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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
Companions: Barberries, Loropetalums, Junipers, Ornamental Grasses
 
Name:
Arborvitae 'Berkman's Golden'
Botanical:
Arborvitae
Size: 5-6' H x 3-4' W
Exposure: Full sun or light shade
Bloom Color: Golden foliage
Bloom Time: None
Water: Low once established
Features: 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.
 

 

Click on a category of shrubs below to view descriptive listing with photos

 

 

 

 

 
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