20 Best Foundation Plants to Elevate Your Landscape

ABELIA

Plant type: Semi-deciduous or deciduous shrub
Zones: 4-11, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, arching or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 10 feet tall, 2 to 8 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

This hardy deciduous shrub has foliage in different colors, with tubular flowers that bloom from summer into fall. One of the best low-maintenance foundation plants, abelia is adaptable to sun and shade, making it a good choice for areas with variable light. Abelia is tolerant of different soils and drought. Read more about how to grow abelia.

Pictured: Poco Loco® abelia from Proven Winners.

ARBORVITAE

Plant type: Conifer
Zones: 2-9, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, pyramidal, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 70 feet tall, 2 to 25 feet wide

One of the best evergreen foundation plants, Arborvitae are coniferous trees or shrubs with year-round color and structure. Smaller varieties suitable for foundation plantings include Tater Tot®, with soft green needles and a rounded habit; and Fluffy® Western arborvitae, with gold foliage and a pyramidal shape. Other dwarf varieties include ‘Emerald Petite’, ‘Danica’ and ‘Holmstrup’. Read more about how to grow arborvitae.

Pictured: Fluffy® Western arborvitae from Proven Winners.

AZALEA

Plant type: Evergreen or deciduous shrub
Zones: 3-9, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, bushy, spreading, or ground cover habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 20 feet tall, 2 to 20 feet wide
Bloom time: Early spring to summer; some varieties rebloom

Azalea is an evergreen or deciduous shrub grown for the spring flowers in a wide range of colors. Plants are suited for partially shade areas that receive protection from hot afternoon sun. Commonly used in foundation plantings, azaleas pair well with other flowering shrubs such as hydrangea, mountain laurel, pieris, and summersweet. Read more about how to grow azalea plants.

Pictured: Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink reblooming azalea from Proven Winners.

BOXWOOD

Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Upright or mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 20 feet tall, 2 to 8 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring; flowers are inconspicuous

This broadleaf evergreen shrub is one of the best foundation plants, with fine foliage that is amenable to shearing. Varieties suited to foundation plantings include Sprinter®, with a rounded habit that reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and wide; and ‘Green Mountain’, with a pyramidal habit, reaching 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Repeat boxwood in a foundation planting for year-round color and structure, or mass smaller varieties toward the front. Read more about how to grow boxwood shrubs.

Pictured: Sprinter® boxwood from Proven Winners.

CATMINT

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

This hardy perennial has silvery green foliage and lavender flower spikes, providing long-lasting carefree color. Mass towards the front of a foundation planting in combination with yellow flowering plants such as tickseed, yarrow, or daylily for complementary color. Makes a good substitute for lavender in colder climates. Read more about how to grow catmint.

Pictured: ‘Cat’s Meow’ catmint from Proven Winners.

CORAL BELLS

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 20 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer

One of the most versatile ornamental plants, coral bells can thrive in sun or shade, as well as different soils. This hardy perennial provides continuous color all season long, with foliage in a wide array of colors and leaf shapes. Combine in a shady foundation planting with azalea, boxwood, hosta, ferns, and Japanese forest grass. Read more about how to grow coral bells.

Pictured: Dolce® 'Wildberry' coral bells from Proven Winners.

DAYLILY

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall, depending on the variety

Daylily is grown for the showy trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a range of colors and patterns. This tough perennial is virtually carefree and tolerant of different growing conditions, making it a good choice for sunny areas. Mass daylilies in a foundation planting alongside coneflower, iris, lavender, ornamental grasses, and shrub roses. Read more about how to grow daylilies.

Pictured: Rainbow Rhythm® 'Orange Smoothie' daylily from Proven Winners.

DOGWOOD TREE

Plant type: Deciduous tree
Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 10 to 40 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Dogwood is a deciduous woodland tree with a spreading canopy and showy pink or white flowers in spring and summer. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and kousa dogwood (C. kousa) stay smaller, making them suitable for foundation plantings. Pair with hydrangeas, rhododendrons, ferns, and hosta. Read more about how to grow dogwood trees.

Pictured: Golden Shadows® pagoda dogwood from Proven Winners.

HOLLY

Plant type: Evergreen shrub or small tree
Zones: 3-10, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, mounding, spreading, pyramidal, or weeping habit
Height/Spread: 1-1/2 to 80 feet tall, 1-1/2 to 50 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Holly is a diverse group of shrubs or small trees, including varieties suitable for foundation plantings. Strongbox® inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) has a rounded habit, reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Glow Stick® Japanese holly (I. crenata) adds vertical interest and color to foundation plantings, reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Read more about how to grow holly.

Pictured: Glow Stick® Japanese holly from Proven Winners.

HOSTA

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 48 inches tall, 5 to 60 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer

One of the best foundation plants for shade, hosta is grown for the attractive foliage which comes in wide range of sizes, colors, and patterns. This easy-to-grow perennial is versatile in shady foundation plantings when massed alongside astilbe, dogwood, ferns, hydrangea, redbud, and rhododendron. Read more about how to grow hosta plants.

Pictured: Shadowland® 'Miss America' hosta from Proven Winners.

