Foundation planting plants
Plants suited to a foundation planting planting scheme.
Foundation planting frames the front of a house, softening the join between building and garden and giving a tidy, settled look year round. Because it is on view in every season and at close range, it leans heavily on evergreens and reliable, low-maintenance shrubs that hold their shape without constant attention. Keep taller plants clear of windows and allow for mature spread so you are not forever cutting back from the walls. Repeat a few well-chosen plants for a calm, cohesive frontage rather than a one-of-everything collection. Vary leaf texture and add seasonal flower for relief. These plants are chosen for dependable structure and good manners close to the house, the kind that look composed every month of the year.
Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 330 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.
330 plants for this
- Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'Abelia x grandiflora 'Kaleidoscope'
- Abelia 'Rose Creek'Abelia x grandiflora 'Rose Creek'
- African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonis
- African MarigoldTagetes erecta
- Allegheny SpurgePachysandra procumbens
- Alumroot 'Palace Purple'Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple'
- American BeautyberryCallicarpa americana
- American Cranberrybush 'Redwing'Viburnum trilobum 'Redwing'
- American Elderberry 'Adams'Sambucus canadensis 'Adams'
- American Witch HazelHamamelis virginiana
- AngeloniaAngelonia angustifolia
- Anise/Blue SageSalvia guaranitica
- Anna's Magic Ball ArborvitaeThuja occidentalis 'Anna's Magic Ball'
- Annual VincaCatharanthus roseus
- Appalachian SedgeCarex appalachica
- Arborvitae 'Emerald Green'Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'
- Arborvitae 'Hetz Midget'Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget'
- Arborvitae 'North Pole'Thuja occidentalis 'North Pole'
- Arrowwood Viburnum 'Blue Muffin'Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin'
- Astilbe 'Visions'Astilbe chinensis 'Visions'
- Atamasco Rain LilyZephyranthes atamasca
- Aucuba 'Gold Dust'Aucuba japonica 'Gold Dust'
- Autumn Sage 'Hot Lips'Salvia greggii 'Hot Lips'
- Azalea 'Girard's Fuchsia'Rhododendron 'Girard's Fuchsia'
- Azalea 'Karen'Azalea 'Karen'
- Azalea 'Stewartstonian'Rhododendron 'Stewartstonian'
- BacopaSutera cordata
- Balloon Flower 'Sentimental Blue'Platycodon grandiflorus 'Sentimental Blue'
- Barren StrawberryGeum fragarioides
- Bearded Iris 'Beverly Sills'Iris germanica 'Beverly Sills'
- Bearded Iris 'Immortality'Iris germanica 'Immortality'
- Beardtongue 'Dark Towers'Penstemon 'Dark Towers'
- Bigleaf Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer Original'
- Birchleaf Spirea 'Tor'Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor'
- Black Chokeberry 'Autumn Magic'Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'
- Black Chokeberry 'Low Scape Mound'Aronia melanocarpa 'Low Scape Mound'
- Black HuckleberryGaylussacia baccata
- Blue Star CreeperIsotoma fluviatilis
- BluebeardCaryopteris x clandonensis
- Blueberry 'Bluecrop'Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop'
- Bottlebrush 'Little John'Callistemon viminalis 'Little John'
- Bottlebrush BuckeyeAesculus parviflora
- Boxwood 'Green Gem'Buxus 'Green Gem'
- Boxwood 'Green Velvet'Buxus 'Green Velvet'
- Boxwood 'Winter Gem'Buxus 'Winter Gem'
- BrowalliaBrowallia speciosa
- Bush HoneysuckleDiervilla lonicera
- Buttonbush 'Sugar Shack'Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Sugar Shack'
- CalamintCalamintha nepeta
- CalibrachoaCalibrachoa 'Million Bells'
- Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopica
- Camellia 'Professor Sargent'Camellia japonica 'Professor Sargent'
- Camellia 'Shishi Gashira'Camellia sasanqua 'Shishi Gashira'
- Camellia 'Yuletide'Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'
- Canna 'Tropicanna'Canna 'Tropicanna'
- Cape PlumbagoPlumbago auriculata
- Carolina AllspiceCalycanthus floridus
- Carolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirens
- Carolina Wild PetuniaRuellia caroliniensis
- Cast-Iron PlantAspidistra elatior
- Catmint 'Cat's Pajamas'Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'
- Cavatine Japanese AndromedaPieris japonica 'Cavatine'
- Cherokee SedgeCarex cherokeensis
- Chinese Holly 'Carissa'Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'
- Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoides
- Cigar PlantCuphea ignea
- Clematis 'Duchess of Albany'Clematis texensis 'Duchess of Albany'
- Clematis 'Jackmanii'Clematis 'Jackmanii'
- CleyeraTernstroemia gymnanthera
- Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
- CockscombCelosia argentea
- ColeusPlectranthus scutellarioides
- CoontieZamia integrifolia
- Coral Bells 'Autumn Bride'Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride'
- Coral Bells 'Caramel'Heuchera 'Caramel'
- Coral Bells 'Dale's Strain'Heuchera americana 'Dale's Strain'
- Coral Tropical SageSalvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'
- Corkscrew RushJuncus effusus 'Spiralis'
- Cranesbill 'Biokovo'Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'
- Crape Myrtle 'Natchez'Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'
- Creeping Juniper 'Blue Rug'Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug'
- Creeping Oregon GrapeMahonia repens
- Creeping Phlox 'Sherwood Purple'Phlox stolonifera 'Sherwood Purple'
- Creeping Thyme 'Coccineus'Thymus praecox 'Coccineus'
- CrossvineBignonia capreolata
- Cuphea 'Vermillionaire'Cuphea llavea 'Vermillionaire'
- Daffodil 'Ice Follies'Narcissus 'Ice Follies'
- Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'
- Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight'Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight'
- Dahlia 'Thomas Edison'Dahlia 'Thomas Edison'
- Danica Globe ArborvitaeThuja occidentalis 'Danica'
- Darcy SageSalvia darcyi
- Daylily 'Happy Returns'Hemerocallis 'Happy Returns'
- Daylily 'Pardon Me'Hemerocallis 'Pardon Me'
- Delphinium 'Magic Fountains'Delphinium 'Magic Fountains'
- Desert BluebellsPhacelia campanularia
- DevilwoodOsmanthus americanus
- Dianthus 'Firewitch'Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Firewitch'
- Distylium 'Blue Cascade'Distylium 'Blue Cascade'
- Distylium 'Vintage Jade'Distylium 'Vintage Jade'
- Drift RoseRosa 'Drift'
- Dusty MillerSenecio cineraria
- Dwarf Alberta SprucePicea glauca 'Conica'
- Dwarf Balsam FirAbies balsamea 'Nana'
- Dwarf Blue SprucePicea pungens 'Globosa'
- Dwarf Eastern White PinePinus strobus 'Nana'
- Dwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardenii
- Dwarf Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana'
- Dwarf Japanese Garden JuniperJuniperus procumbens 'Nana'
- Dwarf PalmettoSabal minor
- Dwarf River BirchBetula nigra 'Little King'
- Dwarf Serbian SprucePicea omorika 'Nana'
- Dwarf Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoria 'Nana'
- Eastern RedbudCercis canadensis
- Evergreen HuckleberryVaccinium ovatum
- False Cypress 'Soft Serve'Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Soft Serve'
- False Holly 'Goshiki'Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'
- False Indigo 'Blueberry Sundae'Baptisia australis 'Blueberry Sundae'
- False RosemaryConradina canescens
- Fan FlowerScaevola aemula
- Fire PinkSilene virginica
- FirebushHamelia patens (native var.)
- Firecracker PlantRusselia equisetiformis
- FirespikeOdontonema cuspidatum
- FirewheelGaillardia pulchella
- Florida AniseIllicium floridanum
- Florida Flame AzaleaRhododendron austrinum
- Florida LeucothoeAgarista populifolia
- Floss FlowerAgeratum houstonianum
- Flowering DogwoodCornus florida
- FoamflowerTiarella cordifolia
- Forsythia 'Lynwood Gold'Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood Gold'
- Forsythia SageSalvia madrensis
- Fothergilla 'Mount Airy'Fothergilla x intermedia 'Mount Airy'
- Fountain Grass 'Little Bunny'Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny'
- Foxglove Beardtongue 'Husker Red'Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
- Fragrant Sumac 'Gro-Low'Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'
- Fringe TreeChionanthus virginicus
- Garden GladiolusGladiolus x hortulanus
- Garden Phlox 'Glamour Girl'Phlox paniculata 'Glamour Girl'
- Garden Phlox 'Jeana'Phlox paniculata 'Jeana'
- Garden Phlox 'Robert Poore'Phlox paniculata 'Robert Poore'
- Gardenia 'August Beauty'Gardenia jasminoides 'August Beauty'
- Gardenia 'Frostproof'Gardenia jasminoides 'Frostproof'
- Gem Box InkberryIlex glabra 'Gem Box'
- Gerbera DaisyGerbera jamesonii
- Giant Blue / Louisiana IrisIris giganticaerulea
- Gladiolus 'Atom'Gladiolus 'Atom'
- Globe AmaranthGomphrena globosa
- GoatsbeardAruncus dioicus
- Golden CannaCanna flaccida
- Golden Dwarf Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'
- Gulf Stream Heavenly BambooNandina domestica 'Gulf Stream'
- Hardy HibiscusHibiscus moscheutos
- Hinoki Cypress 'Nana Gracilis'Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'
- Honeysuckle 'Goldflame'Lonicera x heckrottii 'Goldflame'
- Hosta 'Blue Angel'Hosta 'Blue Angel'
- Hosta 'Frances Williams'Hosta 'Frances Williams'
- Hosta 'Guacamole'Hosta 'Guacamole'
- Hosta 'June'Hosta 'June'
- ImpatiensImpatiens walleriana
