When it comes to curb appeal, foundation plants play a much bigger role than many homeowners realize. Foundation plants are shrubs, trees, perennials and groundcovers planted directly around the perimeter of a house to bridge the gap between the building’s architecture and the landscape. Primarily located along front, side and back walls, these plants frame the house, soften harsh corners, hide structural foundations, and add texture, color and depth. They create visual transitions between the house and other landscape elements like lawns, walkways and garden beds, making the entire yard feel more intentional and cohesive.
Strategically placed shrubs can help shade walls, thereby reducing heat absorption during Central Florida’s long, hot summers — which in turn can improve indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Another benefit is that foundation plants slow rainfall runoff, reduce soil erosion and direct water away from the home’s foundation — especially important during Florida’s heavy summer afternoon thunderstorms.
What Makes a Good Foundation Plant for Central Florida?
Good foundation plants for Central Florida must be drought-tolerant, wind-resistant, and thrive in intense heat and humidity. Ideal selections are often native, providing low-maintenance, year-round structure while withstanding sandy soil and, in some cases, salt. They should have deep root systems for stability, be evergreen for consistent curb appeal and fit the scale of the home.
Key qualities for Central Florida foundation plants include:
Climate resilience — Ability to withstand high temperatures, humidity, heavy summer rainfalls and dry seasons.
Low maintenance and pest-resistance — Plants requiring minimal pruning, fertilizer and water, which aligns with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles. Florida-friendly plants are also naturally resistant to common Central Florida insect pests. Our blog post — “How to Create a Florida-Friendly Yard” — covers this topic in detail.
Appropriate size — Slow-growing or compact, dwarf varieties that do not overwhelm the house or require constant, severe pruning to keep away from walls and windows.
Best Foundation Plants for Central Florida Yards
Fortunately, there’s a wide variety of foundation plants of every type and every landscaping need! Here are some of our favorites. To learn more about each, click on the link in the name.
Evergreen Shrubs:
Dwarf yaupon holly — A classic choice, this compact plant (Ilex vomitoria) is highly adaptable in the landscape. The dwarf yaupon holly is distinguished by glossy leaves and small white flowers it produces in spring. Female plants also produce red berries. Yaupon hollies’ dense and shrubby growth make them ideal for screens or hedges while also providing habitat for songbirds and other wildlife.
Japanese boxwood — Also commonly known as littleleaf boxwood, this shrub (Buxus microphylla) is widely used for hedges, borders and formal landscape designs. It is valued for its dense growth habit, small glossy leaves and tolerance of regular pruning. Japanese boxwood thrives in full to partial sun.
Podocarpus — Sometimes known as the Japanese yew or Buddhist pine, this versatile long-leaved plant (Podocarpus macrophyllus) can be used as a hedge, a privacy screen or even a tree. Its upright growth habit makes the podocarpus excellent for narrow spaces, while its clean, polished look makes it an attractive addition to any landscape.
Cocoplum (dwarf varieties) — Dwarf varieties of cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) are an excellent, low-maintenance, native choice for Central Florida landscapes. They thrive in full sun, are drought-tolerant once established, and are ideal for hedges, privacy screens, or erosion control. They offer dense foliage, attract birds and produce edible, plum-like fruits. Cocoplum is also salt-tolerant, allowing it to thrive in coastal environments.
Flowering Shrubs:
Gardenia — Gardenias are evergreen shrubs that grow in height from 2-15 feet (depending on the cultivar), forming mounds of glossy, dark-green foliage. Leaves are oval shaped, and its fragrant flowers vary in color—from pale yellow with purple mottling to creamy white. There are over 200 species of gardenias. In Florida, varieties of Gardenia jasminoides are used almost exclusively. Many cultivars are available and there is considerable variation in form, flower type and plant size. Because of this, gardenias can be used as specimen plantings, hedges, or even as groundcovers.
Hibiscus (dwarf or compact types) — This flowering shrub evokes an image of the quintessential Florida paradise, with flowers that come in a rainbow of colors. Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is what’s commonly seen in Central Florida’s garden centers and landscapes. Hibiscus range in size from low spreading shrubs to upright tree forms that can reach 20 feet in height. Some are compact and dense, while others are open and thin. They are used in the landscape as informal hedges or screens, foundation plants, specimens, or background for other plants.
