Perfect Plant Picks for Front Yards in USDA Hardiness Zone 7
Your front yard is the first impression your home gives, so why not make it a beautiful one? In USDA Hardiness Zone 7, the diverse climate allows for a variety of plants that can thrive and create stunning landscapes. Whether you’re looking to add color, structure, or a touch of elegance to your outdoor space, these tips will help you craft a front yard that’s both inviting and impressive.
1. Create a Rosy Welcome with English Lavender and Roses
Start your front yard transformation with a classic combination of Rosa spp. (Rose) and Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender). These two plants pair beautifully, offering a mix of color, fragrance, and texture. Roses provide stunning blooms in a range of colors, from vibrant reds to soft pinks and creamy whites, while English Lavender adds a touch of silver-green foliage and purple flowers that emit a soothing scent.
Planting roses along the edge of your pathway or driveway can create a charming border that greets visitors with bursts of color. Choose varieties that suit your color scheme and ensure they have enough sunlight to thrive. Complement these with clusters of English Lavender to add depth and a continuous wave of purple hues that will enhance the visual appeal and bring a delightful fragrance to your entrance.
To maintain this elegant look, regularly prune your roses to encourage healthy growth and more blooms. The lavender will benefit from occasional trimming to keep it neat and promote more flowering. Together, these plants will create a welcoming atmosphere that exudes a timeless and graceful charm.
2. Embrace a Woodland Charm with Japanese Maple and Woodland Sage
For a serene and shaded front yard, consider combining the delicate foliage of Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) with the textured beauty of Salvia nemorosa (Woodland Sage). The Japanese Maple, with its graceful branches and vibrant leaves, offers a focal point that changes with the seasons, from spring’s fresh greens to autumn’s fiery reds and oranges.
Underneath this tree, the Woodland Sage’s spiky purple blooms will add a layer of interest and contrast. These perennials thrive in partial shade, making them perfect companions for the Japanese Maple. Their aromatic foliage and long-lasting flowers attract pollinators, enhancing the natural beauty of your yard.
This combination works well along the borders of your front yard or as a backdrop to your main entrance. The Japanese Maple will draw the eye upward with its elegant form, while the Woodland Sage fills in the lower space with its lush and colorful presence. Together, they create a harmonious blend of structure and softness.
3. Radiate Warmth with Blanket Flowers and Threadleaf Coreopsis
Brighten your front yard with the sunny faces of Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower) and Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis). These hardy perennials are known for their cheerful blooms and long flowering seasons, making them ideal for creating a warm and welcoming landscape.
Blanket Flowers, with their red and yellow petals, bring a burst of color that resembles a summer sunset. Plant them in groups along the edges of your flower beds or around your mailbox for a striking effect. Complement them with the delicate, airy flowers of Threadleaf Coreopsis, which add a light, feathery touch to your garden.
Both plants thrive in full sun and are drought-tolerant, making them low-maintenance options for busy homeowners. Their vibrant colors will attract butterflies and other pollinators, creating a lively and dynamic front yard that feels like a sunny retreat.
4. Add Texture and Elegance with Maiden Grass and Beardtongue
For a front yard that combines elegance and texture, plant Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass) alongside Penstemon digitalis (Beardtongue). Maiden Grass offers tall, feathery plumes that sway gracefully in the wind, providing a soft, flowing texture that adds movement to your landscape.
Beardtongue, with its tubular white or light pink flowers, complements the vertical lines of Maiden Grass with its own upright stalks. These flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, creating a stunning contrast against the green, ribbon-like leaves of the grass. This combination is perfect for creating a serene and sophisticated look in your front yard.
Plant Maiden Grass in clusters along the sides of your driveway or as a backdrop for smaller plants. Beardtongue can be positioned in front to soften the look with its delicate blooms. Together, they create a layered effect that adds depth and interest to your yard while requiring minimal maintenance.
5. Create a Colorful Ground Cover with Creeping Phlox and Anise Hyssop
Transform the bare ground in your front yard into a colorful carpet with Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox) and Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop). Creeping Phlox spreads out to form a dense mat of vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, creating a stunning ground cover that blooms in early spring.
