Skip to Content
Front door, white color house exterior
David Papazian//Getty Images

35 Front Door Plants That Will Instantly Boost Your Curb Appeal

You won’t believe what a difference it makes.

By

One of the best, yet entirely overlooked, ways to increase your curb appeal is by adding gorgeous decor to your front door. This is the first thing houseguests see as they approach your home, and even though it’s a small detail relative to the rest of the exterior, it has the potential to hint at what’s to come inside. While the color of this feature might be the most important aspect, the front door plants you use to accent it come at a close second.

Decorating the entrance to your house with fresh greenery or summer blooms is an easy way to bring some life and interest to this area. These front door plants, of course, have to be treated the same way as any other potted plants are, so keep in mind how much sunlight this spot gets before settling on one or two to grow.

For that first source of inspiration, though, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find 35 front door plants that’ll boost your curb appeal and bring you joy every time you walk inside.

Additional copy by Angela Belt and Meghan Shouse.

1

Bird of Paradise

orange red heliconia psittacorum flower
Nugroho Ridho//Getty Images

Give your entrance a tropical vibe with a bird-of-paradise plant. They can grow in sun or shade, although if you get an orange bird-of-paradise, you'll want to put it in direct sunlight to really bring out the color of the blooms, according to Costa Farms. If you live in an area with cold winters, make sure to bring it inside.

Related Story: How to Care for a Bird of Paradise Plant

2

Bamboo Palm

lady palm tree or bamboo in pot plant isolated on white background with clipping paths, pot plant rhapis excelsa palm is perfect for a flourish of lush interior greenery for decoration
Annandistock//Getty Images

Bamboo is said to symbolize good luck and abundance, so it's the perfect front door plant to greet your guests. While traditional bamboo plants are smaller in stature (and notoriously invasive), this potted bamboo palm brings good luck on a larger scale.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Asclepias Gold Flower

asclepias silky gold
Ana Lopez Gacio//Getty Images

Make the most of the rising temperatures and cater to the pollinators with a cheerful butterfly weed. This plant, with its bright yellow (or orange, red, or pink!) flowers, is a perennial that monarch butterflies love. This plant is deer-resistant, but beware as the sap is toxic to most household pets.

Related Story: These 11 Butterfly Plants Will Make Your Garden Even More Gorgeous

4

Climbing Star Jasmine

close up of star jasmine plant
Angelafoto//Getty Images

If your front door has a lot of unused space around it, opt for a climbing vine or bush that can grow quickly to fill in the gaps. Star jasmine not only has a quaint, cottage-garden look, but its sweet-smelling, miniature blooms will delight you and your guests. Plus, this plant is evergreen. It blooms only in the spring, but the stunning green leaves keep their color all winter.

Related Story: Everything to Know About Growing Star Jasmine

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Hydrangeas

Hydrangea flower
somnuk krobkum//Getty Images

Nothing adds color to a yard (or says summer) like hydrangeas. These bushes love water, especially when they're in direct sun on a hot day, Bloomscape plant expert Lindsey Pangborn says. It's best to check recently planted hydrangeas daily to see if they need watering. "Once they're established, they only need to be watered during long periods of hot, dry weather," she says.

6

Red Rooster Grass

foxtail barley, hordeum jubatum
Alan Majchrowicz//Getty Images

Tired of the evergreens and bright blooms of traditional front door plants? Opt for ornamental grasses instead. This red rooster grass features tall, rust-hued blades that complement the fall color palette. Red rooster grass is relatively low-maintenance, preferring partial shade and regular watering. If planted in the ground, pruning may be necessary to keep its spread in check.

Related Story: 17 Low-Maintenance Landscaping Ideas Anyone Can Maintain

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Petunias

beautiful flower pot full of blossoming purple petunias closeup
Annie Japaud//Getty Images

If your front door gets a lot of sun, petunias are a colorful option. Fill a window box with them, let them trail down from a hanging planter, or put them in pots around your front door or lining your steps. Just remember to water and deadhead them regularly.

8

Hawaiian Dwarf Umbrella Tree

potted green plant with a thick stem and lush foliage

This umbrella tree is a great pick for a wider porch or landing where it has plenty of space to spread out. Preferring high sun and only occasional watering (about twice a month or every other week), this tree is easy to care for and doesn't require any finicky maintenance.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Dwarf Gardenias

gardenias
Wenping Zheng//Getty Images

Growing best outdoors in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 to 10, dwarf gardenias are great for small spaces. Whether planted in a low container or as a border along either side of your front door, these petite plants give you the same bright blooms and fragrance as standard gardenia bushes. Since dwarf gardenia is a slow grower, we recommend purchasing a mature plant rather than growing it from seed.

