Best Shrubs and Perennials in Northern NJ
If you’re looking to upgrade your landscape with shrubs and perennials, choosing the right plants is the most important step. The right combination gives your home year-round color, structure, and curb appeal—while keeping maintenance low.
In this guide, we break down the best shrubs and perennials for New Jersey homes, including evergreen foundation shrubs, flowering shrubs, shade-tolerant plants, and the most popular low-maintenance perennials homeowners request. Whether you’re redoing your front entrance, installing new beds, or planning a full landscape makeover, these options give your property a clean, polished look that lasts all season.
Best Foundation Shrubs for New Jersey Homes
Foundation shrubs should stay full, healthy, and attractive 12 months a year. These are the top performers in North Jersey:
Boxwoods
A timeless evergreen shrub that keeps a perfect shape year-round. Great for front entries, walkways, and symmetrical designs.
Skip Laurels
Full, dense, deep-green foliage. Excellent for partial shade and areas where you want height and fullness close to the house.
Hollies
Glossy evergreen leaves with strong winter appeal. Ideal for corners, windows, and front-yard structure.
Hydrangeas
A homeowner favorite for bold summer color. Beautiful around porches, foundations, and walkways.
Spirea
Compact, colorful, low-maintenance shrubs that bloom reliably every spring and summer.
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
A native evergreen alternative to boxwood—great for areas with wetter soil.
Best Flowering Shrubs for Seasonal Color
If you want shrubs that brighten your yard through spring and summer, these are perfect:
Weigela
Vibrant pink or red blooms that attract hummingbirds and add serious curb appeal.
Viburnum
Fragrant blooms in spring, followed by berries and fall color.
Butterfly Bush
A fast-growing shrub packed with long summer flowers. Perfect as an accent near patios or fence lines.
Best Evergreen Shrubs for Year-Round Structure
These shrubs keep the landscape full and green even in winter:
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae
Rhododendron
Pieris Japonica
Dwarf Spruce varieties
These hold structure beautifully and pair well with perennials for a balanced design.
Best Perennials That Come Back Every Year
These are the top-performing perennials for New Jersey landscapes—low-maintenance, reliable, and colorful.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Extremely popular for long-lasting purple blooms and incredible durability.
Salvia
A top-performing perennial with deep-purple spikes and excellent pollinator appeal.
Coneflower (Echinacea)
A seasonal favorite that returns every year with vibrant summer color.
Black-Eyed Susan
Bold yellow blooms perfect for brightening any landscape bed.
Hosta
Best for shady areas. Adds lush, full texture near foundations or walkways.
Sedum (Autumn Joy)
A fall favorite. Thick, drought-tolerant, and loaded with late-season color.
Astilbe
Great for partial shade. Soft, feathery blooms that add texture and elegance.
The Best Shrubs & Perennials for Low-Maintenance Landscapes
If homeowners want a great look with minimal upkeep, these plants perform best:
Boxwood
Skip Laurel
Spirea
Hydrangea
Catmint
Sedum
Daylily
Coreopsis
These thrive with little watering, minimal pruning, and strong disease resistance.
Designing Beds With Shrubs & Perennials
Here’s how to create a landscape that looks professional:
1. Mix Evergreen + Seasonal Color
Evergreens bring structure. Perennials bring life and movement.
2. Layer Heights
Tall shrubs in the back, mid-size shrubs and perennials in the middle, low perennials in the front.
3. Choose Colors That Flow
Purple, pink, white, and soft yellow blends work beautifully.
4. Use Curved Beds Instead of Straight Lines
Curved planting beds soften the home and boost curb appeal.
5. Add Edging, Mulch, and Boulders
This gives the yard a high-end, finished look.
Why Planting Shrubs & Perennials Is a Smart Investment
Year-Round Curb Appeal
Your home looks polished in all four seasons.
Low Maintenance
Most shrubs and perennials require only yearly pruning and seasonal care.
Better Property Value
Well-designed planting beds make your home more attractive and inviting.
Improved Outdoor Living
Shrubs and perennials create privacy, shade, color, and structure around patios and walkways.
Serving North Jersey Homeowners
We provide shrub and perennial planting services throughout Bergen County, Passaic County, Morris County, and Essex County, including surrounding towns.
Additional Services We Offer
Plantings & Garden Enhancements
We specialize in seasonal and evergreen plantings to bring color, texture, and privacy to your landscape. From foundation planting to perennial gardens, privacy screens to ornamental trees, our planting designs are tailored to your property’s layout and light exposure. We source our plant material locally for freshness and longevity.
3D Landscape Design & Visualization
Seeing is believing. Our 3D design services allow you to visualize your entire project before a single shovel hits the ground. We build detailed digital renderings of patios, outdoor kitchens, retaining walls, fire pits, plantings, and lighting layouts—so you can approve every element with confidence and clarity.
Full-Service Outdoor Living Solutions
In addition to patios, we offer:
Outdoor kitchens and grills
Retaining and garden walls
Steps, walkways, and driveways
Drainage systems and grading
Low-voltage landscape lighting
Pool patio design and coping
We’re proud to serve the Bergen County area with professionalism, creativity, and over 15 years of trusted experience. Whether you’re enhancing your front yard or building a complete backyard retreat, RVG Landscape Design is your one-stop outdoor construction partner.
Spring and fall are ideal, but many varieties can be planted throughout the season.
Yes — perennials return each year and expand over time.
Yes — we offer full 3D landscape design so you can preview your new planting layout before installation.
Absolutely — the best landscapes use both for balance and color.
