I lived in my red brick house for three years, but it looked as though no one lived in it. Bare mulch.
Poor little ground cover plants. I finally solved it, and ever since then, I’ve received praise.
Brick house landscaping is not as easy as one might imagine.
It’s not a pretty plant selection. You are dealing with a permanent color and texture that either aids or opposes your contemporary yard.
I took all the time of a spring testing what works on brick and not just what looks good on the internet.
Some options were not a success at all. The following 15 front yard brick home landscaping looks that survived.
Plant Choices That Actually Complement Brick
I learned this the hard way. I went with high-contrast greens and one standout flower color so it wouldn’t clash with the warm red brick.
1. Boxwood Hedges Along the Foundation
Boxwood maintains a compact, dark green form year-round and makes a strong structural element when used in contrast to brick.
One of the few shrubs that still appear manicured in the winter months when most yards look like they’ve been abandoned.
Best plants: Boxwood blight can affect many other plants, including boxwood blight-resistant species like American Boxwood, Wintergreen Boxwood (cold climates), and Korean Boxwood (dwarf).
Ideal for: Homeowners who want a traditional, tidy, neat appearance with minimal weekly maintenance. It’s also very easy to travel on as it can withstand not being watered as much as flowering shrubs.
My advice: Cut it twice a year, most of the time. I discovered overtrimming is more of a green box than a hedge, and it was my first spring that I did it.
2. Ornamental Grasses for Movement and Texture
Grasses add texture to a flat brick wall in motion, particularly in the wind, and are still attractive in the winter when dry.
Grasses are the only perennials that retain their form during the coldest months, while most perennials are reduced to nubs.
Best plant: Little Bluestem, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Fountain Grass
Ideal for: Yards with a low maintenance requirement. If you’re prone to neglecting to water, they’re a good choice, as established grasses can survive dry periods.
My suggestion: Plant threes, fives or sevens of grasses. Even numbers will look like a store display rather than a garden.
3. Climbing Hydrangea on Brick Walls
The white flowers stand out against brick that is red or orange; the climbing hydrangea clings to brick with small aerial roots, and you don’t need a trellis.
It takes time to get going, but it can grow on its own to cover a substantial area of wall.
Best plant: Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris) is the best plant.
Ideal for: Brick walls exposed to the south or east facing and partial sun. If you are looking for quick results in year one, it’s not the right option.
My advice: Wait 3 years before judging. For two seasons, mine did virtually nothing, and then it got so big I began trimming it back from the gutters.
4. Knockout Roses for a Color Pop
Knockout roses bloom from late spring until frost.
They are either a matching or contrasting color to the brick, depending on the brick color, and they continue to bloom without continual deadheading, as do older rose varieties.
Best plant: The plants that will do best are the Red Knockout, Pink Knockout, and Coral Knockout.
Ideal for: Homeowners who want color but don’t want to be liable for delicate roses. They are also more tolerant of hot, humid summer weather than other, more particular heirloom roses.
My suggestion: Plant them at least 3 feet away from brick. Good air circulation helps prevent black spot, and I suffered a complete loss of blooms the first year I planted mine too close.
Hardscaping That Works With Brick Exteriors
This was a surprise to me. Every single plant I purchased was unimportant to the guests’ first impression, as was the walkway.
5. Bluestone Walkway
Bluestone’s blue-gray color is neutral and helps neutralize warm red brick rather than clash with it. It also resists winter weather better than poured concrete, as it does not crack or flake like poured concrete.
Best plant: The materials used in this project are best: Full-color bluestone, irregular flagstone cut.
Ideal for: Homes looking for a more traditional, upscale appearance. If you are staying in the house for an extended period, it’s worth the extra expense.
My advice: Don’t order perfect squares; order irregular cuts. It doesn’t resemble a parking lot at all; rather, it’s always been there.
6. Brick-Matching Paver Driveway Border
A paver border, in a similar or darker color, connects the driveway back to the house. If not, a concrete driveway can appear completely different than the rest of the house.
Best materials: Clay Brick Pavers, Concrete Pavers (colored with clay brick)
Ideal for: A house with an existing driveway that is not aligned with the house. This is a less ambitious undertaking than repaving the entire area.
My suggestion: Use the same color for the mortar joints as the brick color. It is the thing people notice and don’t understand.
7. Low Stacked Stone Retaining Wall
A stacked stone wall will also provide some variation in the level of a flat yard, and create a raised planting area at the same time. It also helps alleviate drainage issues common in many front yards with poor drainage.
Best material: Fieldstone, dry-stack limestone.
Ideal for: Any slope, or flat front lawn that is uninteresting. It is effective particularly if water is known to accumulate close to your foundation.
My advice: If not using a mason, limit it to 2 feet. After a couple of times, I’ve redone my own stacking, and it gets shaky after that.
8. Black Iron Fence and Gate
The brick is surrounded by a short black fence, which does not obscure the view of the brick. Black is a neutral color, and will complement nearly all brick colors, including red, tan, and gray.
Best materials: Powder-coated aluminum, in a style to look like iron
Ideal for: Homes that desire to define yard and sidewalk. If you don’t want a fence but still want some privacy, this is a good compromise.
My advice: Use aluminum, not actual iron, unless you’re looking for a yearly chore of repainting rusty areas. I replaced it after 2 years of touch-up paint.
Brick House Landscaping Color and Contrast Strategies
The biggest mistake made when designing brick house yards is the use of color. If there’s too much matching, everything becomes mud; that’s what my yard was before I did it.
