With the right combination of plants and decorations, you can give your front yard a neat appearance all year round. While decorative elements don't care about the light conditions, the plants don't. Here you can learn about the best perennials, flowers and shrubs for the sunny, semi-shady and shady front yard.

Roses and low shrubs often adorn front gardens

The most important premise when buying plants: restrained growth

In tree nurseries and garden centers, ornamental plants usually present themselves with a graceful shape. In fact, there is a vigorous plant hidden behind dozens of shrubs, trees and perennials that is not suitable for a front garden. Therefore, when purchasing, ask exactly what dimensions the favored type and variety will take on.

When buying your front garden plants, please use their botanical names as a guide. A number of confusions have crept in under German trade names, which sometimes cause nasty surprises in the garden. A lilac can be a graceful Buddleja davidii with a height of 150 cm, an elegant Syringa vulgaris with a height of 250-300 cm or a spacious, invasive Sambucus nigra, which can reach an impressive 1,000 cm and more.

Plants for the sunny front yard - tips for the planting plan

The south side of the house is the territory for sun worshipers in the plant kingdom. Special qualities are required here in order to preserve floral composure under the hot summer sun. A place should be reserved in the design plan for the following species and varieties:

  • Panicle hydrangea 'Pinky Winky' (Hydrangea paniculata) as an eye-catcher with two-tone flowers from July to October; 150-200cm
  • Bearded Beard 'Heavenly Blue' (Caryopteris clandonensis), sun-loving subshrub with blue summer flowers; 80-100cm
  • Blossom sage 'Pink Queen' (Salvia nemorosa) with pink osmanthus flowers from June to September; 30-40cm
  • Mosquito grass (Bouteloua gracilis), one of the most beautiful grasses for the sun-drenched front yard; 20-40cm

The wonderful lady's eye 'Sterntaler' (Coreopsis lanceolata) bathes your sunny front yard in a sea of yellow blossoms from June to September. Mediterranean flair is exuded by lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) with blue flowers from July to September. Of course, the 'Goldsturm' glowing coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii) should not be missing from the design concept, as its yellow ray flowers with a brown eye last well into autumn.

Plants for the partially shaded front yard - a selection

Most ornamental plants do well in a semi-shady location with mild sunshine. On the west side, however, rain is to be expected more frequently, while an easterly orientation is only spoiled by the sun in the morning hours. Accordingly, the selection focuses on plants that adapt to these conditions. Be inspired by the following selection of recommended perennials, flowers and shrubs:

  • Ball hydrangea 'Annabelle' (Hydrangea arborescens) enchants with huge, white flower balls in summer; 100-150cm
  • Winter Snowball (Viburnum) surprises with white-pink flowers in the midst of wintertime; 200-250cm
  • Bergenia 'Autumn Blossom' (Bergenia hybrid) with double flowering in spring and autumn; 25-40cm
  • Cranesbill (Geranium), the indispensable perennial classic with magnificent summer flowers; 30-40cm

A partially shaded front yard is predestined for early flowering bulbs. Under these lighting conditions, snowdrops (Galanthus), crocuses (Crocus), daffodils (Narcissus) and tulips (Tulipa) herald spring. When the flares of foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) rise in the front yard from June, they herald summertime with their bell-shaped blossoms. Autumn is the time for autumn asters (Aster) and dwarf dahlias (Dahlia), which delight with colorful flowers until the first frost.

Floral specialists for shady locations - tips for the north side

Contemporary architecture usually places the front garden on the north side of the house, while the south side is reserved for the larger ornamental and kitchen garden. This circumstance requires special selection criteria for the design plan, because decorative weak light specialists are rare in the plant kingdom. We have compiled the most beautiful types and varieties for a shady front garden for you here:

  • Caucasus forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla) also flowers in the shade from April; 30-50cm
  • Mushroom sedge 'The Beatles' (Carex digitata hybrid) sets decorative accents with swirling grass tufts; 20-30cm
  • Mountain cranesbill (Geranium nodosum) puts on its flowers even in low light; 15-25cm
  • Foamflower (Tiarella wherryi) blooms in spring and autumn over magnificent ornamental leaves; 15-30cm
  • Red Carpetberry (Gaultheria procumbens) boasts evergreen leaves and red berries; 10-20cm

In the shady realm on the north side, the unique hostas feel right at home. In the front garden, give preference to varieties that remain small, such as the hosta 'Blue Ivory' (Hosta x cultorum), which remains at a height of 35 cm. The spectacularly colored leaves with a creamy-white edge and a blue-green center captivate everyone who sees them. Since hostas like to thrive twice as wide as they are tall, they are also ideal as ground cover for locations with little light.

tips

Front yards without a lawn are on the rise. The extensive maintenance is a thorn in the side of many hobby gardeners. A composition of flowering ground covers and small groups of perennials is easier to care for and has an aesthetic effect. The evergreen cranesbill 'White Ness', with a dainty 15-20 cm growth height, likes to lie at the feet of foxgloves (Digitalis) or a ball hydrangea 'Endless summer' (Hydrangea macrophylla).

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