Wilson
Bros Nursery is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS A WEEK!
The
Best Foundation Shrubs
Below
is a listing of shrubs that are excellent
for use in front foundation plantings of
homes or buildings. These shrubs were selected
for their hardiness in Zone
8, low maintenance, appearance, and
tolerance of extreme environmental conditions.
We use the list below ourselves when designing
foundation plantings.
Name:
Dwarf
Abelia 'Little Richard'
Botanical:
Abelia
Height
x Width:
2-3'
H x 2-3' W
Exposure:
Full
sun or partial shade
Bloom
Color:
White
Bloom
Time:
Summer
through Fall
Water:
Low
once established
Features:
Clusters
of small white bell-shape flowers
are produced in abundance summer
thru fall. Low mounding habit.
Drought tolerant
Bright
golden evergreen foliage all
year. Good for corners, low
screen, or as a specimen.
Companions:
Dwarf
Nandinas, Barberries, Soft Touch
Holly, as an accent in perennial
gardens, and many other plants.
Name:
Arborvitae
'Emerald Green'
Botanical:
Arborvitae
Size:
10-15'
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
sun or light shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water:
Low
once established
Features:
Conical
shape to this evergreen excellent
for the corners, as a screen,
or specimen.
Companions:
Barberries,
Loropetalums, Carissa Holly,
and many more.
Name:
Boxwood
'Wintergreen'
Botanical:
Buxus macrophylla
Size:
4-5'
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Light Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome
dark green foliage sheers well
into various shapes. Excellent
foundation shrub or hedge.
Companions:
Name:
Boxwood
'Harlandi Dwarf'
Botanical:
Buxus
Size:
2-3'
H x 2-3' W - Ca be maintained
at 18" H x 18" W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Growth
Rate:
Moderate
Water
Needs:
Low to moderate
Features:
Handsome
dark green foliage sheers well
to form low hedge. This boxwood
has shown itself to be very
hardy in our area.
Companions:
Harbour
Dwarf Nandina, Stella De Oro
Daylilies, low growing Junipers
Name:
Camellia
Japonicas - Spring Flowering
Botanical:
Camellia
Size:
5'+
H x 4'+W
Exposure:
Sun
or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red's,
Pink's, White's, and Bi-Colors
Bloom
Time:
Late
January to early April
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Outstanding
large flowers are produced in
abundance from late January
thru March. Very handsome dark
green glossy foliage is evergreen.
Can be used in foundation plantings
or in islands. A must in every
southern garden.
Companions:
Azaleas
and other plants that prefer
afternoon shade.
Name:
Camelia
Sasanquas - Fall Blooming
Botanical:
Camellia
Size:
5'+
H x 5'+ W
Exposure:
Sun
or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red's,
Pink's, White's, Bi-colors
Bloom
Time:
Fall
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Double
or single flowers are produced
in abundance in fall. Handsome
dark green evergreen foliage.
Useful as espalier (against
a wall), in islands, or as a
specimen. Excellent for tree-forming.
A must in southern gardens.
Companions:
Many
varieties of Camelias are available
at the nursery - too many to
name!
Name:
Cleyera
Botanical:
Ternstroemia
Size:
8-10'
H x 5-6' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Afternoon Shade
Foliage
Color:
New growth is red, burgundy,
or orange
Growth
Rate:
Fast
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome
glossy evergreen foliage on
this upright rounded shrub.
New growth is red to orange.Excellent
foundation plant in or on the
corners, or under high windows.
Excellent as a small tree specimen.
Companions:
Dwarf
Yaupon, Junipers, Crimson Pigmy
Barberry, Soft Touch Holly,
Cotoneaster,Gold Mound Spirea,
and other small leaved shrubs.
Name:
Cryptomeria
"Dwarf Global'
Botanical:
Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa
Nana'
Size:
5'
H x 5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Part Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Very
attractive soft-textured foliage
on this unique evergreen shrub.
Excellent foundation plant that
can be used to accentuate entryways.
Also useful as a specimen in
the landscape or evergreen accent
in the perennial garden.
Companions:
Soft
Touch Holly, Loropetalums, Harbour
Dwarf Nandinas, Big Blue or
Variegated Liriope, Stella De
Oro Daylily, and many other
low growing plants.