Ixora — Sometimes called flame of the woods, this sun-loving shrub (Ixora spp.) bears clusters of red, orange, yellow or pink four-petaled flowers throughout the year. A compact, densely-branching shrub, ixora is ideal for planting as a hedge, border, screen or featured specimen — depending on which variety you select. While full sun is necessary for maximum flower production, this plant — especially large-leaved varieties — can be grown in partial shade.
Indian hawthorn — This slow-growing, petite shrub is perfect in foundation plantings or in the foreground of larger landscape beds. Its white or pink flowers and evergreen foliage make it a great choice for many yards. Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis spp.) needs little care after it’s established. Plant in a spot that receives full sun. Space plants at least 18 inches apart to ensure that they’ll have good air circulation, since this can also help limit disease problems.
Ornamental Grasses and Accent Plants:
Dwarf fountain grass — Dwarf fountain grass (such as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ or ‘Hameln’) is an excellent, low-maintenance popular choice for Central Florida landscapes. It thrives in USDA Zones 9–10, offering a 2.5 to 3-foot tall, drought-tolerant, clump-forming habit with attractive, feathery plumes. Dwarf fountain grass brings color to borders, blooming from summer through winter. It requires full sun and well-drained soil.
Coontie — Looking like a combination of a palm and a fern, the coontie (Zamia integrifolia) is typically one to three feet tall, and has stiff, glossy, featherlike leaves attached to a thick, short, underground stem. Because of its high drought tolerance and moderate salt tolerance, the coontie is an excellent choice for coastal yards — and is also cold-hardy. Coonties can be planted in sun or shade, and can be used as a specimen plant or in foundation and massed plantings. It’s also the preferred food source for larvae of the rare atala butterfly.
Society garlic — Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) produces slender leaves and delicate, star-shaped purple flowers. These perennial plants grow to about a foot tall and are wonderful in borders or mass plantings. Tolerant of both cold and drought, society garlic flowers best in full sun.
Groundcovers:
Asiatic jasmine — Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is an evergreen, fast-growing vine-like woody plant commonly used in Florida landscapes due to its hardiness and drought tolerance. It’s a low maintenance groundcover that is great for mass plantings and turfgrass alternatives — and an ideal plant for people who want an attractive garden without all the hard work. In shady areas, it also provides needed texture and variation. Give it room to spread.
Liriope — This large, clumping grasslike perennial (Liriope muscari) is a popular groundcover due to its quick growth habit and spikes of light purple blooms throughout summer. It’s also known as big blue lilyturf, lilyturf, or border grass. Low-maintenance and drought-resistant, liriope works well along borders and in areas with taller shrubs.
Sunshine mimosa — This fast-growing Florida native (Mimosa strigillosa) is a good alternative groundcover for areas with full and partial sun. It produces delicate lavender-colored flowers with lots of pollen that help support pollinators. Sunshine mimosa prefers warmer temperatures and blooms continuously from spring to fall. It has bright green, fern-like leaves that look fragile but are resilient to light traffic. It can withstand poor soil conditions and heavy rainfall, making it very suitable for Central Florida yards.
Design Tips for Foundation Plantings
For a professional-looking foundation landscape, follow these design principles:
Layer your plants — Use taller shrubs near corners and shorter plants beneath windows.
Plan for mature size — Select plants based on their size at maturity, not their size in the nursery pot, to avoid overcrowding in 3-5 years.
Leave space for growth — Avoid planting too close to the home to prevent moisture issues and overgrowth. Position plants 2-3 feet away from the foundation to allow for air circulation, prevent moisture buildup on siding and allow space for maintenance.
Mix textures and colors — Combine evergreen structure with seasonal color for year-round interest.
Use mulch — Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds and provide a clean, finished look.
Complement your home’s style — Formal homes benefit from symmetrical designs, while tropical or coastal homes look best with softer, flowing layouts. Use vertical plants to break up long, horizontal, one-story homes or to highlight corners.
The Take-Home Message
Adding foundation plants elevates the aesthetics of your property, adding visual interest through a new emphasis on the best features of your house; year-round interest from color, texture, and form; a unified garden layout; and an enticing view from the street.
However, if you don’t have the time or inclination to go select and install them — or not sure about where to plant them — call us! Our experienced experts at Daniel’s Lawn Care & Pressure Washing can design, plant and even maintain the yard of your dreams!
In addition to landscaping design, our full-service company provides plant and tree installation, tree trimming, yard maintenance, pressure washing and so much more. Contact us today so we can do the work, and you can do the enjoying! We proudly serve all of Central Florida — including Orlando, Sanford, Longwood and Lake Mary! We look forward to helping you achieve your goals and bring your vision to life!