10

Star Jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides, Common names include confederate jasmine, southern jasmine, star jasmine, confederate jessamine, and Chinese star jasmine
michael meijer//Getty Images

Structured and simple, a potted jasmine plant is great for those who worry about climbing vines and flowers taking over their front porch. This front door plant does need occasional pruning, but it's fairly low-maintenance otherwise.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

English Ivy

English ivy plant in flower pot at the balcony Air purifying plants
FeelPic//Getty Images

If you're looking for a trailing plant to frame your front door—whether you plan to hang it, set it atop a stand, or let it grow upward from a pot or a window box—English ivy is a great choice.

12

Purple Coneflower

bright echinacea pink coneflowers
Nancybelle Gonzaga Villarroya//Getty Images

A welcome departure from autumn's traditional warm-toned color palette, these purple coneflowers add a pop of fuchsia to your home's entrance. These blooms are great for pollinators and grow as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and higher.

Related Story: Everything to Know About USDA Hardiness Zones

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Sedum Autumn Fire Plants

stonecrop and purple asters
schnuddel//Getty Images

Boasting a rich burgundy hue, these sedum flowers are ideal for the transitional weather as the temperatures drop into fall. Plant them in larger pots as they love to spread out. These plants are primarily grown in the Midwest and do best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. Plus, when winter rolls in, these blooms look just as good dried.

14

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Vertical photo of several tall, conical Thuja Smaragd ,Emerald Green Arborvitae,rees
Natali Dobrovolskaya//Getty Images

Arborvitae are popular landscaping plants due to their stately appearance and the privacy they offer when planted in a row. But they make great container plants too. These plants can be a bit tricky to care for—luckily, we have a growing guide that tells you everything you need to know to keep yours looking lush.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Chrysanthemums

close up of beautiful chrysanthemum flowers for backgrounds
DEV IMAGES//Getty Images

The ultimate fall flower, a container of mums is the perfect way to bring the fall season into your entrance decor. Opt for a bright orange or yellow for a true contrast against your home's exterior, or choose a red shade for something more subdued. In cooler temperatures, mums can bloom for up to six weeks. Fertilize them monthly for the best results.

16

Hypoestes Red Splash

red foliage of the coleus plant close up,top view,natural background
Sorin Amanar / 500px//Getty Images

Low-maintenance and vibrant, the red splash variety of hypoestes (a type of hosta) adds a punch of color to any home's exterior. Be sure to maintain a regular watering schedule to help this plant thrive. The hypoestes won't survive a true frost outdoors, so this is a great fall front door plant for the transitional and early fall season.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Needlepoint Holly

holly and berries
bgwalker//Getty Images

If you're the type that is anxiously awaiting the winter holiday season, embrace that anticipation in your front door plants. A needlepoint holly bush planted in a container is a welcome addition to the fall foliage, and it peeks at what's to come as the temperatures continue to drop.

Displaying bright red berries, this evergreen can grow up to 10 feet tall (it grows an average of three feet per year).

18

Wintergreen Boxwoods

Wintergreen Boxwood
keepphotos//Getty Images

Keep it classic with a pair of boxwood topiaries. They can be short and bushy, tall and narrow, or pruned into decorative shapes (you often see them cut into spirals!). As a bonus, they're low-maintenance and do well in cold weather, according to Gardening Know How.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Tradescantia Zebrina

Tradescantia zebrina in a large hanging pot, with green and purple leaves featuring distinctive silvery stripes, hanging by a wooden wall among utility items.
Adam Bartosik//Getty Images

This low-maintenance plant is another good trailing option, and according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, it's best for a shadier spot. But make sure it's not too shady. Bloomscape says its colorful stripes will fade without enough light.

20

Boston Ferns

Green evergreens, nephrolepis in flower pots stand on the windowsill, on the balcony, outdoors. Natural background. A building or house with a large number of indoor plants. Landscaping of the house territory, yard. A city street, not a city stage.
Aleksandr Zubkov//Getty Images

Keep the soil of these dramatic ferns damp most of the time, and they'll thrive wherever you put them—indoors or outdoors—so long as they get enough shade, according to Costa Farms. You can use them to make a statement in standing planters around your front door or hang them around the porch in true Southern style.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Stay Ahead with Expert Tips

Join 50,000+ homeowners getting weekly expert advice on interior design and lifestyle tips.

✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe anytime ✓ Expert content only