What To Plant In Front Of Boxwoods

If you’re looking to boost your home’s first impression, knowing what to plant in front of boxwoods is a fantastic place to start. This classic combination can frame your home beautifully, adding layers of color and texture that make your landscape pop from the street.

Boxwoods are the reliable backbone of many gardens. Their dense, evergreen structure provides year-round form. But the space in front of them is a prime planting spot. It’s your chance to add seasonal interest and soften their formal edges.

Choosing the right plants depends on a few key things. You need to consider sunlight, the mature size of your boxwoods, and your own style. Let’s look at how to make choices that will work for years to come.

This is your core planting zone. The goal here is to create a harmonious, layered look. Plants in front should complement, not compete with, your boxwood’s neat shape.

Key Principles for Planting in Front of Boxwoods

Before we list plants, understand these simple rules. They’ll guide you to success.

Respect the Size: Your front plants should be noticeably shorter than the boxwoods. A good rule is to keep them at half the boxwood’s height or less.
Mind the Roots: Boxwoods have shallow roots. Avoid deep digging directly at their base. Choose plants that don’t need constant root disturbance.
Think About Contrast: Use different leaf shapes and textures. Fine, grassy leaves or broad, soft foliage look great against small, glossy boxwood leaves.
Consider Visibility: Place lower plants in front and slightly taller ones between or behind them for depth. This creates a fuller, more professional look.

Top Plant Categories for Stunning Results

Here are the best types of plants to use. Mix and match from these groups for a dynamic bed.

1. Flowering Perennials

Perennials come back every year, offering reliable color. They are the workhorses of the garden.

Lavender: Its silvery foliage and purple spikes contrast wonderfully with green boxwoods. It loves sun and good drainage.
Salvia: Spikes of blue, purple, or red bloom for months. ‘May Night’ is a classic, tough variety.
Coreopsis: Cheerful yellow or pink daisy-like flowers that bloom all summer. They are very easy to care for.
Geranium (Cranesbill): Not the red potted kind. These are hardy perennials with lovely foliage and soft pink or blue flowers.
Heuchera (Coral Bells): Grown primarily for their stunning, colorful foliage in shades of purple, lime, and amber. They add instant color.

2. Ornamental Grasses

Grasses add movement and a soft, natural feel. They are perfect for balancing the solidity of boxwoods.

Blue Fescue: A small, tidy grass with striking blue-gray foliage. It forms a perfect mound.
Japanese Forest Grass: For shady spots, its cascading golden or green blades are breathtaking.
Fountain Grass: Offers graceful, arching form and feathery plumes in late summer. ‘Hameln’ is a smaller variety.

3. Ground Covers and Low-Growers

These plants fill in gaps, suppress weeds, and create a cohesive “carpet” effect.

Creeping Thyme: Forms a dense mat that smells amazing when brushed. Tiny pink or purple flowers in summer.
Sedum (Stonecrop): Succulent leaves and clusters of starry flowers. ‘Angelina’ has bright yellow-green foliage.
Ajuga (Bugleweed): Has glossy leaves, often bronze or purple, and short blue flower spikes in spring.
Liriope (Lilyturf): Tough grass-like clumps with purple or white flower spikes in late summer.

4. Spring Bulbs

Plant bulbs in the fall for a surprise burst of early color before most perennials wake up.

Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, and Muscari (Grape Hyacinth). They will bloom through the ground cover. Just be sure to let their foliage die back naturally after flowering.

A Simple Planting Plan: Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to install your new plants correctly. Good planting ensures healthy growth.

Prepare the Area: Clear all weeds and grass from the planting bed. Add 2-3 inches of compost or aged manure and mix it into the top 6 inches of soil.
Arrange Your Pots: While still in their nursery pots, arrange your chosen plants in front of the boxwoods. Play with spacing until you like the layout.
Dig Planting Holes: Dig each hole twice as wide as the pot but no deeper. This encourages roots to spread out easily.
Plant and Water: Remove the plant from its pot, loosen the roots gently, and place it in the hole. Backfill with soil and water thoroughly to settle it.
Add Mulch: Apply a 2-inch layer of shredded bark mulch around the plants. Keep mulch away from the stems of both the new plants and the boxwoods to prevent rot.