HYDRANGEA

Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 15 feet tall, 2 to 12 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Hydrangea is one of the most popular flowering shrubs, with large showy flower panicles that bloom from summer into fall. Mass hydrangea bushes by themselves in a foundation planting, or combine with boxwood, coral bells, dogwood, daylily, Japanese forest grass, and juniper. Read more on growing hydrangea plants.

JAPANESE FOREST GRASS

Plant type: Ornamental grass
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Habit: Mounding habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer; flowers are insignificant

One of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in shade, this hardy perennial produces golden, green or variegated foliage that adds elegance to any style garden. Brighten up a shaded or semi-shaded foundation planting by massing Japanese forest grass along the front, or pairing with ferns, hosta, hydrangea, and pieris. Read more on growing Japanese forest grass.

Pictured: 'All Gold' Japanese Hakone grass from Proven Winners.

JAPANESE MAPLE

Plant type: Deciduous tree
Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, spreading or weeping habit
Height/Spread: 8 to 30 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring; flowers are inconspicuous

This small- to medium-sized deciduous tree comes in an array of sizes and shapes, with palmate leaves in different colors. Smaller varieties suitable for foundation plantings including Metamorphosa®, ‘Crimson Queen’, ‘Elegans’, ‘Red Dragon’ and ‘Sango Kaku’. Combine with arborvitae, azaleas, coral bells, ferns, hosta, and Japanese forest grass. Read more on growing Japanese maple trees.

Pictured: Metamorphosa® Japanese maple from Proven Winners.

JUNIPER

Plant type: Conifer
Zones: 2-10, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, spreading or weeping habit
Height/Spread: 6 inches to 130 feet tall, 1 to 25 feet wide

Juniper is a coniferous tree or shrub that provides year-round color and structure. Add vertical interest to a foundation planting with Aquavita™, which has a pyramidal shape and soft blue foliage, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Montana Moss® has a low spreading habit and blue-green foliage, reaching 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Plant alongside boxwood, dwarf spruce, hydrangea, and ornamental grasses. Read more on growing juniper bushes or trees.

Pictured: Montana Moss® juniper from Proven Winners.

LAVENDER

Plant type: Woody perennial
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 5 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

One of the most popular herbs, lavender is grown for the aromatic foliage and flower spikes with a range of ornamental, culinary, and medicinal uses. This woody perennial thrives in full sun, heat, and well-draining soil. Mass in a sunny foundation planting alongside coneflower, daylily, salvia, sedum, and shrub roses. Read more on growing lavender.

Pictured: Sweet Romance® lavender from Proven Winners.

MAGNOLIA

Plant type: Evergreen or deciduous tree
Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 8 to 70 feet tall, 7 to 40 feet wide
Bloom time: Spring to summer, with some rebloom

Magnolia produces elegant cup or star-shaped blooms in spring. Some varieties stay small, making them a popular choice for foundation plantings. ‘Vulcan’ produces deep pink flowers, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. Other smaller varieties include ‘Jane’, ‘Nigra’, ‘Pinkie’, and ‘Royal Star’. Read more on growing magnolia trees.

SEDGE

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Compact, arching, clumping or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 36 inches wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Mid spring to early summer; flowers are inconspicuous

This virtually carefree perennial produces grass-like foliage, adding soft texture and structure to the landscape. Sedge tolerates full sun to shade, making it a good choice in foundation plantings that receive variable light. Mass alongside coral bells, hosta, hydrangea, spirea, and sweetspire. Read more on growing sedge.

Pictured: 'Evergold' sedge from Proven Winners.

SEDUM

Plant type: Perennial
Zones: 3-11
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, creeping or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

This upright or groundcover perennial adds late-season interest to the landscape, with succulent leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers. Mass upright varieties towards the front of a waterwise foundation planting for vertical structure, or use groundcover varieties as an underplanting for shrubs and perennials. Plant alongside coneflower, lavender, ornamental grasses, and sedge. Read more on growing sedum.

Pictured: Rock 'N Low™ 'Boogie Woogie' ground cover sedum from Proven Winners.

SPIREA

Plant type: Shrub
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding bushy habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 10 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

One of the most versatile landscape plants, spirea is a hardy deciduous shrub with colorful foliage and long-lasting flowers. The carefree nature and tolerance of different growing conditions make this an ideal shrub for foundation plantings. Compact varieties include Double Play® Candy Corn®, ‘Gold Mound’, ‘Little Princess’, and ‘Magic Carpet’. Read more on growing spirea.

Pictured: Double Play® Candy Corn® spirea. from Proven Winners.

WEIGELA

Plant type: Deciduous hrub
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, arching, mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 10 feet tall, 1-1/2 to 12 feet wide, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Mid to late spring, with some rebloom

Weigela is a deciduous shrub with an elegant habit and tubular flowers. Plants are virtually carefree once established. Newer cultivars such as Spilled Wine®, My Monet®, and Sonic Bloom® have colorful foliage and a smaller habit suitable for foundation plantings. Use in a sunny area alongside juniper, hydrangea, rhododendron, and iris. Read more on growing weigela.

Pictured: Spilled Wine® weigela. from Proven Winners.