Name:
Holly
'Carissa'
Botanical:
Ilex
Size:
4'
H x 5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
A
fast growing hardy, evergreen
shrub that never needs pruning!
Perhaps the best foundation
shrub available. Tolerates extreme
cold or heat. Very drought tolerant.
Companions:
Dwarf
Yaupon, Junipers, Dwarf Abelias,
Variegated Pittosporum, Ornamental
Grasses, Loropetalums, just
to name a few! A Wilson Bros.
Favorite!
Name:
Holly
'Compacta'
Botanical:
Ilex crenata
Size:
4-5'
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Part Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low once established
Features:
Dense
shrub most often used as a foundation
plant or to form a hedge. Sheers
well into various shapes. Often
confused with Boxwoods.
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Dwarf Burfordi Holly,
Junipers, Nandinas, Ornamental
Grasses, Aborvitaes, to name
a few.
Name:
Holly
'Dwarf Burfordi'
Botanical:
Ilex
Size:
5-6'
H x 5-6' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
White,
inconspicuous
Bloom
Time:
Spring,
follwed by a large crop of red
berries if not pruned
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome,
glossy dark green foliage on
this rounded, mounding evergreen.
Loaded with red berries in Winter!
Excellent foundaion plant or
hedge. Makes an excellent small
tree-form specimen. Very hardy.
Companions:
Dwarf
Yaupon, Junipers, Ableias, Sprieas,
Pampas Grass, SOft Touch Holly,
and many more.
Name:
Holly
- Dwarf Yaupon 'Bordeaux'
Botanical:
Ilex vomitoria
Size:
4'
H x 5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun is preferred
Foliage
Color:
Grey-green
with wine-red new growth
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Tolerates dry or damp soil
Features:
A
very hardy and dense mounding
evergreen shrub. Excellent as
a foundation plant, a hedge,
or grouped in islands. Sheers
well but pruning is not necessary.
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Dwarf Indian Hawthorne,
Gardenias, Junipers, Ornamental
Grasses, and many many more.
This shrub os used to being
out the texture of plants around
it,
Name:
Holly
'Soft Touch'
Botanical:
Ilex crenata
Size:
2-3'
H x 3-4' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low once established
Features:
The
texture of this low mounding
shrub is soft to the touch and
to the eye. An excellent foundation
plant. Also useful in islands,
or as a low hedge. An excellent
plant for contrast.
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Indian Hawthorne, Otto
Luyken Laurel, Ornamental Grasses,
Barberries, Loropetalums, Knockout
Roses, Nandinas, Japanese Maples,
and many more!
Name:
Holly
'Fosteri'
Botanical:
Ilex attenuata
Size:
10-20'
H x 6-10' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Part Shade
Berry
Color:
Dark
red
Berry
Time:
Winter
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome
gray-green foliage on this fast
growing, uptight, conical-shaped
holly. An excellent corner plant
or small evergreen tree. Lots
of red berries in winter!
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Dwarf Burfordi Holly,
indian Hathorne, Loropetalums,
Otto Luyken Laurel, Cleyra and
many many more.
Name:
Holly
'Nelli Stephens'
Botanical:
Ilex
Size:
10-20'
H x 8-10' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Berry
Color:
Red
Berry
Time:
Large
red berries in winter
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome
dark blue-green foliage on this
most popular tall growing pyramidal
holly. Excellent on the corners
of two story homes or buildings,
as a screen, or a specimen in
islands.
Companions:
Dwarf
Yaupon Holly, Indian Hawthorne,
Junipers, Ornamental Grasses,
and other screen plants such
as Carolina Sapphire Cypress,
Cryptomeria, Magnolias.
Name:
Holly
'Weeping Yaupon'
Botanical:
Ilex vomitoria
Size:
10-20'
H
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Berry
Color:
Red
Berry
Time:
A
massive crop of small red beries
in winter
Water
Needs:
Tolerates
dry or damp soils
Features:
The
weeping habit of this yaupon
adds plenty of personality to
to the landscape. Let it weep
to the ground or limb it up
as a tree form. Excellent corner
plant, screen, or tree-form
specimen. Lots of red berries
in winter!
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Indian Hawthorne, Miss
Huff Lantana, Junipers, Barberries,
Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses,
and many more.
