers develop into red fruits.
- Hardiness zone: 9-11
- Special note: This shrub is only mildly toxic to humans causing skin irritation. But if ingested, it can cause gastrointestinal problems.
7. Evergreen Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum)
Size
- 2-3 feet tall and 2-3 feet diameter
The scarlet flowers of the shrub will surely steal your interest.
Evergreen azaleas, or Azaleas for short, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with shiny green leaves that turns reddish during winter.
It blooms red flowers in mid-spring.
It is native to Japan, where it tolerates cooler summer. It is winter hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9.
Although azaleas are categorized as winter hardy, it is still safe to mulch them, especially when the winter wind is very prominent.
Mulching will keep the soil cool in summer but warm during winter.
This plant requires constant moisture and benefits greatly in rich, fertilized, acidic soil (ph of 6.5).
It is prone to root rot when left on water not drained well from the soil.
Azalea survives more in areas where there is no extremely hot season.
It enjoys more on dappled light outdoors or filtered sunlight for as long as it is not direct.
Unfortunately for this evergreen, it is vulnerable to pests and diseases.
But with proper attention, it can grow healthy and limit problems.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular but drying topsoil before watering again
- Sunlight: Partial shade
- Bloom Period: Blooms red flowers in mid-spring about May to June.
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- Special note: No specific reported case of toxicity but is part of a genus where most cultivars have poisonous leaves.
8. Georgia Petite Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis X Delacourii ‘Georgia Petite’)
Size
- 2.5 ft tall and 3.5 ft wide
By far, it is like a wedding aisle in your front yard, and up-close Georgia Petite Indian Hawthorn looks like blossoms of popcorn from its pink buds.
It is in great contrast to its dark green foliage that is very dense.
It has a mild fragrance that can last throughout the year. The flowers turn to dark blue ornamental berries afterward.
Indian Hawthorn prefers to be in evenly moist soil.
Before it can establish a vast root system, it requires regular watering.
However, it can be reduced to weekly once they mature.
Similar to most plants, it favors soil that drains well despite average acidity or fertility.
The plant grows well in a spot receiving good sun to a slightly shaded area.
It is mildly drought-resistant but a true disease-resistant shrub.
In its native habit, Asia, it grows aggressively in the wild. However, the dwarf version, like Georgia petite, is very manageable.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular to weekly
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Period: Blooms white, fragrant flowers during Spring
- Hardiness zone: 7-10
- Special note: The shrub bears fruit but not edible dark blueberries
9. Brilliant Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis ‘Brilliant’)
Size
- 8-10 ft tall and 4-6 ft wide
Make this your flowering hedge because the big red flowers of this tropical hibiscus stand out against the green stem and leaves.
The flowers are naturally designed with red stigma and yellow anthers.
The flowering evergreen shrub is tough against deer, so that you may use it as a bed, border, or foundation in front of your house without worry from stray animals.
It likes soil that is consistently wet but drains well. It will like it more if the soil is rich and treated.
When it comes to strong winds, it rather chooses a well-protected area than being swayed heavily.
It will tolerate being sheltered but more in full sun.
It must be watered thoroughly until winter when you can greatly reduce it during its initial growth.
Despite being tolerant of other conditions, it is sensitive to changing temperature.
If you have started growing it in full sun or partial shade, you better not change it halfway through the growing time.
Else, it will affect its blooming time and see bud drops.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular to occasional
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Period: During spring and summer, red flowers bloom.
- Hardiness zone: 7-10
- Special note: The plant hibiscus is used in medical practice, however, it is regarded toxic to cats
10. Chinese Snowball (Viburnum Macrocephalum)
Size
- 6-15 feet high and 10-12 ft wide
Native to mainland China, the Chinese snowball Viburnum is a woody evergreen shrub that produces a cluster of flowers in round form.
The flowers come as green but quickly turns white.
The white and round form of its flower makes it worthy of being called snowball.
Each little white flowers are 1.25 wide and 8 inches in a cluster. The inflorescence has no fragrance.
The shrub is hardy to USDA zones 6-9. It has a medium growth rate and has moderate care required.
It grows well to direct sunlight but can prosper in partial shades, too, with a minimum of 2 hours of direct sun.
It prefers slightly acidic soil that has good drainage.
