25 Stunning Shrubs for the Front of Your House
A well-chosen shrub can transform the front of your house, adding color, texture, and year-round interest. Whether you want vibrant blooms, lush greenery, or a perfectly shaped hedge, the right shrub will enhance your home’s curb appeal.
I’ve grown and experimented with many types of shrubs, and I can tell you, some stand out more than others. From evergreen beauties to flowering showstoppers, here are 25 shrubs that will make the front of your house look stunning all year long.
#1. Boxwood
There’s a reason boxwood remains a classic for front yard landscaping. Its dense, evergreen foliage can be pruned into neat shapes or left to grow naturally for a softer look.
I love how it provides year-round structure, framing entryways and pathways with elegant greenery. It thrives in well-drained soil and partial to full sun, making it easy to maintain.
#2. Hydrangea
Nothing beats the big, showy blooms of hydrangeas in summer. With shades of blue, pink, white, and even green, they brighten up any front yard.
These deciduous shrubs enjoy moist, rich soil and partial shade, though some varieties can handle full sun. A well-placed hydrangea near your entrance creates a warm, welcoming feel.
#3. Azalea
Azaleas burst into a spectacular display of red, pink, purple, and white flowers each spring, turning the front of your house into a floral masterpiece.
These acid-loving shrubs do best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with dappled shade. They pair beautifully with evergreens, adding seasonal interest and elegance to any landscape.
#4. Lavender
If you love fragrance and charm, lavender is the perfect shrub. The silvery-green foliage and purple flowers create a relaxing Mediterranean vibe while attracting bees and butterflies.
It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a great choice for foundation plantings or along walkways where you can enjoy its scent.
#5. Rose Bush
A classic symbol of beauty, roses bring elegance to any home. From climbing roses framing your doorway to compact shrub roses lining your garden beds, there’s a variety for every space.
They need full sun, regular watering, and well-drained soil to thrive. With proper care, they bloom from late spring to fall, adding unmatched charm.
#6. Japanese Pieris
This evergreen shrub dazzles in spring with cascading pink, white, or red flowers that resemble delicate bells. The glossy leaves add a sophisticated touch year-round, and new growth emerges in striking red tones.
It prefers partial shade and acidic, well-drained soil, making it a great pairing with azaleas and rhododendrons.
#7. Spirea
Spirea is one of the easiest shrubs to grow, offering clusters of tiny flowers in pink, white, or red that last all summer.
The mounding shape and bright green foliage create a soft, inviting look. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring minimal care to keep it looking stunning.
#8. Camellia
For winter and early spring color, camellias are unmatched. Their glossy, deep green leaves stay beautiful all year, while their rose-like blooms in pink, red, or white brighten up the colder months.
They love acidic soil, partial shade, and regular watering, making them perfect for a refined, elegant entryway.
#9. Barberry
With its striking red, orange, or purple foliage, barberry adds bold color to the front yard.
Its thorny branches make it a great deterrent for unwanted visitors, yet it remains a low-maintenance and drought-tolerant shrub. It thrives in full sun and makes an excellent hedge or border plant.
#10. Indian Hawthorn
A favorite in warm climates, Indian hawthorn features evergreen leaves and small, fragrant pink or white flowers in spring.
It’s tolerant of drought, heat, and coastal conditions, making it ideal for a low-maintenance front yard. It stays compact, so no need for frequent pruning.
#11. Dwarf Alberta Spruce
This compact evergreen shrub grows into a perfect conical shape, adding a formal, Christmas tree-like appearance to your entryway.
It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and its slow growth means minimal pruning is needed. It’s excellent for framing doorways or paired with colorful perennials.
#12. Weigela
Weigela boasts graceful, arching branches covered in pink, red, or white trumpet-shaped flowers in spring.
It attracts hummingbirds and pollinators, making your garden lively. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and it’s incredibly hardy, bouncing back easily from pruning.
#13. Winter Daphne
If you want a shrub that smells amazing, winter daphne is the one. Its rosy-pink flower clusters emit a strong, sweet fragrance in late winter and early spring.
It thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, making it perfect for entryways where you can enjoy its scent.
#14. Beautyberry
In summer, beautyberry is an unassuming green shrub, but in fall, it stuns with clusters of vivid purple berries that last well into winter.
These berries add color to the landscape and attract birds. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
#15. Ninebark
Ninebark is valued for its dramatic, peeling bark, rich foliage colors, and clusters of delicate flowers. It comes in shades of deep burgundy, golden yellow, or bright green, depending on the variety.
It thrives in full sun and adapts to different soil conditions, making it incredibly versatile.
#16. Viburnum
Viburnum is a versatile shrub with clusters of white or pink flowers, often followed by vibrant berries that attract birds.
It has dense, green foliage that can be shaped into hedges or left to grow naturally for a more relaxed look. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, it adapts well to different soil types, making it a fantastic low-maintenance choice.
#17. Holly
Holly is an excellent evergreen shrub that adds a classic, sophisticated feel to the front of any house. Its deep green, glossy leaves provide year-round interest, while its bright red berries in winter add festive charm.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil and makes a great privacy hedge or ornamental feature.
#18. Abelia
Abelia is a lovely, semi-evergreen shrub that produces small, fragrant pink or white flowers throughout the summer.
Its graceful arching branches and glossy green leaves turn bronze in fall, adding seasonal variety. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is incredibly easy to care for, attracting pollinators while resisting pests.
#19. Gardenia
If you love fragrant flowers, gardenia is a must-have. Its creamy white blooms emit a rich, sweet scent, making your entrance smell heavenly.
This evergreen shrub has dark green, glossy foliage, making it beautiful even when not in bloom. It thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soil and partial shade, though it requires a bit of care to stay healthy.
#20. Summersweet
Summersweet is a fantastic late-summer bloomer, producing spikes of fragrant white or pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
This deciduous shrub offers golden fall foliage, adding seasonal beauty to your yard. It thrives in moist soil and full sun to partial shade, making it perfect for foundation plantings or borders.
#21. Heavenly Bamboo
Despite its name, heavenly bamboo is not a true bamboo but a delicate-looking, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub.
It has lacy green foliage that turns fiery red and orange in fall, along with clusters of red berries. It tolerates drought and various soil conditions, making it a low-maintenance option with year-round beauty.
#22. Bluebeard
Bluebeard is a compact shrub that bursts into clusters of striking blue flowers in late summer and fall, when many other plants have faded. Its silvery-green foliage adds a unique contrast to garden beds.
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, it’s a great drought-tolerant choice that attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
#23. Witch Hazel
For winter interest, witch hazel is a standout. This deciduous shrub blooms in late winter with ribbon-like yellow or orange flowers that have a light fragrance.
It adds architectural interest with its twisting branches and can grow well in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil.
#24. Japanese Yew
A slow-growing evergreen shrub, Japanese yew is an excellent choice for foundation plantings, hedges, or accent pieces.
Its dark green needle-like foliage stays lush all year, and some varieties produce bright red berries. It’s highly adaptable and thrives in both sun and shade, though it prefers well-drained soil.
#25. Sweetspire
Sweetspire is an underappreciated gem, offering graceful white flower spikes in summer and stunning red and purple foliage in fall.
This deciduous shrub thrives in moist soil and partial to full sun, making it a fantastic choice for borders, foundation plantings, or mixed shrub beds.