Name:
Indian
Hawthorne 'Eleanor Tabor'
Botanical:
Raphiolepis
Size:
3-4'
H x 5-6' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
Pink
Bloom
Time:
Spring
and sometimes Fall
Water
Needs:
Very low once established
Features:
Compact
evergreen shrub produces masses
of pink flowers in Spring. An
excellent substitute for Azaleas
in full sun situations. Useful
as a foundation shrub, grouped
in sunny islands, or as a low
hedge.
Companions:
Abelias,
Crimson Pigmy Barberry, Soft
Touch Holly, other Hollies,
Junipers, Ornamental Grasses,
Loropetalums, Yucca, Weeping
Yaupon, and many more.
Name:
Indian
Hawthorne 'Snow'
Botanical:
Raphiolepis
Size:
3'
H x 5-6' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
White
Bloom
Time:
Spring
and sometimes Fall
Water
Needs:
Very low once established
Features:
Dense,
mounding evergreen shrub becomes
covered in masses of white flowers
in Spring. An excellent substitute
for Azaleas in full sun situations.
Useful as a foundation shrub,
grouped in sunny islands, or
as a low hedge. Drought tolerant.
Companions:
Abelias,
Crimson Pigmy Barberry, Soft
Touch Holly and other Hollies,
Junipers, Ornamental Grasses,
Loropetalums, Yucca, Weeping
Yaupon, and many more.
Name:
Juniper
'Bar Harbor'
Botanical:
Juniperus wiltoni
Size:
4-6"
H x 4-6' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun
Foliage
Color :
Blue-green
to blue-burgundy in winter
Spacing:
3-5'
apart
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Fast
growing groundhugging Juniper
excellent for use on embankments
or as a groundcover in the borders
of islands or foundation plantings.
Much faster growing that Blue
Rug.
Companions:
Use
as a groundcover around Hollies,
Junipers, Spireas, Abelias.
Lantanas, Barberries, Loropetalums,
and many many more. Also good
for underplant small trees such
as Crape Myrtles and Japanese
Maples.
Name:
Juniper
'Blue Point'
Botanical:
Juniperus chinensis
Size:
8-9'
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun
Foliage
Color:
Blue
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Handsome
blue evergreen foliage on this
upright pyramidal Juniper. Useful
as a cornerplant in foundation
plantings or between two windows,
or as a screen or specimen.
Good shrub to decorate for Christmas.
Companions:
Carissa
Holly, Indian Hawthorne, Barberries,
Spireas, Daisy Gardenia, Abelias,
Ornamental Grasses, and many
more.
Name:
Juniper
'Blue Rug'
Botanical:
Juniperus horizontalis
Size:
3-4"
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Foliage
Color:
Blue-green
Spacing:
3-4'
apart
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Blue-green
foliage on this ground-hugging
Juniper excellent as a groundcover
in foundation plantings, the
borders of islands, or to underplant
small trees such as the Laceleaf
Japanese Maples.
Companions:
Hollies,
Indian Hawthornes, Spireas,
Abelias, Barberries, Loropetalums,
Ornamental Grasses, Laceleaf
Japanese Maples, Daylilies,
and many many more.
Name:
Juniper
'Hetzi Columnar'
Botanical:
Juniper hetzi columnaris
Size:
10-15'
H x 3-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun
Foliage
Color:
Rich
green
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Upright
pyramidal habit with handsome
rich green foliage. An excellent
corner plant, screen or specimen.
Also good for topiary.
Companions:
Hollies,
Indian Hawthornes, Barberries,
Loropetalums, Abelias, Spireas,
Ornamental Grasses, and many
more.
Name:
Juniper
'Hollywood' aka 'Torolusa'
Botanical:
Juniperus chinensis 'Torolusa'
Size:
10-15'
H x 6-7' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun or Partial Shade
Foliage
Color:
Dark
green
Bloom
Time:
None
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
An
excellent Juniper to espalier
up against a wall on the sunny
side of homes or buildings.
Also a nice specimen in Japanese
gardens or the perennial garden.
Great for topiary!
Companions:
Low
growing Hollies, Indian Hawthorne,
Barberries, Abelias, Spireas,
Yuccas, Japanese Maples, Ornamental
Grasses, and many more.