- Indian PinkSpigelia marilandica
- Inkberry 'Shamrock'Ilex glabra 'Shamrock'
- Inkberry 'Strongbox'Ilex glabra 'Strongbox'
- Island AlumrootHeuchera maxima
- Ithuriel's SpearTriteleia laxa
- Itoh Peony 'Bartzella'Paeonia 'Bartzella'
- Itoh Peony 'Cora Louise'Paeonia 'Cora Louise'
- Itoh Peony 'First Arrival'Paeonia 'First Arrival'
- Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil'Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'
- Jungle FlameIxora coccinea
- Juniper 'Blue Star'Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
- Juniper 'Sea Green'Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
- Korean Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis brachytricha
- Korean Spice ViburnumViburnum carlesii
- Lantana 'Miss Huff'Lantana 'Miss Huff'
- Large FothergillaFothergilla major
- Lenten Rose 'Wedding Party'Helleborus x hybridus 'Wedding Party'
- Leucothoe 'Curly Red'Leucothoe axillaris 'Curly Red'
- Lilac 'Miss Kim'Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'
- Lilac 'Sensation'Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation'
- Lily 'Casa Blanca'Lilium 'Casa Blanca'
- Lily 'Stargazer'Lilium 'Stargazer'
- Lilyturf 'Big Blue'Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'
- Loropetalum 'Jazz Hands'Loropetalum chinense 'Jazz Hands'
- Loropetalum 'Purple Diamond'Loropetalum chinense 'Purple Diamond'
- Low Glow Japanese Red PinePinus densiflora 'Low Glow'
- Lowbush BlueberryVaccinium angustifolium
- Lungwort 'Raspberry Splash'Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash'
- Lungwort 'Trevi Fountain'Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'
- Lyreleaf SageSalvia lyrata
- Mangrove Spider LilyHymenocallis latifolia
- Marginal Wood FernDryopteris marginalis
- Meadow Sage 'May Night'Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
- Mealycup Sage 'Victoria Blue'Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'
- Mexican Bush SageSalvia leucantha
- Mock OrangePhiladelphus coronarius
- Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue'Ipomoea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue'
- Mountain Hydrangea 'Tuff Stuff'Hydrangea serrata 'Tuff Stuff'
- Mountain Laurel 'Olympic Fire'Kalmia latifolia 'Olympic Fire'
- Mugo Pine 'Mops'Pinus mugo 'Mops'
- Needle PalmRhapidophyllum hystrix
- NemesiaNemesia fruticans
- New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeri
- Ninebark 'Diabolo'Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'
- Ninebark 'Tiny Wine'Physocarpus opulifolius 'Tiny Wine'
- Northern BayberryMyrica pensylvanica
- Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifolium
- NZ Tea TreeLeptospermum scoparium
- Oakleaf Hydrangea 'Snow Queen'Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
- Orange River LilyCrinum bulbispermum
- Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifolium
- Oriental Poppy 'Beauty of Livermere'Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere'
- Ornamental Onion 'Millenium'Allium 'Millenium'
- Pacific Wax MyrtleMyrica californica
- Palm SedgeCarex muskingumensis
- Panicle Hydrangea 'Bobo'Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo'
- Panicle Hydrangea 'Little Lime'Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Lime'
- Panicle Hydrangea 'Quick Fire'Hydrangea paniculata 'Quick Fire'
- PansyViola x wittrockiana
- PaperbushEdgeworthia chrysantha
- PartridgeberryMitchella repens
- Pennsylvania SedgeCarex pensylvanica
- PentasPentas lanceolata
- Perennial Blue FlaxLinum perenne
- PetuniaPetunia x hybrida
- PickerelweedPontederia cordata
- Pieris 'Mountain Fire'Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'
- Pink Rain LilyZephyranthes grandiflora
- Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf'Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf'
- Plantain SedgeCarex plantaginea
- Possumhaw Viburnum 'Winterthur'Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur'
- Powdery Alligator-flagThalia dealbata
- Prairie FlaxLinum lewisii
- Prairie IrisIris savannarum
- Princess FlowerTibouchina urvilleana
- Purple Hopseed BushDodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
- Rain LilyZephyranthes candida
- Reblooming Lilac 'Bloomerang Purple'Syringa 'Bloomerang Purple'
- Red Cedar 'Grey Owl'Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'
- Red Chokeberry 'Brilliantissima'Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'
- Red Spider LilyLycoris radiata
- Red-Twig Dogwood 'Arctic Fire'Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire'
- Red-Twig Dogwood 'Cardinal'Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'
- Resurrection LilyLycoris squamigera
