The Best Foundation Shrubs

The most effectively landscaped yards start with appropriate foundation plants. Successful foundation shrubs are beautiful, hardy and low-maintenance. They should not grow so tall that they cover windows or so wide that they blocks walkways. Many of the most popular foundation shrubs provide bursts of color to the landscape with flowers or berries at different times of the year. Educators from the University of Minnesota Extension Service explain, "The strong outline of a columnar evergreen calls attention to a view or emphasizes a pathway."

Camellias are popular flowering shrubs. They provide evergreen foliage and large, colorful blossoms from January through to early April. Search your local nursery for a number of different varieties and colors, each requiring little water and thriving in the sun.When used as a foundation plant, the camellia's large blossoms brighten the neutral foundations of most homes.

Holly varieties do well in both full sun or partially shady spots. They are typically fast-growing and tolerate extreme temperatures. Varieties such as the Carissa holly require no pruning, while Compacta holly looks tidy when pruned into shapes. For these reasons, both varieties make excellent, low-maintenance shrubs to plant in front of your home for a neat appearance. Not all holly plants bear fruit, but some develop vibrant red berries that provide beautiful color in winter.

Juniper plants offer blue-green color to a landscape and look lovely paired with holly varieties. The Hollywood juniper will cling to a wall on the sunny side of your home, while the Blue Rug juniper stays low to the ground. Sea green juniper is a brighter green than other kinds and, when planted in even rows, will develop into a low-maintenance hedge. The juniper's interesting pyramidal shape adds interest and height, especially at the sides of homes where it won't interfere with windows.

Spirea plants are easy to maintain and offer a selection of colors for your landscape. Gold Mound spirea offers golden foliage and bright pink flowers. The foliage of the Little Princess spirea is more blue-green in color but also features the same pink blossoms. Both varieties tolerate dry conditions well. These tough shrubs grow dense foliage to hide any unattractive underpinnings of your home's foundation.

Choose a variegated pittosporum for its soft, gray-green and white foliage. It grows 5 to 6 feet tall and is ideal to plant under windows. It also looks great as a hedge. Its mounded growth pattern makes it a nice choice for the front of a home, since it stays low to the ground and out of the way of windows. Plant a variegated pittosporum with hollies, junipers or nandinas for an interesting contrast.

Nandinas provide maroon or orange foliage in winter, making them spectacular additions to a home landscape. Spring brings white blossoms, followed by clusters of red berries in the winter. The Harbor Dwarf nandina grows to a height of only 18 inches, while its Compacta counterpart can grow up to 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Both varieties need little water and grow well in full sun or partial shade. Because it remains compact with regular pruning, it is a wonderful shrub to add to small spaces in flower beds and between other foundation plants.