Landscaping has one of the highest returns on investment when it comes to home improvement- often adding more value than interior renovations. The right plants can boost curb appeal, create a sense of space and maturity, improve privacy and make outdoor areas feel like an extension of the home.
This guide covers some of the best plants that increase property value, with a focus on long-term performance and year-round appeal in Australian gardens.
How plants boost property value
Good landscaping signals to buyers that a home is well cared for and complete. The right plant selection can:
- Improve curb appeal
- Create shade and comfort
- Enhance privacy
- Add colour and interest
- Reduce heat and energy costs
- Make outdoor areas feel usable year-round
Plants that are evergreen, low-maintenance and visually striking tend to add the most value.
Feature trees that add impact
Large, healthy trees provide shade, structure and interest, all highly desirable features. Even a single, well-placed tree can elevate a yard’s look and feel.
Magnolia ‘Little Gem’
A structured evergreen with glossy foliage and white blooms. Works well near entryways, driveways or garden focal points.
Crepe Myrtle
Offers colourful summer flowers and attractive bark. Deciduous nature provides seasonal interest.
Olive Tree
Timeless and drought-tolerant. Excellent for Mediterranean or modern landscapes.
Jacaranda
Striking purple flowers in spring and light, lacy foliage. Great for mid-to-larger front yards.
Eucalyptus scoparia or Eucalyptus leucoxylon
Elegant native trees that perform well in many Australian gardens, providing shade and native character.
Tip: Trees planted on the east or west sides provide summer shade and help lower cooling costs.
Screening plants for privacy and appeal
Privacy is a strong selling point for buyers. Tall, evergreen screening not only blocks neighbours but makes outdoor areas feel more private and usable.
Lilly Pilly (Resilience, Straight & Narrow, Backyard Bliss)
Fast growing and evergreen, widely considered one of the most valuable privacy plants.
Viburnum
Dense foliage and quick fill-out make it perfect for boundaries and hedges.
Pittosporum (Silver Sheen)
Soft texture and light colour lift darker fence lines and add brightness.
Clumping Bamboo
Skyscraping growth quickly creates privacy, excellent for urban lot screens.
Tip: Evergreen hedges that reach 2.5 to 3m add the most perceived privacy and value.
Structure plants for year-round interest
Evergreen shrubs and architectural foliage plants help the garden look established and low-maintenance.
Westringia
Tough, coastal tolerant and low maintenance, excellent for mixed borders. Our westringia care guide covers clipping it into a low formal hedge.
Lomandra
Ideal for edging and mass planting; looks neat without frequent pruning, and our Lomandra longifolia care guide explains the once-a-year cut back that keeps it tidy.
Cordyline
Adds vertical structure and attracts the eye without dominating space.
Banksia (coastal or ornamental varieties)
Native, wildlife-friendly and superb for long-lasting texture and flowers.
Colourful natives that attract wildlife
Plants that bring in birds and pollinators are a big draw for buyers seeking a lively garden that supports nature.
Grevillea
Nectar rich and long-flowering; attracts honeyeaters and lorikeets. See our grevillea care guide for the low-phosphorus feeding rule that keeps them alive.
Callistemon (Bottlebrush)
Year-round flowers and wildlife appeal with minimal maintenance, as our guide to callistemon, the bottlebrush beauty sets out.
Hakea
Provides both nectar and seeds, strong habitat value and look.
Scaevola
Low-growing, coastal hardy and great for sunny borders or banks.
Groundcovers and accent plants
Completing a garden’s look means addressing the spaces between bigger plants. Groundcovers make beds feel intentional and maintenance-friendly.
Dwarf Mondo Grass
Softens edges and works well under feature trees; there is more in our guide to getting to know mondo grass.
Liriope
Evergreen and tidy, great for borders and paths.
Pigface (Carpobrotus)
Coastal hardy and self-sufficient, excellent for banks or low zones.
Myoporum
Spreads nicely and provides cover while staying controlled.
Gardening features buyers love
In addition to plants, these features are proven to boost appeal:
- Structured hedges - create a sense of rooms and boundaries.
- Symmetrical plantings - look polished around entries.
- Foundation planting - softens house edges and improves approachability.
- Sustainable choices - drought-tolerant and wildlife-friendly plants are increasingly valued.
Best ways to plant for value
Start with advanced plant sizes
Larger plants look established from day one and reduce the “waiting time” buyers see.