- Rhododendron 'Nova Zembla'Rhododendron x 'Nova Zembla'
- Rhododendron 'PJM'Rhododendron 'PJM'
- Rocky Mountain Juniper 'Blue Arrow'Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'
- Rose 'Double Knock Out'Rosa 'Double Knock Out'
- Rose 'Knock Out'Rosa 'Knock Out'
- Rose 'Oso Easy Italian Ice'Rosa 'Oso Easy Italian Ice'
- Rose of Sharon 'Diana'Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana'
- Roundleaf RagwortPackera obovata
- Russian Sage 'Little Spire'Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'
- SalalGaultheria shallon
- Saw PalmettoSerenoa repens
- Scarlet AvensGeum coccineum
- Scarlet SageSalvia splendens
- Scarlet/Tropical SageSalvia coccinea
- Shadblow ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensis
- Shasta Daisy 'Becky'Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'
- Shrimp PlantJusticia brandegeeana
- Shrubby Cinquefoil 'Goldfinger'Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger'
- Smooth Hydrangea 'Incrediball'Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'
- Smooth Hydrangea 'Invincibelle Spirit'Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit'
- SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus
- Soap AloeAloe maculata
- Society GarlicTulbaghia violacea
- Soft Caress MahoniaMahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'
- Southern Magnolia 'Little Gem'Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'
- Southern Swamp LilyCrinum americanum
- Southern Wax MyrtleMorella cerifera
- Southern Wood FernDryopteris ludoviciana
- Speedwell 'Georgia Blue'Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue'
- Speedwell 'Royal Candles'Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles'
- SpicebushLindera benzoin
- Spider LilyHymenocallis liriosme
- Spirea 'Goldmound'Spiraea x bumalda 'Goldmound'
- Spirea 'Magic Carpet'Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet'
- Stalked BulbineBulbine frutescens
- Standing CypressIpomopsis rubra
- Stonecrop 'Angelina'Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'
- Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
- Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood'Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
- Summersweet 'Hummingbird'Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'
- Summersweet 'Ruby Spice'Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice'
- SunPatiens CompactImpatiens x hybrida 'SunPatiens Compact'
- Sunshine MimosaMimosa strigillosa
- Swamp JessamineGelsemium rankinii
- Swamp RosemallowHibiscus grandiflorus
- Swamp TitiCyrilla racemiflora
- Sweetbay MagnoliaMagnolia virginiana
- Switchgrass 'Cape Breeze'Panicum virgatum 'Cape Breeze'
- Switchgrass 'Cloud Nine'Panicum virgatum 'Cloud Nine'
- Switchgrass 'Dallas Blues'Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues'
- Switchgrass 'Northwind'Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'
- Tea OliveOsmanthus fragrans
- Texas SageLeucophyllum frutescens
- Texas SedgeCarex texensis
- Toad LilyTricyrtis hirta
- Trailing LantanaLantana montevidensis
- True MyrtleMyrtus communis
- Tuberous BegoniaBegonia x tuberhybrida
- Tulip 'Apeldoorn'Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'
- Turk's CapMalvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
- Variegated Dogwood 'Elegantissima'Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
- Variegated LilyturfLiriope muscari 'Variegata'
- Verbena 'Homestead Purple'Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple'
- Vine MapleAcer circinatum
- Virginia Sweetspire 'Henry's Garnet'Itea virginica 'Henry's Garnet'
- Virginia Sweetspire 'Little Henry'Itea virginica 'Little Henry'
- Walter's ViburnumViburnum obovatum
- Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorens
- Weigela 'Sonic Bloom Pink'Weigela florida 'Sonic Bloom Pink'
- Weigela 'Spilled Wine'Weigela florida 'Spilled Wine'
- Weigela 'Wine and Roses'Weigela florida 'Wine and Roses'
- Western Mock OrangePhiladelphus lewisii
- Winter JasmineJasminum nudiflorum
- Winterberry 'Berry Poppins'Ilex verticillata 'Berry Poppins'
- Winterberry 'Winter Red'Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'
- WintersweetChimonanthus praecox
- Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieri
- Yellow AniseIllicium parviflorum
- Yellow BellsTecoma stans
- Yellow Rain LilyZephyranthes citrina
- Yew 'Densiformis'Taxus x media 'Densiformis'
- Yew 'Hicksii'Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
- Yew PinePodocarpus macrophyllus
- Zinnia 'Profusion'Zinnia angustifolia 'Profusion'
- Zonal GeraniumPelargonium x hortorum
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