Design Ideas for Different Boxwood Styles

Your approach can change based on how your boxwoods are grown.

In Front of Boxwood Hedges

A long, low hedge needs a planting that flows. Use drifts of the same plant repeated along the length. For example, a wave of lavender or a line of heuchera. This creates rhythm and makes the garden feel larger.

In Front of Boxwood Foundation Plantings

Here, you often work with individual or grouped shrubs. You can create small, curated vignettes. Try a clump of ornamental grass with a spill of creeping thyme around its base.

In Front of Boxwood Topiaries or Spheres

Formal shapes call for a neater approach. Symmetry works well. Plant identical low mounds, like blue fescue, on either side. Or use a very tidy ground cover like sedum as a living pedestal.

Color Schemes That Always Work

Not sure about color combos? These pairings are foolproof and beautiful.

Classic White & Green: White flowers like Shasta daisies or white salvia against green boxwoods is timeless and elegant. It brightens shady areas.
Cool Blues & Purples: Lavender, salvia, and nepeta (catmint) create a soothing, sophisticated palette. It’s very relaxing to look at.
Warm Gold & Chartreuse: Gold-leaved plants like ‘Angelina’ sedum or golden creeping jenny make the green boxwoods look richer and more vibrant.

What to Avoid Planting

Some plants can cause problems. Steer clear of these common mistakes.

Invasive Spreaders: Avoid mints or some types of bamboo grass. They will quickly overtake the space and compete aggressively with your boxwood roots.
High-Maintenance Divas: Plants that need constant deadheading, staking, or special spraying might become a chore. Choose tough, adaptable plants instead.
Plants That Love Wet Feet: Most boxwoods prefer well-drained soil. Avoid plants that need constantly moist soil, like some ferns, unless your specific site is damp.
Anything That Gets Too Tall: Always check the plant’s mature height. A shrub that grows taller than your boxwoods will ruin the layered effect you’re aiming for.

Care and Maintenance Tips

A little upkeep keeps everything looking its best. Here’s what to do through the seasons.

Spring

Cut back any dead foliage from perennials and grasses.
Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Refresh mulch if it has thinned.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells, especially for new plantings.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms on plants like salvia and coreopsis.

Fall

Plant spring-blooming bulbs around October.
This is a great time to divide overcrowded perennials and replant them.
Rake fallen leaves off the bed to prevent disease.

Winter

Enjoy the structure! Ornamental grasses and seed heads left standing provide winter interest.
Avoid piling snow or ice melt salt directly on the plants.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

How far from the boxwoods should I plant?
Aim for at least 12-18 inches from the base of the boxwood. This gives both plants room for air circulation and growth, and prevents root competition.

Can I plant annuals in front of boxwoods?
Absolutely! Annuals like petunias, impatiens (for shade), or sweet alyssum are great for adding instant, season-long color. Just know you’ll need to replant them each year.

What if my boxwoods are in full shade?
Many plants thrive in shade. Try hostas, astilbe, heuchera, Japanese forest grass, or hardy ferns. They’ll provide fantastic foliage contrast.

Should I match my house color?
It’s not necessary, but it can be effective. For example, a house with red brick might look great with warm gold and orange flowers. A gray house pairs beautifully with cool purples and silvers.

How do I deal with boxwood blight?
This is a serious fungal disease. If you suspect it, avoid planting anything that requires overhead watering, as wet leaves spread the fungus. Improve air circulation and consult a local extension service for advice.

Choosing what to plant in front of your boxwoods is a fun and rewarding project. It’s the detail that takes a good landscape to a great one. By focusing on contrast in texture, thoughtful color, and the right plant scale, you’ll create a front garden that has appeal in every season. Remember to start with good soil, choose plants suited to your light conditions, and enjoy the process of watching your design come to life. Your home’s curb appeal will thank you for the effort.