• Landscape plants add color to a front yard.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Many types of trees, shrubs, flowers and ground covers are commonly used for landscaping purposes. When planning a landscape, select those plants that can be useful, as well as attractive, such as those offering shade, screening and noise control, notes The Landscape Design Site. Size, form and texture are some other considerations when choosing plants. Also consider plants that are pest resistant and disease tolerant and suited for your soil type.
  
  

Azaleas and Rhododendrons

• Azaleas and rhododendrons, which are plants belonging to the genus Rhododendron, make up the largest ornamental plant group in the world, according to the University of Missouri, with more than 2,000 varieties, hybrids and cultivars. Choose varieties that are size appropriate for landscaping needs. While some azaleas and rhododendrons work better as ground covers, others are used as trees. Dwarf varieties should be positioned in constrained or foreground spots, while larger varieties are reserved as background or screen plants. Determine when plants will bloom and choose colors to bloom in different seasons, using many companion plants.
  
  

Boxwoods

• Boxwood plants, which are evergreens with broad foliage, are popular as landscape plants or hedges, especially in the Southern and Eastern United States, notes the University of Missouri. The Korean boxwood is the easiest to grow, as well as the hardiest boxwood, although in winter its leaves can lose their color. Winter discoloring is not as severe when this boxwood is planted in a shady area.
  
  

Creeping Junipers

• The creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) makes an ideal evergreen ground cover. It's an evergreen plant that offers a pleasant woody aroma. This plant is thick and grows low, forming large mats that typically grow less than 6 feet high, according to New Mexico State University. Leaves are green or blue and turn purple in winter. Creeping junipers are easy to grow, inexpensive, low maintenance and drought resistant. Although creeping junipers don't bloom, their other qualities make up for their lack of flowers.
  
  

Yews

• Yews are evergreens with flat, needlelike leaves. According to the University of Missouri, they're the most ornamental and the darkest green of other needled evergreen shrubs. They can grow in shade and don't have any serious diseases or pest problems, which makes them popular landscape plants. Don't plant yews near farm animals as both their leaves and seeds are poisonous to livestock, as well as humans. The Japanese spread and Japanese dwarf varieties are large spreading plants that need partial to full shade, while the Taunton spreading yew can grow in full sun to full shade, notes the University of Minnesota.
  
  

Yuccas

• Yuccas are strong plants able to withstand most growing conditions, although they do best in hot, dry conditions. This plant generally grows 2 to 3 feet tall, with its long, pointed, rigid leaves growing in a rosette form. They can be used as ground covers or accent plants and are often seen in modern ground plantings, says the University of Virginia.