Anise Hyssop adds vertical interest with its spikes of blue-purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Plant it among the Creeping Phlox to create a layered effect that draws the eye from the ground up. This combination is perfect for filling in empty spaces around walkways, under trees, or in rock gardens.
The Creeping Phlox will provide a lush, colorful base that remains attractive even when not in bloom, while the Anise Hyssop adds height and color throughout the growing season. Together, they create a dynamic and visually appealing ground cover that’s both low-maintenance and beautiful.
6. Design a Formal Look with Boxwood and Purple Coneflower
For a structured and formal front yard, consider the classic elegance of Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood) paired with the vibrant blooms of Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower). Boxwood’s dense, evergreen foliage makes it ideal for creating neat hedges or topiaries that define garden spaces and add a touch of sophistication.
Plant Purple Coneflowers in front of or among the Boxwood to introduce pops of color that stand out against the rich green backdrop. These flowers bloom from mid-summer to fall, with large, daisy-like blooms that attract pollinators and add a burst of energy to your landscape.
Use Boxwood to create clean lines along pathways or around flower beds, while Purple Coneflowers bring a lively contrast with their bright pink or purple petals. This combination is perfect for homeowners looking to achieve a polished and refined front yard that remains visually appealing throughout the seasons.
7. Embrace a Tropical Vibe with New Zealand Flax and Blanket Flowers
Bring a touch of the tropics to your front yard with the bold foliage of Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax) and the vibrant blooms of Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower). New Zealand Flax features long, sword-like leaves in shades of green, bronze, or red, adding a dramatic and architectural element to your landscape.
Pair this striking foliage with the bright, warm colors of Blanket Flowers, whose red and yellow petals complement the tropical look of the flax. This combination creates a lively and exotic feel, perfect for front yards that want to stand out with a bold statement.
Position New Zealand Flax as a focal point in your garden, either as a standalone specimen or in groups for more impact. Plant Blanket Flowers around the base to soften the look and add continuous color throughout the growing season. Together, they create a dynamic and visually exciting landscape that evokes a tropical paradise.
8. Enhance Curb Appeal with Hydrangeas and Heavenly Bamboo
Create a front yard that’s both charming and easy to maintain by planting Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea) alongside Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo). Panicle Hydrangeas are known for their large, cone-shaped flower clusters that bloom in shades of white, pink, or green, adding a soft and elegant touch to any garden.
Heavenly Bamboo, with its delicate foliage and colorful berries, provides year-round interest and complements the hydrangeas with its feathery leaves and vertical growth habit. This combination is ideal for adding height and texture to your front yard, creating a lush and inviting entrance.
Plant Panicle Hydrangeas as foundation plants around your home or along the edges of your front yard. Use Heavenly Bamboo to fill in spaces and add visual interest with its changing colors throughout the seasons. Together, they create a harmonious and attractive landscape that enhances your home’s curb appeal.
9. Add a Rustic Touch with Black-Eyed Susans and Fountain Grass
For a front yard that exudes a rustic, country feel, plant Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-Eyed Susan) with Pennisetum alopecuroides (Fountain Grass). Black-Eyed Susans are known for their bright yellow petals and dark centers, adding a cheerful and informal vibe to your garden.
Fountain Grass, with its arching, feathery plumes, provides a soft and flowing texture that complements the bold flowers of the Black-Eyed Susans. This combination is perfect for creating a naturalistic look that’s full of movement and color.
Plant Black-Eyed Susans in clusters along garden paths or as part of a mixed border. Position Fountain Grass behind or among the flowers to add height and texture. Together, they create a harmonious and low-maintenance landscape that’s reminiscent of a sunny meadow.
10. Create a Low-Maintenance Haven with Adam’s Needle and Creeping Phlox
For a front yard that’s both beautiful and easy to care for, consider the striking Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle) paired with Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox). Adam’s Needle features sharp, spiky leaves and tall flower stalks that add a bold and architectural element to your garden.
Creeping Phlox forms a dense mat of colorful flowers that spread out to cover the ground, providing a lush, low-maintenance ground cover. This combination is ideal for creating a front yard that looks stunning year-round with minimal effort.
