Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
origination plantings are garden bed that are position next to a family or other building . While these beds are most often located in front yards , they can also be in a side yard or backyard . cosmetic foundation plants impart beaut and a living element , mince hard architectural lines while providing people of color , body structure , and grain . A well - designedfoundation plantingcomplements your home , tot up curb charm , and increasing the economic value of your holding .
Some types of plants are better beseem for foundation plantings than others . Using the good compounding of evergreen and deciduous plants let in trees , shrubs , perennials , groundcover , and bulbs can transubstantiate a mundane creation planting into a becharm display . Here are some of the best institution flora , along with tips on how to utilise them in your curtilage .
Poco Loco ® abelia . Photo by : Proven Winners
ABELIA
Plant case : Semi - deciduous or deciduous shrubZones:4 - 11 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright , arch or diffuse habitHeight / Spread:2 to 10 foundation tall , 2 to 8 ft wideBloom time : saltation to shine
This hardy deciduous shrub has foliage in unlike colour , with tubular flowers that flower from summertime into fall . One of the best down in the mouth - alimony initiation plants , abelia is adaptable to sun and refinement , making it a salutary selection for areas with variable light . Abeliais tolerant of unlike dirt and drought . interpret to grow abelia .
picture : Poco Loco ® abeliafrom Proven Winners .
downlike ® westerly arborvitae . Photo by : Proven Winners
ARBORVITAE
Plant type : ConiferZones:2 - 9 , look on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , pyramidal , or disseminate habitHeight / Spread:2 to 70 feet magniloquent , 2 to 25 feet wide
One of the best evergreen foundation plants , Thujaare coniferous trees or shrubs with year - round colour and structure . Smaller varieties desirable for base plantings let in Tater Tot ® , with soft green needles and a rounded habit ; and downlike ® Western arborvitae , with gold foliage and a pyramidical human body . Other dwarf varieties admit ‘ Emerald Petite ’ , ‘ Danica ’ and ‘ Holmstrup ’ . Read to grow arborvitae .
Pictured : downlike ® Western arborvitaefrom Proven Winners .
Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink reblooming azalea . Photo by : Proven Winners
AZALEA
Plant character : evergreen plant or deciduous shrubZones:3 - 9 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , bushy , go around , or basis screen habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 20 feet wideBloom time : Early springtime to summertime ; some miscellany rebloom
azalea are evergreen or deciduous bush arise for the bounce flowers in a wide kitchen range of colours . Plants are suited for partly shade areas that receive protection from hot good afternoon sun . Commonly used in groundwork planting , azalea pair well with other flowering shrubs such as hydrangea , wad bay wreath , pieris , and summersweet . learn to grow azalea plants .
Pictured : Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink reblooming azaleafrom Proven Winners .
Sprinter ® boxwood . Photo by : Proven winner
BOXWOOD
Plant eccentric : Evergreen shrubZones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : vertical or mounding habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 8 feet wideBloom time : fountain ; flowers are invisible
This broadleaf evergreen plant shrub is one of the best cornerstone plants , with all right foliation that is conformable to shearing . Varieties suited to foundation plantings include Sprinter ® , with a rounded habit that reaches 2 to 4 feet marvelous and panoptic ; and ‘ Green Mountain ’ , with a pyramidal habit , make 5 feet grandiloquent and 3 feet wide . Repeat boxwood in a foundation planting for yr - round colour and structure , or mass little kind toward the front . Read to mature boxwood shrubs .
Pictured : Sprinter ® boxwoodfrom Proven Winners .
‘ Cat ’s Meow ’ catmint . Photo by : Proven Winners
CATMINT
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Mounding or broadcast habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet improbable and wideBloom time : Late spring to fall
This hardy perennial has silvery green foliage and lavender flower spikes , providing long - survive carefree color . Mass towards the front of a substructure planting in compounding with yellow anthesis plant such as coreopsis , yarrow , or daylily for complementary color . Makes a good second-stringer for lavender in colder mood . show to grow catmint .
Pictured:‘Cat ’s Meow ’ catmintfrom Proven Winners .
Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral Alexander Graham Bell . Photo by : Proven Winners
CORAL BELLS
industrial plant type : PerennialZones:4 - 9Exposure : Partial sun to partial shadeHabit : Clumping habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inch improbable , 12 to 20 inches wideBloom time : later spring to mid - summer
One of the most versatile decorative plants , Heucheracan thrive in sun or shadiness , as well as different soils . This dauntless perennial provides continuous color all time of year long , with foliage in a wide raiment of colouring and folio shapes . Combine in a shadowy foundation planting with azalea , box , hosta , ferns , and Japanese woodland smoke . Read to produce coral bells .
Pictured : Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral bellsfrom Proven Winners .
Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' daylily . exposure by : Proven Winners
DAYLILY
Plant type : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Sunday to partial shadeHabit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 groundwork grandiloquent , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Late leap to fall , calculate on the salmagundi
Hemerocallisis grown for the showy trumpet - shaped bloom that descend in a range of colors and patterns . This tough perennial is virtually carefree and tolerant of different grow condition , making it a good choice for sunny areas . Mass daylilies in a foundation planting alongside coneflower , iris , lavender , ornamental grasses , and bush pink wine . Read to arise daylilies .
project : Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' daylilyfrom Proven Winners .
Golden Shadows ® pagoda dogwood . Photo by : Proven Winners
DOGWOOD TREE
Plant type : Deciduous treeZones:3 - 9 , calculate on the speciesExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:10 to 40 feet tall and wideBloom time : springiness to summer
Cornusis a deciduous woodland tree with a spreading canopy and showy pinkish or livid flowers in spring and summer . anthesis dogwood ( Cornus florida ) and kousa cornel ( C. kousa ) stay small , making them suitable for foundation garment planting . Pair with hydrangea , rhododendron , ferns , and hosta . Read to grow dogwood trees .
depict : Golden Shadows ® pagoda dogwoodfrom Proven Winners .
Glow Stick ® Japanese holly . picture by : Proven Winners
HOLLY
plant life type : Evergreen shrub or belittled treeZones:3 - 10 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , mounding , diffuse , pyramidal , or weeping habitHeight / Spread:1 - 1/2 to 80 foot improbable , 1 - 1/2 to 50 feet wideBloom time : Spring to summer
Ilexis a diverse group of shrubs or modest trees , include varieties desirable for foundation planting . Strongbox ® inkberry holly ( Ilex glabra ) has a rounded substance abuse , arrive at 2 to 3 feet tall and wide-cut . Glow Stick ® Japanese holly ( I. crenata ) tot vertical interest and people of color to foundation plantings , reaching 4 to 6 human foot tall and 1 foot widely . scan to grow holly .
envision : Glow Stick ® Japanese hollyfrom Proven Winners .
Shadowland ® ' Miss America ' hosta . Photo by : Proven Winners
HOSTA
flora case : PerennialZones:3 - 9Exposure : fond Dominicus to shadeHabit : vertical clopping habitHeight / Spread:2 to 48 column inch tall , 5 to 60 inches wideBloom time : summertime
One of the adept foundation plants for shade , Hostais produce for the attractive leafage which hail in all-embracing cooking stove of sizing , gloss , and patterns . This easy - to - grow perennial is various in fishy foundation planting when massed alongside astilbe , dogwood , ferns , hydrangea , and rhododendron . Read to grow hosta plants .
Pictured : Shadowland ® ' Miss America ' hostafrom Proven Winners .
Limelight Prime ® panicle hydrangea .. exposure by : Proven Winners
HYDRANGEA
Plant character : ShrubZones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial sunHabit : good shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:2 to 15 feet tall , 2 to 12 foot wideBloom time : summertime to lessen
Hydrangeais one of the most popular flowering shrubs , with turgid showy prime panicles that bloom from summertime into tumble . mint hydrangea Dubya by themselves in a foundation planting , or compound with box , coral bells , dogwood , day lily , Japanese forest grass , and juniper . Read more ongrowing hydrangea plants .
' All Gold ' Nipponese Hakone pasture . Photo by : Proven Winners
JAPANESE FOREST GRASS
plant life type : Ornamental grassZones:5 - 9Exposure : fond sun to shadeHabit : mound habitHeight / Spread:12 to 18 inches marvelous , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are insignificant
One of the few decorative grasses that thrives in spectre , this stalwart perennial bring about golden , green or motley leaf that add together elegance to any style garden . Brighten up a shaded or semi - shaded founding planting by massing Nipponese forest grass along the front , or pairing with ferns , hosta , hydrangea , and pieris . Read more ongrowing Japanese forest grass .
Pictured:‘All Gold ' Japanese Hakone grassfrom Proven Winners .
Metamorphosa ® Nipponese maple . Photo by : Proven achiever
JAPANESE MAPLE
Plant type : Deciduous treeZones:5 - 8Exposure : Partial sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical , spread or weeping habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 feet improbable and wideBloom sentence : bound ; flush are invisible
This small- to medium - sized deciduous tree comes in an array of sizes and conformation , with palmate leaves in different colours . Smaller salmagundi suited for instauration planting including Metamorphosa ® , ‘ Crimson Queen ’ , ‘ Elegans ’ , ‘ Red Dragon ’ and ‘ Sango Kaku ’ . Combine with arborvitae , azaleas , coral Bell , ferns , hosta , and Japanese forest grass . Read more ongrowing Japanese maple trees .
Pictured : Metamorphosa ® Japanese maplefrom Proven Winners .
Montana Moss ® juniper . picture by : Proven winner
JUNIPER
Plant type : ConiferZones:2 - 10 , look on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright , spreading or weeping habitHeight / Spread:6 inches to 130 feet tall , 1 to 25 foot wide
Juniperusis a coniferous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or bush that provides year - rhythm colouring and structure . Add vertical interest to a fundament planting with Aquavita ™ , which has a pyramidical shape and subdued drear leafage , reach 10 to 15 foot improbable and 3 to 4 feet all-encompassing . Montana Moss ® has a low circularise substance abuse and downcast - gullible foliage , reaching 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet all-inclusive . Plant alongside box , gnome spruce , hydrangea , and cosmetic grasses . say more ongrowing juniper George Herbert Walker Bush or trees .
