7 Plants That Look Great Around the Foundation—and 3 Never to Grow There

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One way of life to boost your curb appeal is to include foundation plants in your landscaping plan . Placing works in front of exterior wall , almost and along edges of the home and its foundation , and under windows can aid relent the look around the margin of your habitation . It also link up the solid structure of the construction into the nature around it .

However , foundation plants can end up causing problems . “ It ’s crucial to take plants that wo n’t damage your property , ” says Evan Davis Santi , Chief Executive ofUrban Plantscapes LLC , which services client in the New York City ; Pittsburgh ; Washington , DC ; Miami ; and Toronto underground area . “ Some plant have belligerent rootage systems or cause wet - related issue that could harm your groundwork . ” Other potential problems include price to the foundation and pipes , soil erosion , drain issues , pest and insect infestation , and blocked airflow and ventilation .

White brick house with red shutters and foundation plants in the front yard

Photo: Peter Gridley/Photographer’s Choice RF via Getty Images.

To prevent these fear , it ’s important to keepfoundation plantsfar enough by from your house . Santi recommends the following plantingdistances for treesand other types of botany :

“ By cautiously pick out substructure - friendly plants and maintaining appropriate distance , you may protect your dwelling house from costly repairs while still revel a beautiful landscape painting , ” says Santi . “ Always think of that a little contemplation in yourlandscaping choicescan go a long way in safeguarding your home ’s integrity for years to come . ” Below are seven foundation - well-disposed plants that Santi recommends , as well as three to avoid .

Plants That Can Grow Near Your Home’s Foundation

1. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)

This medium - sizing deciduousshrub for the front of your househas large fragrant flowers that attract pollinators like butterfly and hummingbird . They come in white , pinkish , or rose color . Several change of this plant are useable , include Crystalinia , Hummingbird , Pink Spires , Rosea , Ruby Spice , and Sixteen Candles . Santi prefers the Hummingbird variety with white blossoms . Summersweetis moisture - liberal andthrives in most clime . It prefer full sun to partial tint and acidic , sandy soil . Summersweet is ideal for dampish areas near foundations , tell Santi .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 9Mature Size : 3 to 8 foot marvelous , 4 to 6 feet wide

2. Fothergilla (Fothergilla)

This is a easy - maturate nativeflowering shrubthat works well as a foundation plant , specially when several are placed in a rowing . It has a circular , thick material body and odoriferous - smell flowers that are white in the leaping , plus vibrant foliation colors in the dip . Santi prefersFothergillafor its well - behaved roots and low maintenance , making it safe near the foundation . Plant in areas that receive full sunlight or fond nuance and moist , well - draining soil that is rich in constitutive subject .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 9Mature Size : 3 to 12 foot improbable , 3 to 10 feet wide

3. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

Blue fescueis a clump - formingornamental grasswith striking blue - gray foliation and pale green flowers , suppose Santi . “ It has noninvasive root , prosper in poor territory conditions , and requires minimum care . ” It is also drouth - tolerant , and unlike other ornamental grasses , blue fescue grow quickly . This plant favor full sunlight yet tolerate partial tint and systematically moist dirt that drains well .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 9Mature Size : 6 to 12 inches tall , 6 to 18 inches wide

4. Liriope (Liriope muscari)

Named for its spiky flowers , liriopeis a pot - like , clumping perennial with lifelike violet blossom that bloom in the summer . It is depleted criminal maintenance , drought - tolerant , and helps prevent erosion and control weed . “ It grows well in both sunlight and shade , and is a noninvasive pick for base planting , ” says Santi . Liriope also endure a encompassing image of soils and soil conditions , but does n’t wish perpetually wet ground .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 10Mature Size : 9 to18 inches tall , 12 to 18 inches wide

5. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

With a life of 20 to 25 years , this compact native cosmetic tree has pink bounce blossoms that appeal fowl , hummingbirds , and butterfly stroke . “ Its small , deep roots reduce the peril of interrupt your base , ” says Santi . Eastern redbudsare low - maintenance tree and expand in full sun to partial shadiness . While they can adapt to a wide range of territory types , they prefer well - drain productive soil .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 8Mature Size : 20 to 30 feet tall , 25 to 35 feet wide

6. Dogwood (Cornus florida)

cognize as theflowering dogwood , this beautifulunderstory treehas spring flower and red berries with fall leafage . “ Its well - deport roots make it a safe pick for planting near homes , ” says Santi . found these trees in a partly cheery arena with minimal direct afternoon sun . They also prefer well - draining grunge that is moist but not too cockeyed . water supply at least twice a week in most areas , and clip once in a while to keep the tree ’s shape . Remove deadened or broken arm in late wintertime .

Hardiness Zones:5 to 9Mature Size : 15 to 30 foot tall , 15 to 30 foot wide

7. Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)

Also called asmoketree , this is a compendious deciduous shrub or small tree diagram with reddish - purple leaves and wispy summertime blooms . “ gloomy water pauperization and shallow roots make it an excellent groundwork industrial plant , ” notes Santi . This flora thrives in almost any soil type , but does best in slimly flaxen loam . It also wish full sunshine , climates with moderate temperatures , and average to dry humidness level . Keep in judgement that its saphead is gently toxic to hoi polloi .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 8Mature Size : 10 to 15 feet marvelous , 10 to 15 feet across-the-board

Never Grow These Plants Near Your Home’s Foundation

1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is one of the worst spreading plants due to its rooting power . “ It mount walls and deteriorates buildings , potentially leading to morphological impairment , ” say Santi . “ list as aninvasive speciesin many orbit , ” it is a poor alternative for introduction planting , says Santi . Ivy also slowly kills tree , bush , and other vegetation by block out sunshine .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 13Mature Size : 20 to 30 feet marvelous , 3 to 15 - plus understructure panoptic

2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

mutual privet is a fast - growing semi - evergreen deciduous bush often implant as a hedgerow . But the bush is extremely invading and its ascendent interfere with foundation and belowground usefulness , articulate Santi . you may spot privet shrubs by their dim , oval , or spear - shaped , glossy green leaves and small , clean tubelike prime with a impregnable fragrance in the beginning of summer and small , disgraceful , round Berry at the end of summer . Keep in mind that the yield and leafage are toxic to man and ducky .

Hardiness Zones:4 to 7Mature Size : 10 to 15 feet marvellous , 4 to 15 foot full

3. Lilac (Syringa spp.)

Although beautiful grant their blooms ranging from nuance of lilac , light purple , and lavender , lilac shrubs have deep , woody tooth root systems that can interrupt pipework and foundation stability over time , says Santi . Therefore , annul embed them near the understructure of your base and consider opt for lilacs as alandscaping choicein other parts of your curtilage .

Hardiness Zones:3 to 7Mature Size : 8 to 16 foundation magniloquent , 6 to12 feet wide

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

White summersweet flowers on a blurred green leaf background

Photo: By Eve Livesey/Moment via Getty Images.

We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a elevate bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the right plants for your ground and neighborhood .

A fothergilla shrub with fluffy white flower heads