Plant Adam’s Needle as a focal point in rock gardens or along borders to create a dramatic visual impact. Use Creeping Phlox to fill in spaces and provide a continuous carpet of color. Together, they create a dynamic and easy-to-maintain landscape that’s perfect for busy homeowners.
11. Achieve a Cottage Garden Feel with Tall Verbena and Daylilies
Transform your front yard into a charming cottage garden with the delicate blooms of Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena) and the vibrant flowers of Hemerocallis spp. (Daylily). Tall Verbena features airy clusters of small, purple flowers that sway gently on slender stems, adding a whimsical touch to your garden.
Daylilies, with their large, trumpet-shaped flowers in a variety of colors, bring bold splashes of color and a cheerful presence. This combination is perfect for creating a relaxed and inviting cottage garden feel that’s full of life and color.
Plant Tall Verbena in the background or along the edges of your garden beds to add height and movement. Position Daylilies in front to create a burst of color that draws the eye. Together, they create a layered and enchanting landscape that evokes the charm of an English cottage garden.
12. Add Year-Round Interest with Japanese Pittosporum and Pinks
For a front yard that looks beautiful in every season, plant Pittosporum tobira (Japanese Pittosporum) with Dianthus spp. (Pinks). Japanese Pittosporum features glossy, dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers that bloom in spring, adding a touch of elegance to your landscape.
Pinks, with their frilly, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, provide continuous color and charm throughout the growing season. This combination is ideal for creating a front yard that’s attractive year-round with minimal maintenance.
Use Japanese Pittosporum as a foundation plant around your home or as a hedge to create structure and privacy. Plant Pinks in front or along borders to add a splash of color and fragrance. Together, they create a harmonious and attractive landscape that enhances the beauty of your home throughout the seasons.
13. Create a Soothing Retreat with Japanese Laurel and Woodland Sage
Transform your front yard into a soothing retreat with the lush foliage of Aucuba japonica (Japanese Laurel) paired with Salvia nemorosa (Woodland Sage). Japanese Laurel features glossy, green leaves speckled with yellow, adding a touch of brightness and texture to your garden.
Woodland Sage, with its spiky purple flowers and aromatic foliage, complements the laurel’s foliage with its own unique texture and color. This combination is perfect for creating a calming and serene front yard that invites you to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Plant Japanese Laurel in shaded areas or under trees to brighten up dark spots with its variegated leaves. Use Woodland Sage to add color and interest to the borders or along pathways. Together, they create a tranquil and visually appealing landscape that provides a peaceful retreat.
14. Achieve Modern Elegance with Cast Iron Plant and Tall Verbena
For a front yard that exudes modern elegance, plant Aspidistra elatior (Cast Iron Plant) with Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena). Cast Iron Plant features large, dark green leaves that add a bold and architectural element to your landscape, providing a lush and tropical feel.
Tall Verbena, with its slender stems and airy clusters of purple flowers, adds a touch of lightness and movement to the scene. This combination is ideal for creating a modern and sophisticated look that’s both stylish and easy to maintain.
Use Cast Iron Plant as a ground cover or to fill in shady areas where other plants might struggle. Plant Tall Verbena in clusters to add vertical interest and a pop of color. Together, they create a contemporary and visually striking landscape that enhances the curb appeal of your home.
15. Add Seasonal Color with Daylilies and Mondo Grass
Create a front yard that bursts with seasonal color by planting Hemerocallis spp. (Daylily) with Ophiopogon japonicus (Mondo Grass). Daylilies are known for their large, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in a variety of colors, providing a continuous display of color throughout the summer.
Mondo Grass, with its fine, grass-like leaves and deep green color, provides a low-growing ground cover that adds texture and contrast to the vibrant flowers of the Daylilies. This combination is perfect for creating a front yard that’s full of life and color, changing with the seasons.
Plant Daylilies in clusters to create a bold and colorful statement along pathways or in flower beds. Use Mondo Grass as a ground cover to fill in spaces and provide a lush, green backdrop. Together, they create a dynamic and visually appealing landscape that’s easy to care for and beautiful year-round.