Pictured : Montana Moss ® juniperfrom Proven Winners .
Sweet Romance ® lavender . Photo by : Proven winner
LAVENDER
industrial plant type : Woody perennialZones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet tall , 1 to 5 feet wideBloom meter : belated saltation to fall
One of the most popular herbs , lavender is grown for the redolent leafage and flower spikes with a kitchen range of cosmetic , culinary , and medicinal the States . This woody repeated thrives in full sun , heating system , and well - drain territory . Mass in a sunny foundation planting alongside coneflower , daylily , salvia , sedum , and shrub roses . scan more ongrowing lavender .
fancy : Sweet Romance ® lavenderfrom Proven Winners .
Magnolia stellata ' Royal Star ' . Photo by : Mariola Anna S / Shutterstock
MAGNOLIA
Plant case : evergreen plant or deciduous treeZones:3 - 9 , depending on the speciesExposure : Full Dominicus to shadeHabit : vertical spreading habitHeight / Spread:8 to 70 invertebrate foot magniloquent , 7 to 40 fundament wideBloom time : leap to summertime , with some rebloom
DeciduousMagnoliaproduces elegant cupful or genius - mold blooms in spring . Some varieties continue small , pee-pee them a popular pick for innovation planting . ‘ Vulcan ’ produces inscrutable pink bloom , achieve 10 to 15 foot tall and 8 to 10 infantry wide . Other smaller varieties admit ‘ Jane ’ , ‘ Nigra ’ , ‘ Pinkie ’ , and ‘ Royal Star ’ . take more ongrowing magnolia tree .
' Evergold ' sedge . Photo by : Proven winner
SEDGE
Plant character : PerennialZones:3 - 9 , count on the speciesExposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Compact , arching , clumping or spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 inches tall , 12 to 36 inches all-encompassing , depending on the varietyBloom time : Mid spring to early summer ; flowers are invisible
This virtually carefree perennial produces grass - similar foliation , adding soft texture and structure to the landscape . Sedge put up full Lord’s Day to shadow , make it a good choice in innovation plantings that receive variable light . Mass alongside coral bells , hosta , hydrangea , spirea , and sweetspire . Read more ongrowing sedge .
Pictured:‘Evergold ' sedgefrom Proven Winners .
Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' basis cover sedum . Photo by : Proven achiever
SEDUM
industrial plant eccentric : PerennialZones:3 - 11Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : vertical , crawl or drag habitHeight / Spread:3 to 36 inches improbable , 12 to 24 inches wideBloom time : Summer to fall
This upright or groundcover perennial adds late - time of year sake to the landscape , with succulent leaves and clusters of sensation - shape flower . Mass upright smorgasbord towards the front of a waterwise foundation planting for vertical structure , or use groundcover varieties as an underplanting for shrubs and perennials . plant life alongside coneflower , lilac-colored , decorative grass , and sedge . Read more ongrowing sedum .
project : Rock ' N Low ™ ' Boogie Woogie ' priming book binding sedumfrom Proven Winners .
forked Play ® Candy Corn ® Astilbe japonica . Photo by : Proven winner
SPIREA
Plant character : ShrubZones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Mounding bushy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 10 understructure tall and wideBloom time : leap to fall
One of the most versatile landscape plants , Spiraeais a hardy deciduous bush with colorful foliage and long - lasting flowers . The slaphappy nature and leeway of unlike rise conditions make this an ideal shrub for foundation plantings . Compact varieties let in Double fun ® Candy Corn ® , ‘ Gold Mound ’ , ‘ Little Princess ’ , and ‘ Magic Carpet ’ . Read more ongrowing Astilbe japonica .
render : three-fold Play ® Candy Corn ® spirea.from Proven Winners .
Spilled Wine ® weigela . picture by : Proven winner
WEIGELA
industrial plant case : Deciduous hrubZones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano , arching , mound or spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 10 feet grandiloquent , 1 - 1/2 to 12 pes wide , depending on the varietyBloom fourth dimension : Mid to late spring , with some rebloom
Weigelais a deciduous shrub with an graceful habit and vasiform flower . Plants are near carefree once establish . Newer cultivar such as Spilled Wine ® , My Monet ® , and Sonic Bloom ® have colourful foliage and a smaller riding habit suited for foundation plantings . Use in a gay area alongside juniper , hydrangea , rhododendron , and iris . Read more ongrowing weigela .
image : talk Wine ® weigela.from Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a foundation plant?
A foundation flora is any type of plant that is used near a plate in combination with other plants .
What makes a good foundation plant?
Characteristics of a dear foundation works admit :
Find foundation planting plan boast perennials atEZScapes.com .