Name:
Juniper
'Sea Green'
Botanical:
Juniperus chinensis
Size:
5-6'
H x 4-5' W
Exposure:
Full
Sun
Foliage
Color:
Bright
rich green
Spacing:
4-6'
apart
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Vibrant,
rich green foliage on this upright
mid-size Juniper excellent as
a low maintanence hedge, foundation
plant, or evergreen accent in
the perennial garden. Very hardy
and pest resistant.
Companions:
Barberries,
Loropetalums, Indian Hawthorne,
Ornamental Grasses, Abelias,
Spireas, Yucca, and many many
more.
Name:
Loropetalums
Botanical:
Loroptelaum
Height
x Width:
4-15' H x 4-8'
W depending on variety
Exposure:
Full Sun is preferred but
will tolerate some shade
Bloom
Color:
Fuschia-Pink
Bloom
Time:
Spring and Fall!
Water:
Low
Features:
Deep
purple-red foliage contrasts
wonderfully with the fringe-like
fuschia-pink flowers in Spring
and Fall. An excellent foundation
or corner plant. Makes a nice
low maintenance hedge or tree-form
specimen too. 'Ruby', one of
the low growing varieties makes
an excellent substitute foe
Azaleas in full sun areas.
Companions:
Soft
Touch Holly, Dwarf Yaupon, Abelias,
Dwarf Spirea, Junipers, Indian
Hawthorne, Ornamental Grasses,
Daisy Gardenia, Lantanas, and
many more.
Name:
Laurel
'Otto Luyken'
Botanical:
Prunus laurocerasus
Height
x Width:
4-5' H x 4-5'
W
Exposure:
Afternoon Shade is preferred
for best performance
Bloom
Color:
White
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Average to Low
Features:
White flower spikes produced
in Spring against deep green
foliage. This is a plant grown
in the northwest and there have
been some problems in the south
with shotgun disease due to
higher temps and humidity.
Companions:
Soft
Touch Holly, Hosta Lilies, Harbour
Dwarf Nandina, Ivy, Flame Creeper
Azalea, Dogwoods, Red Bud Trees,
Japanese Painted Fern, and other
plants that do well in afternoon
shade situations.
Name:
Mahonia
'Grapeberry' or 'Leatherleaf'
Botanical:
Mahonia beali
Height
x Width:
4-5' H x 4-5'
W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Yellow flowers followed by
purple-blue berries!
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low
Features:
The
lustrous, bold, leathery foliage
is outstanding in the landscape.
Tassels of yellow flowers are
produced atop the stems in Spring
and are followed by clusters
of berries resembling grapes.
Very low maintanence. Useful
as a foundation plant or in
shady isalnds or perennial gardens.
Companions:
Azaleas,
Nandinas, Aucubas, Dogwoods,
Red Bud Trees, Hosta Lilies,
Perennial Ferns, Lecouthoe,
and many other shade loving
plants or trees.
Name:
Nandina
'Compacta'
Botanical:
Nandina domestica
Height
x Width:
3-4' H x 3' W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Shade
Bloom
Color:
White followed by clusters
of red berries
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low
Features:
Very adaptable
low maintanence evergreen shrub
similar in appearance to bamboo.
Useful in foundation plantings,
grouped in islands, or as a
specimen in the perennial garden.
Pretty white flower panicles
are followed by red berries.
Good screen for air conditioning
units or other ultilities. Red
to orange Winter foliage is
outstanding.
Companions:
Mahonia,
Azaleas, Hollies, Hydrangeas,
Junipers, Daisy Gardenia, Hosta
Lilies, Aucubas, Dogwoods, Red
Bud Trees, and many many other
plants and trees. Too many to
name!
Name:
Nandina
'Harbour Dwarf' - (True Dwarf)
Botanical:
Nandina domestica 'Harbour
Dwf'
Height
x Width:
18" H x 18"
W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
White followed by clusters
of red berries
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low
Features:
This is the
true dwarf Nandina! Dense growth
habot to 18" in height.
Maroon-red winter foliage is
very nice. White flower panicles
in Spring are followed by clusters
of red berries. Most effective
in groups on the border of islands
or foundation plantings. A Wilson
Bros Favorite!
