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24 Front Door Plants To Upgrade Your Home's Entrance
Because a first impression is everything.
First impressions are essential, and when it comes to your home, your front door acts as the introduction to your home and your personality. While you can opt for a cheerful front door paint color or quippy welcome mat, front door plants are one of the best ways to give your home's exterior personality and boost its curb appeal. Creating an inviting entry doesn't have to be a huge undertaking by any means. Sometimes all you need is a pair of box planters or a luscious hanging vine. Front door plants are also easy to swap out as the seasons change, so don't worry about being stuck with a plant you don't like anymore.
If your front door receives an ample amount of sunlight, opt for a miniature bush, small vegetable, or sun-loving flower like a petunia to greet guests. Front door plants like herbs or aromatic flowers are also a great way to invite visitors in with a beautiful smell as well as a beautiful bloom. Lemon trees and bamboo plants are rumored to provide good luck and abundance if placed by your front door. And in Chinese culture, gold Chrysanthemums symbolize luck and wealth—auspicious symbols for a new home.
No matter if you prefer trailing vines or structured hedges, you'll find inspiration here. Ahead, we're highlighting 30 of the best front door plants as well as tips to keep them thriving.
Napa Home & Garden Napa Home & Garden Thyme Topiary 13"
Perfect for minimalists, this delicate topiary adds an impact without taking up too much space. Plus, the thyme leaves not only offer an herbaceous scent, but they're perfect to pluck off when the recipe calls for a pinch.
Afloral UV Treated Outdoor Potted Snake Plant - 35"
Snake plants are some of the easiest to care for varieties, making them great for front doors that get minimal sunlight. And because they don't like to be overwatered, you can rest easy knowing this plant won't die on you while you're enjoying your vacation.
West Elm Faux Potted Mini Japan Maple Tree
Whether you lack a green thumb or are looking for the lowest possible maintenance, opt for a realistic-looking faux plant to spruce up your front door area. This faux Japanese maple has a strong impact but a minimal watering schedule.
Williams-Sonoma Alder & Oak Star Jasmine Potted Plant
Williams-Sonoma Alder & Oak Star Jasmine Potted Plant
Structured and simple, this jasmine plant is great for those who worry about vines and flowers taking over their front porch. This variety does need occasional pruning, but it's fairly low maintenance otherwise.
The Sill Large Dracaena Lemon Lime Tree
Getting its name from its leaves' vibrant hues that mimic the citrus fruits, the Dracaena tree adds a tropical touch anywhere—no need for a scalding climate. This plant is also a great way to add height and much-needed texture to your entryway.
Bamboo is known to symbolize good luck and abundance, so it's the perfect sentiment to place by your front door and present to guests. While traditional bamboo plants are smaller in stature (and notoriously invasive), this bamboo palm brings good luck on a larger scale.
English Ivy
If you're looking for a trailing plant to frame your front door—whether you plan to hang it or let it trail upward from a pot or a window box—English ivy is a great choice if you have a shady entrance, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
BUY NOW English Ivy Baltic Trailing Vine Live Plant, $20
Boxwood Topiary
Keep it classic with a pair of boxwood topiaries. They can be short and bushy or tall and pruned to be more decorative (often you'll see them cut into spirals!). As a bonus, they're low maintenance and do well in cold weather, too, according to Gardening Know How.
BUY NOW Shrub Wintergreen Boxwood, $22
Petunias
If your front door gets a lot of sun, petunias are a colorful option that allows you to adorn your entrance with flowers. Put them in a window box, let them trail down from a hanging planter, or put them in pots around your door or even to line your steps. Just be sure to remember to water and dead head them regularly.
BUY NOW Petunia Seeds, $7
Umbrella Tree
According to Bloomscape, the umbrella tree (aka Schefflera Amate) prefers bright indirect light and warmer temperatures. You can prune it to the shape you want, but make sure you rotate it regularly since it grows toward the light—and take it indoors when temperatures start to drop.
BUY NOW Schefflera Amate Plant, $24
Bird of Paradise
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 blooms, according to Costa Farms. If you live in an area that gets cold for winter, make sure you bring it inside before it gets too cold.
BUY NOW Bird of Paradise Strelitzia Reginae Live Plant, $28
Tradescantia Zebrina
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, as Bloomscape notes its colorful stripes will fade without enough light.
BUY NOW Tradescantia Zebrina Hybrid Rooted Plant, $16
Citrus Tree
No, you don't need a huge backyard to grow a lemon tree or an orange tree—you can actually grow a citrus tree right next to your front door (or even inside, if you wish!). Make sure it's a sunny, wind-protected spot, and bring it indoors for winter.
BUY NOW Flowering Lemon Tree, $121
Boston Fern
Keep the soil on 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. These lush green plants will make a statement in standing planters around your door or hanging near your entrance.
BUY NOW Hanging Boston Fern (Set of 2), $50
Wax Begonia
Another stunning flowering option? Wax begonia, which blooms in pink, red, and white, is an adaptable plant that can handle partial sun or shade—just keep it out of full sun, according to Costa Farms. Plant them in an oversize pot or a window box, and they'll give your front door a striking pop of color.
BUY NOW Begonia Big Red Leaf, $12
Cactus
If you're lucky to live in a hot, sunny climate, a cactus would do just great by your front door. They love the heat, and you don't have to water them very often. Make sure you put them in a planter with good drainage, per Costa Farms' suggestion.
BUY NOW Stenocereus Marginatus, $63
Lavender
If you're looking to add a pop of color to your home's entrance, look no further than lavender. This deliciously fragrant plant will greet your guests with eye-catching violet petals and a calming scent.
BUY NOW Flowering Plant in Stone Pot, $38
Coleus
Coleus plants thrive in cool environments and well-drained soil with just the right amount of moisture. So be sure not to overwater yours, as this could lead to root disease.
BUY NOW Coleus Chocolate Cherry Foliage Seeds, $6
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas love water, especially when they're in direct sun on a hot day, shares Lindsey Pangborn, Bloomscape's plant expert. It's best to check recently planted hydrangeas to see if they need watering daily. "Once they are established, they only need to be watered during long periods of hot, dry weather," she says.
BUY NOW Snowball Hydrangea Topiary, $399
Spiral Cypress Topiary
Common in Tuscany, cypress trees can thrive in either direct sun or partial shade, according to Gardening Know How. The soil also needs to be high in acidity to encourage plant growth. To keep its curvy shape, a spiral topiary needs to be pruned at least twice a year.
BUY NOW Cypress Spiral Topiary, $269
Brittney Morgan is a noted land mermaid and a Virgo with a penchant for crafts, red lipstick, and buying way too many throw pillows. Her work has also been published at Apartment Therapy, NYLON, HuffPost, Hello Giggles, Elite Daily, and more.
Angela Belt is the contributing Assistant Shopping Editor at House Beautiful. She's also an interior designer and is the host of her own podcast, The Mood Board. When it comes to design, she's an esteemed expert with some of her work also appearing in HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, The Washington Post, and more.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful’s SEO Editor. She has covered everything from curated decor round-ups and shopping guides, to glimpses into the home lives of inspiring creatives, for publications such as ELLE Decor, Domino, and Architectural Digest’s Clever.
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