Does your next home improvement project involve upgrading the shrubs along the front of your house? Whether your current greenery is overgrown, sparse, or you’re simply not a fan of the variety, trading out old plants and shrubs for something new can give the front of your home an entirely new look. Here are some of our top picks for front yard shrubs to give your curb appeal a little bit more pop.
Emerald Snow (Loropetalums)
This broadleaf evergreen blooms with clusters of white flowers in the spring that slowly taper off throughout the summer. Young leaves are lime green, turning darker as they age. You can expect each plant to grow to 4-6 feet high and 3-4 feet wide. Emerald snow does best in partial sun with well-drained acidic soil. Care is easy, with only minor pruning needed at the end of the blooming cycle.
Chef’s Choice Rosemary
We think this is the best variety of rosemary both because of the gorgeous blue flowers that appear every spring, and because it has a high oil content, making it the perfect addition to your summer recipes. This plant is also drought and heat tolerant, and thrives in everything from full sun to partial shade. Each plant forms a mound that grows to about 12 inches high and 18 inches wide.
Red Bottlebrush (Callistemon)
Bottlebrush plants are a great choice for the mild Southern climate found in north Georgia. This thin-leafed evergreen grows to about 2-3 feet, both tall and wide. Showy red flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds alike appear atop the foliage in summer and fall. The flowers give the plant its name, as they resemble the brushes used to clean baby bottles. Bottlebrush thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, but will also tolerate both drought and salt air.
Soft Caress Mahonia
Growing to about three feet tall and wide, this this variety of mahonia is an evergreen that boasts soft-textured foliage that is similar to bamboo. The shrub’s pretty yellow flowers show up in early winter, giving your yard a boost of color, then blue berries appear as the winter progresses. Mahonia does best in partial sun or shade, with moist, well-drained soil. As a bonus, these plants have a tendency to attract bunnies!