Companions:
Hollies,
Junipers, Azaleas, Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Aucubas, Ornamental
Grasses and many more. A perfect
plant for underplanting small
trees such as Japanese Maples,
Crape Myrtles, Dogwoods, Redbuds,
or Hollies.
Name:
Pittosporum
'Variegated'
Botanical:
Pittosporum
Height
x Width:
5-6' H x 6'+ W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low
Features:
Very soft textured
shrub with appealing variegated
dusty grey-green and white foliage.
Useful in foundation plantings
under higher windows or in corners,
grouped in islands, or as a
low maintenance hedge.
Companions:
Hollies,
Junipers, Abelias, Barberries,
Loropetalums, Cotoneaster, Gardenias,
Nandinas, Mahonia, and many
more.
Name:
Rose
'Knockout'
Botanical:
Rosa
Height
x Width:
4-5' H x 4-5'
W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red, Pink, or Blush Pink
Bloom
Time:
April to December!!
Water:
Low
Features:
The most carefree,
adaptable rose we have ever
seen! No disease or insect problems.
Produces an abundance of outstanding
cherry red roses from March
to Frost! Anybody can grow this
rose. A Wilson Bros. favorite
and a must in every landscape!
The only rose we include in
foundation plantings.
Companions:
Underplant
with groundhugging Sedums,Thymes,
Junipers, Creeping Jenny, Creeping
Fig, Iceplant, or Mondo Grass.
Combines well with Stella De
Oro Daylilies and many other
low growing perennials.
Name:
Spirea
'Gold Mound'
Botanical:
Spirea
Height
x Width:
2-3' H x 3' W
Exposure:
Full Sun
Bloom
Color:
Pink
Bloom
Time:
Summer into Fall
Water:
Low
Features:
Low, mounding
shrub with outstanding bright
yellow foliage. Clusters of
light pink flowers are produced
in abundance during Summer.
Useful in foundation plantings,
on the borders of islands, on
embankments, and in the perennial
garden. Low maintanence &
drought tolerant.
Companions:
Other
Spireas, Hollies, Junipers,
Gardenias, Indian Hawthorne,
Loropetalums, Barberries, Japanese
Maples, Sedums, Dianthus and
many other shrubs, perennials,
and trees.
Name:
Spirea
'Little Princess'
Botanical:
Spirea
Height
x Width:
2-3' H x 3' W
Exposure:
Full Sun
Bloom
Color:
Pink
Bloom
Time:
Summer into Fall
Water:
Low
Features:
An abundance
of pink flower clusters are
produced all Summer on this
low, dense, mounding shrubwith
soft-textured blue-green foliage.
Useful in foundation plantings,
on the borders of islands, on
embankments, and in the perennial
garden. Low maintanence &
drought tolerant.
Companions:
Other
Spireas, Hollies, Junipers,
Indian Hawthorne, Gardenias,
Loropetalums, Barberries, Japanese
Maples, Sedums, Dianthus, and
many other shrubs, perennials,
and trees.
Name:
Upright
Yew
Botanical:
Podocarpus
Height
x Width:
5'+ H x 3-4' W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
None
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low
Features:
Needlelike
dark blue-green foliage provides
a unique texture in the landscape.
Upright, columnar growth habit.
Useful as a foundation shrub,
hedge, screen, or sheared tight
as in photo.
Companions:
Soft
Touch Holly, Dwarf Yaupon Holly,
Abelias, Spireas, Crimson Pigmy
Barberry, Cotoneaster, Low Junipers,
Dwarf Nandinas, perennials,
and many more.
Name:
Yucca
'Adams Needle'
Botanical:
Yucca filamentosa
Height
x Width:
3-4' H x 3-4'
W
Exposure:
Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom
Color:
White
Bloom
Time:
Late Spring
Water:
Very drought tolerant
Features:
Floppy sword-like
leaves form clumps. Tall spikes
covered with large white flowers
rise above the foliage in Summer.
Extremely drought tolerant and
low maintenance. Excellent accent
in islands, foundation plantings,
or a centerpiece for large containers.
Companions:
Abelias,
Barberries, Cotoneaster, Soft
Touch Holly, Junipers, Ornamental
Grasses, Dwarf Nandinas, Dwarf
Spireas, Sedums, and other drought
tolerant shrubs and perennials.