12 Exuberant Shrubs for Front of House

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

Also known as sheep flower or sevenbark, this flowering deciduous shrub is native to the Eastern United States and can grow up to 10 feet tall and just as wide.

A host plant for the beautiful hydrangea sphinx moth, this popular ornamental has numerous varieties with different-colored flowers, including the "Annabelle" cultivar with white blooms, as well as the Bella Anna, which blooms bright pink. Its large, dome-shaped flowers appear profusely from early summer until fall.

Creeping Juniper (Juniperus agnieszka 'Horizontalis')

This juniper variety is a low-growing and dense coniferous evergreen shrub native to North America, prized for its flattened growth habit that works well as ground cover.

A rapid grower, this plant can outpace weeds and other nuisance plants that might appear in the yard, and can also work as an alternative to grass. This creeping juniper variety doesn't require mowing and reaches a maximum height of around half a foot.

Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

A slow-growing broadleaf evergreen shrub, inkberry is native to the United States and commonly found in sandy woods and along the edges of swamps and bayous. Typically reaching between 5 feet and 8 feet tall, dwarf varieties like the "compacta" are also available, with a height closer to 4 feet. Part of the holly family, this plant produces dark purple berries in the fall.

In terms of maintenance, this shrub has root suckers that easily and quickly spread within a couple years if not removed.

Azalea (Rhododendron sp.)

Flowering shrubs in the rhododendron genus, azaleas are a group of more than 10,000 cultivars that come in a variety of sizes and colors. The plant is popular because it's tolerant to a many climates and can even thrive in shady parts of the garden.

These shrubs bloom dense, umbrellalike clusters of elliptic-shaped flowers from spring through June. The standard garden azalea is about 4 to 6 feet in height, but dwarf varieties are about half that size.

American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Danica')

This drawf, evergreen, coniferous shrub is dense and rounded, with upright, bright green leaves that tint bronze in the winter. Reaching between 1 foot and 2 feet in both height and spread, this shrub works well in a middle front yard garden placement, between larger shrubs or small trees and flowers or ground cover.

Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

A hybrid between Photinia glabra and Photinia serratifolia, red tip photinia is an evergreen shrub with leaves that emerge red-tipped and transition to green as they mature. Popular along fences or as garden edging, this plant grows quickly and can reach between 10 feet and 15 feet in height and width.

These plants will need regular pruning, with some people also removing the flowers it produces each spring, said to have an unpleasant odor.

Bayberry (Morella pensylvanica)

A compact deciduous shrub that works well planted in groups, bayberry reaches an average size between 6 feet and 10 feet, though several smaller, dwarf ornamental varieties have also been cultivated. Native to Eastern North America, the plant produces clumps of berries in late summer that are attractive to birds.

Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Found natively in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States, this viburnum species provides a feast of color. In the spring, beautiful clusters of white flowers and their delicious nectar attract butterflies and bees. Then, squirrels and birds flock to the shrub's red berrylike fruit during the summer. In the fall, its foliage turns orange, red, and purple.

Mapleleaf viburnum reaches heights between 4 feet and 6 feet, and spreads a maximum of 6 feet wide.

Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Also known as red willow, this species is a deciduous shrub popular for its deep red stems, which make it quite appealing even when it loses its leaves. Its white blossoms bloom in late spring, followed by small white berries that embellish it during late summer and fall and are eaten by at least 18 species of birds, such as ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail.

Redosier dogwood is fast-growing, reaching between 7 feet and 9 feet in height when mature. Though once-a-year pruning is sufficient, cutting it back to the ground helps maintain the vibrant red of its younger stems. Its fibrous root system is great for erosion control.

Dwarf English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa')

Reaching a maximum size of 3 feet high by 3 feet wide, this dense, hardy, low-maintenance evergreen shrub prefers evenly moist areas with partial shade. This dwarf boxwood works well in container entrance gardens, as low hedging, or as ground cover.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

This fragrant evergreen shrub has needlelike leaves and is part of the mint family, along with many other culinary herbs. Rosemary produces small flowers year-round in ideal warm climates, and blooms in the spring and summer in more temperate regions. Its flowers, like the needles, are also edible and taste similarly if not slightly sweeter.

This drought tolerant shrub typically reaches heights between 3 feet and 4 feet and needs to be pruned to maintain a neat shape.

Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)

Native to Myanmar, Persian shield is a flowering, tropical, evergreen shrub also known as royal purple plant. These plants typically reach between 3 feet and 4 in height and enjoy warmth and humidity, being best suited to southern coastal climates that rarely experience cool temperatures. In cooler climates, it can be grown as an annual, and is a popular ornamental, given its vibrant, purple foliage.