Best Plants For Front Yard Landscaping in Nashville

The front yard is the first sight that greets visitors to your home. It’s about making an inviting and beautiful space that speaks your language while increasing the unbelievably curb appeal of your property. The right plants can turn your front yard from drab to fab, making it as inviting as it is memorable. But with so many choices, it can be a bit overwhelming.

Planting Beauty in Your Home at Opportunity Landscape and Nursery Whether that be plants that require little of your attention, colorful flowers, or something to add visual interest all year long, we have you covered. Here, a guide to the best plants for front yard landscaping that will bring charm, color, and texture to your home’s exterior.

Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

The classic front-yard plant is boxwood, with its dense evergreen foliage and shape that can be easily managed. Small leaf types tend to be more formal while large leaf types promote a more informal garden design. Boxwoods can create low hedges, define walkways, or structure flowerbeds.

• Benefits: Low-maintenance, evergreen, ideal for training
• Best For: Deer, rabbits, moles
• Height: 1-5 ft. (variety dependent)

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Lavender is not only fragrant, it also makes a beautiful addition to any front yard. In addition, its stunning purple flowers and delightful aroma also mean that it is a sought-after plant for warmth and introduction to beauty. Lavender loves the sun and dry soil, so it’s an excellent choice for sunny spots in your front yard.

• Benefits: They are aromatic, draw pollinators, and are drought tolerant.
• Best For: Flower beds, borders, pots
• Height: 12 to 36 inches

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

It’s hard to beat the dramatic focal point of a Japanese Maple tree. Its complex leaves and striking fall color bring beauty and color to any front yard. Dwarf trees are ideal for smaller gardens because they have a helpful growth habit and can usually squeeze into tight spots. Japanese Maple, a delicate structure with colourful foliage, gives the Japanese maple a sophisticated appearance.

• Benefits: Beautiful foliage, gives shade, adds texture
• Best For: A fashion maker or a single show tree
• Height: 6 to 25 feet (by variety)

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)

If a bit of color is what you want to see outside your front yard, then consider planting daylilies. These prolific-blooming perennials come in various colors including yellow, orange, red, and purple. Daylilies are hardy, and once established are very low maintenance. They also bloom over an extended period, so your garden will look lively for much of the season.

• Benefits: Showy, easy-care, drought-tolerant
• Best For: Flower beds, borders, mass plantings
• Height: 18 to 36 inches

Hostas (Hosta spp.)

When it comes to those spots in your front yard that receive little light, hostas shine. With their showy, splashy leaves and mild-mannered flowers, hostas add visual interest and a calming aura. They come in various colors and sizes so you can find one to match the rest of your landscaping.

• Benefits: Prefers shade, easy-care, colorful foliage
• Best for: Shady spots, borders, foundation plantings
• Height: 12 to 36 inches (depending on species)

Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Not only are coneflowers gorgeous, but they’re also great for the environment. These tough perennials attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies and work beautifully in a garden at the front of a house. Their cheery daisy-like flowers in bright purple, pink, and white tones lift spirits and brighten up any indoor space.

• Benefits: Pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant, colorful
• Best For: Flower beds, borders, cutting gardens
• Height: 24 to 36 inches

Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)

Geraniums are a top choice for a pop of color in sunny spots. Just look at the colors of these flowering plants, red, pink, white, and purple, that make the area bright and colorful. Geraniums are relatively simple to tend to, and they thrive in containers, hanging baskets, or on the ground. So they make a lovely entryway when you get there.

• Benefits: Colorful, low maintenance, versatile
• Best for: Containers, hanging baskets, flower beds
• Height: 12 to 24 inches

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.)

Hydrangeas are among the top ten flowering shrubs that many gardeners love for their gorgeous blooms and ability to thrive in various soil types. These plants flower in shades of blue, pink, purple and white, and their fluffy flower clusters can lend a soft, romantic feel to your front yard. Hydrangeas are a great choice if you want to create a relaxing mood.

• Benefits: Giant, gorgeous flowers, draws pollinators
• Ideal for: Flower beds, borders, foundation plantings
• Height: 3 to 10 feet (depending on variety)

Evergreen Ferns (Various species)

Evergreen ferns are another excellent low-maintenance plant option that flourishes year-round in shady locations. With delicate fronds and lush greenery, these plants add texture and depth to your garden. They’re ideal for populating shady areas where other plants might have difficulty taking root.

• Benefits: Tolerant of shade, easy as pie, year-round interest
• Best For: Murky spots, edges, beneath trees
• Height: 12 to 36 inches

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a delicious, fragrant evergreen that serves a double purpose in your front yard landscaping: It is a beautiful plant and an herb. Not only does it smell great, but it also attracts pollinators. In the kitchen, rosemary can also be used for cooking. It needs full sun and well-drained soil, so it’s an excellent option for a Mediterranean garden or someone looking to grow their herbs.

• Benefits: Makes things smell good, produces food, suitable for pollinators
• Best For: Flower beds, herb gardens, borders
• Height: 18 to 48 inches

Spirea (Spiraea spp.)

Spirea is a very versatile shrub with many varieties available, including different foliage and flower colors. With a riot of pink, white, or red flowers, spirea brings a splash of color to the front yard. It’s also a low-maintenance plant that grows well in full sun to partial shade.

Benefits: Bright flowers, low maintenance, unattractive to deer

Best for: Shrub borders, foundation plantings, hedges

Height: 2 to 4 feet

Transform Your Front Yard with Beautiful Plants

Selecting the right plants for front yard landscaping can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal, infusing beauty, texture, and color that reflect your style. Whether you’re keeping it classic and low-maintenance or aiming for a vibrant, colorful garden, the plants listed here are all worthy choices for boosting the exterior of your home.

In the garden with Opportunity Landscape and Nursery, Brecknell said his family gave up on grass and went to the plants. Our team of experts can assist you in selecting the optimal plants for your space so that your front yard blooms year-round.

Find out more about our plant choices and landscaping services online and call us today. We can make your front yard one you want to show off!