Use repetition and symmetry
Balanced plantings around pathways, entryways and windows create cohesion.
Combine foliage and flowers
Evergreen structure with seasonal colour prevents “empty” periods.
Keep it low maintenance
Buyers value gardens that look good without constant care.
Common Mistakes That Reduce Value
Overcrowding
Too many plant varieties create visual noise.
High-maintenance species
Plants requiring constant pruning or care may deter buyers.
Poor placement
Trees planted too close to the house or driveway create long-term concerns.
Neglected lawns
Even the best planting loses impact if the lawn is patchy or stressed.
What actually adds value in Australia
Australian research and real estate commentary consistently point to a few things that matter, and a few that do not. Established trees and a well-presented, low-maintenance garden are the reliable contributors; elaborate high-maintenance planting is not.
| Adds value | Neutral or negative |
|---|---|
| Established shade trees | High-maintenance formal gardens |
| Clean, defined kerb appeal | Overgrown or unclear boundaries |
| Privacy screening | Trees planted too close to the house |
| Usable outdoor living space | Large lawn with no shade |
| Low water, low maintenance planting | Anything a buyer sees as a chore |
| Healthy, mulched, tidy beds | Pool overhung by deciduous trees |
Mature trees are the single biggest factor
A mature shade tree cannot be bought and installed the week before a sale, and buyers know it. Beyond appearance, a well-placed tree on the north or west side of an Australian house measurably reduces summer cooling costs, which is an increasingly explicit selling point.
The corollary: check your council's tree protection rules before removing anything. Across Australia, trees above a certain height or trunk circumference are protected, and unauthorised removal carries substantial fines - which is a liability rather than an improvement.
Kerb appeal is where the money is
The front garden is what buyers see first and what appears in listing photos. It does not need to be elaborate.
- A single well-placed feature tree does more than a dozen shrubs.
- Repeat a limited palette - three or five of the same plant reads as design; one of everything reads as clutter.
- Define the edges. A crisp line between bed and lawn or path makes ordinary planting look deliberate.
- Fresh mulch is the cheapest visual improvement available.
- Evergreen structure so it photographs well in any month.
Choose for the climate, honestly
A garden that looks like ongoing work reads as a cost to a buyer. In an Australian front garden, particularly a hot north or west-facing one, plant what genuinely thrives without irrigation - westringia, lomandra, dianella, agave, olive, myoporum. A struggling bed of thirsty exotics signals expense; a healthy drought-hardy planting signals the opposite.
Two things that actively reduce value
- Trees planted too close to the house or services. Figs, poincianas and large eucalypts near a slab, driveway or sewer line are a known liability, and building and pest inspections flag them.
- Deciduous trees over a pool. Autumn leaf drop into the water is an immediate negative for any buyer with a pool.
Timing
Plant in autumn across most of Australia so roots establish through the cool months. If you are preparing to sell, mulching, edging, pruning and a tidy-up deliver almost all of the visual benefit and can be done in a weekend - new planting takes a season or two before it looks like anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do plants really increase property value?
Yes. Landscaping directly influences buyer perception, which affects offers. Structured, established gardens often contribute to stronger sale prices and faster transactions.
What is the best plant to boost street appeal?
Feature trees are typically the most impactful. A well-positioned tree can instantly elevate the façade and frame the home.
Are low-maintenance gardens more attractive to buyers?
In most cases, yes. Buyers prefer attractive gardens that do not appear labour-intensive. Evergreen structure and drought-tolerant plantings are particularly appealing.
Should I choose native or exotic plants?
Both can increase property value if suited to climate and well-maintained. The key is structure and health, not origin.
How quickly can landscaping improve value?
Even within one growing season, structured planting and defined hedging can dramatically improve presentation.
Final thoughts
Well-chosen plants don’t just make a garden feel beautiful, they can add real value to a property. Trees that provide shade, hedges that offer privacy, shrubs that look great year-round and colourful natives that attract wildlife all make a garden feel complete and desirable.
A thoughtful planting strategy not only enhances your enjoyment of your outdoor space but can significantly boost buyer interest and overall property appeal.
Ready to plant?
Start where buyers look first with feature trees, add privacy from privacy and hedges, and finish the beds with low maintenance plants. Our guide to front yard planting for kerb appeal shows how it all comes together at the street. Every plant is backed by our 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
