The Best Shrubs Around the Foundation of a House
The Best Shrubs Around the Foundation of a House. Evergreen shrubs retain moist of their foliage year-round to provide constant color and privacy around the foundation of the home. Grown in a wide range of shapes, sizes and bloom colors, evergreen shrubs along the foundation of the home fill in bare spots and keep the house looking well-kept. Many...
Evergreen shrubs retain moist of their foliage year-round to provide constant color and privacy around the foundation of the home. Grown in a wide range of shapes, sizes and bloom colors, evergreen shrubs along the foundation of the home fill in bare spots and keep the house looking well-kept. Many evergreen shrubs also feature spring-blooming flowers that add a splash of color around the home and offset the green foliage. Some shrubs are also low-growing and ideal in the front of the home so as to not overpower the house.
Wintergreen Barberry
Wintergreen barberry (Berberis julianae) is an evergreen shrub that is the "hardiest evergreen barberry," according to North Carolina State University Extension. Wintergreen barberry has a rounded, dense form that often becomes open with age. It grows four to six feet tall and six to eight feet wide, creating an ideal foundation plant around the home. Wintergreen barberry features small, spring-blooming flowers that are yellow and followed by the blue-black fruit that persists into fall. The dark green, lustrous and serrated foliage on wintergreen barberry grows two to three inches long. In fall, the foliage on wintergreen barberry features a wine and red color. Wintergreen barberry grows best in full sun to part shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types. They are hardy and drought-tolerant, making them ideal around homes with overhanging eaves because they won't suffer from lack of rainfall. Grow wintergreen barberry in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 8.
American Arborvitae
American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Holmstrup') is a compact, evergreen shrub that is slow-growing. It grows 10 to 15 feet tall and three to five feet wide and features a narrow, pyramid shape that is dense. The rich green foliage on American arborvitae presents itself in scale-like, vertical sprays. The foliage on American arborvitae retains its vibrant green color year-round, creating winter interest to the home's foundation. American arborvitae grows best in full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. Hardy, it tolerates a wide range of soils but prefers neutral to alkaline varieties and light afternoon shade when grown in hot climates. Grow American arborvitae in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 7.
Glossy Abelia
Glossy abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a semi-evergreen shrub with a moderate to rapid growth rate. It grows three to six feet tall and wide and features a spreading, dense and rounded form. Glossy abelia produces slightly fragrant, funnel-shaped white flowers that develop a purple to pink tinge. The flowers on glossy abelia grow up to one inch wide from early summer to the first frost. Glossy abelia bears dark green, glossy foliage that casts a bronze red to green hue in winter, creating color around the foundation. Glossy abelia are also drought tolerant shrubs that are easy to grow and can be severely pruned, when needed. They grow best in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil, although they can tolerate dry, damp and clay varieties. Grow glossy abelia in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 9.
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