Watering it in moderation can keep its preferred soil to be moist.
Chinese snowball is resistant to damage by deer and can attract beautiful butterflies in the garden.
However, It is not resilient to cold winds and asks for protection instead.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Moderate
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Period: White ball of flowers bloom in summer and spring
- Hardiness zone: 6-9
- Special note: The plant is known to be the Spring’s best flowering shrub. It is also not poisonous to pets and humans.
11. Carol Mackie (Daphne X Burkwoodii)
Size
- 3-4 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide
A variegated Daphne shrub, Carol Mackie, is the most popular Daphne evergreen in mild climates.
The leaves of the shrub are green outlined with yellow to creamy white lines.
In full bloom, it bears white to pink flowers in masses forming tubular shoots.
It is grown hardy in zones 4-9.
Daphne’s are fastidious shrubs that don’t appreciate replanting once established.
It is better to be careful planting it with the long-term garden landscape in mind.
It does well in full sun and on a partial screen as long as the soil in its area has good drainage.
Though it likes a moist environment, overwatering can cause root rot.
Matured Carol Mackie is drought tolerant and cannot be damaged by deer.
It is impressive, but a flaw is its habit of suddenly dying without a probable reason.
Another thing, they are weak against snow, and the damages can be fatal to the Daphne.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Bloom Period: Masses of fragrant flowers bloom by spring and the second flush of flowers by late summer to early fall
- Hardiness zone: 4-9
- Special note: Burkwood daphnes are hybrid between D. cneorum and D. caucasica. Daphne shrubs are poisonous plants.
Related post: 10 Stunning Yellow Shrubs To Add To Your Landscaping
12. Camellia (Camellia Japonica)
Size
- 7-12 feet high and 5-10 feet wide
Maybe one of the most popular evergreens, Camellia shrubs grow best in cold climates.
It is a winter-hardy plant that can tolerate temperatures limited to 10 degrees F.
The cold temperatures of fall and winter can promote its flowering.
Flowers in bloom may be white, pink, red, yellow, and lavender; the leaves are oval and glossy green.
Camellias are not very flexible to change of environment.
Some other plants may be brought in and out of the house but not Camellias.
They prefer a bright spot in dappled sunlight and a wide area where it can freely spread.
It will require protection from the direct heat of the afternoon sun and strong winds too.
In terms of soil, it likes a moist acidic one that is well fertilized. As for drainage, it prefers soil that drains well.
Camellias are not okay where standing water is though it enjoys moist soil.
In reality, this plant has shallow roots and will benefit from mulching.
Camellias are native to China, Korea, and Japan.
Quick Facts
- Watering: Regular but not overwater
- Sunlight: Dappled and shaded
- Bloom Period: Flowers bloom in mid-late winter
- Hardiness zone: 7-9
- Special note: Camellias are not toxic. Seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
FAQs
Are All The Evergreen Shrubs I Should Plant Green?
No, some plants are blue, red, or purple. The choice is yours. However, you should carefully study your landscape to match it before deciding on the plant variety.
What Should Be The Distance Between My Plants And My House?
Some plants spread wide, considering their growth span. Ideally, plant the shrub 5 feet from the house.
How Are Shrubs Propagated?
Depending on the species of the shrub, you may start from seeds or through division. You can buy them in stores in containers too.
What Is The Growth Rate Of Shrubs?
There slow or fast growers. Shrubs that have a rapid growth rate mature in a month. The slower ones can take years.
How Long Does An Evergreen Shrub Live?
Evergreens have a generally long lifespan. It can take 10 or more years. Conifers can live up to 100 years!
Related post: 3 Simple Ways on How To Propagate Landscaping Bamboo Plants
Conclusion
Shrubs can be the good front liners in your yard.
They can be trimmed handsomely too. Make sure your hedge trimmer blades are sharp, as it will make your landscaping job a lot easier.
If you like all-year colors, evergreen shrubs are the ones you need.
Always follow their care facts, and you’ll see yourself enticed by how beautiful your front landscape can be.
Also, know your zone so you won’t waste your time cultivating a plant that won’t thrive.
You also want to consider their growth spans on how long the evergreen shrub will live.
Evergreen shrubs for the front of your house are a classic and modern design that will never go out of style.
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.