9. White Trim and Black Shutters Combo
The brick is complemented by white trim and black shutters, which provide a nice contrast. This blend is suitable for nearly all brick colors – from deep red to pale tan.
Best materials: Exterior-grade white and black paint, or pre-finished vinyl shutters.
Ideal for: Houses looking for a timeless, resale-worthy appearance. It’s also one of the most secure options if you’re concerned about fashions looking dated.
My suggestion: Paint the door black as well if the shutters are black. They will match the rest of the front, rather than it appearing disjointed.
10. Dark Mulch Beds
Dark brown or black mulch will help plant greens to stand out and will eliminate soil splash on the brick during rain. Lighter mulches will tend to become discolored and gray in a season.
Best plant: Black plastic mulch, or any other mulch that is not double-shredded hardwood mulch.
Ideal for: Bed under windows or next to the foundation. If your beds are already well established with good plants but appear stressed, this is a simple weekend solution.
My advice: Avoid using red-dyed mulch near red brick. It typically doesn’t match, even if the shades look the same in the store.
11. Cream or White Flowering Shrubs
Cream and white flowers don’t clash with warm brick, and some bright pink or orange flowers might. They also photograph well against brick, which is important if you’re selling.
Best plant: White Hydrangea, Spirea, Gardenia (warmer climates).
Ideal for: Homeowners who want a soft, elegant look. It’s a great match with a brick that has a warm or orange hue.
My suggestion: Plant them in an afternoon sun location. White flowers shine at golden hour, so consider this light when planning the layout.
12. Navy or Black Front Door
A navy or black door is a definite, contemporary look against brick, compared with the standard beige or brown many homes begin with. It is one of the quickest methods to give a builder-grade brick house the “custom” look.
Best material: Exterior door paint that are rated for direct sunlight.
Ideal for: Homeowners who want a fast, dramatic change. It will work on either a warm red or cooler gray brick.
My suggestion: Before doing anything else, repaint the door! It is the easiest change to make, which makes the most noticeable difference, and it only took me one Saturday afternoon.
Lighting and Finishing Touches
I thought I wouldn’t bother with lights because it would cost too much. My biggest mistake was having it installed in the house, as it changed the appearance of the house every evening, not just during the day.
13. Warm Path Lighting
Warm-toned path lights help lead visitors to the door and complete the yard at night. Temperature is important here: Cool white lights don’t look warm against warm brick.
Ideal materials: 2700K warm white low voltage LED path lights
Ideal for: When visitors or deliveries come in after dark. It also provides additional security on less-than-smooth sidewalks.
My advice: If it looks like it should be spaced further apart than it is. Too many looks, too many looks, too many looks, it’s not a home.
14. Uplighting on the Brick Facade
The brick texture is accentuated at night by uplights angled toward the brick. Most brick houses do not display their brick texture at night.
It’s easy to ignore during the day, but comes into play at night.
The best materials: Are solar or low-voltage LED uplights, with warm color temperature.
Ideal for: Textured or multi coloured brick houses to be displayed. It’s a small investment, but it pictures really, really well.
My suggestion: Bend the lights slightly, not straight up. Uplights that are straight on will not accentuate the texture, but will level it out.
15. Window Boxes With Trailing Plants
Window boxes provide color at eye level and help break up the hard line between brick and window trim—one of the few enhancements that are easily discernible from the street, even from a passing car.
Good plants: Trailing petunias, ivy, sweet potato vine
Ideal for: Houses that have windows on the street side of the house. An excellent choice for those who don’t have enough garden space for full garden beds.
My tip: Water window boxes each day during the summer. In-ground beds retain moisture longer than these beds since there is less soil to retain moisture
Quick Plant Comparison for Brick Homes
| Plant | Sun needs | Mature Size | Maintenance | Best Brick Match |
| Boxwood | Full sun to part shade | 3-4 ft | Low | Any brick color |
| Ornamental Grass | Full sun | 2-5 ft | Very low | Red or orange brick |
| Climbing Hydrangea | Part sun | 30+ ft (wall-bound) | Medium | Red or tan brick |
| Knockout Roses | Full sun | 3-4 ft | Low to medium | Gray or tan brick |
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants look best in front of a brick house?
Boxwood, ornamental grasses, and knockout roses are safe, versatile choices. They work with almost any brick color and don’t need constant care. All three also hold up well through a full growing season without much fuss.
Should landscaping match or contrast brick color?
Contrast usually wins. Matching tones too closely can make the whole front of the house blend into one flat wall of color. A little contrast, in plants or paint, gives the eye something to focus on.
How do I add curb appeal to a red brick house on a budget?
Start with a fresh door color and dark mulch. Both cost under $150 combined and make an immediate difference. Add a few boxwood shrubs next if there’s room left in the budget.
What color mulch looks best with brick?
Dark brown or black mulch works with almost every brick shade. Red-dyed mulch tends to clash instead of blend, even when the colors look close on the bag.
Do I need a landscape designer for a brick house yard?
Not for most homes. A designer helps with slope issues or major hardscaping, but plant choice and color strategy you can handle yourself with a little research.
Final Thoughts
Brick doesn’t need to fight your landscaping. It just needs a plan that works with its color instead of against it.
I didn’t do all 15 of these at once. I picked five that fit my budget and my brick’s undertone, then added more each season as time and money allowed. That slower pace also let me catch mistakes early instead of committing to a full redesign all at once.
If your brick is warm red, lean into cool contrast like white blooms, black hardware, and bluestone. If it’s tan or gray, you have more room to play with warmer plant colors.
Start with the door and the mulch. Everything else can wait.
