Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_40.gif)
Saturday - October 06, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees for a privacy barrier
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What would you suggest to plant for a privacy barrier along a back fence in Austin Texas? They need to be hardy and atleast 10 to 12 feet tall to block my neighbor's second story view of my yard.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants has these recommendations:EVERGREENS
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) 12-25 feet
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) from a few feet to 30 feet
Rhus virens (evergreen sumac) 8-12 feet
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) 6-20 feet
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) 15-20 feet
Garrya ovata ssp. lindheimeri (Lindheimer's silktassel) 6-12 feet
DECIDIOUS
Ilex decidua (possumhaw) 15-30 feet
Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood) up to 16 feet
Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn) 12-20 feet
More Trees Questions
Yellowing leaves on non-native weeping birch in Brick NJ
August 16, 2009 - I have a young weeping birch-planted in spring-we water regularly, it gets good sun-and rain has been perfect--the leaves get yellow--and now they are a lot! Whats the matter? I love my little tree.I ...
view the full question and answer
Lantana trees in Wyoming MI
August 16, 2010 - We love lantana with its multicolored flowers. This weekend we visited Michigan State University and saw "lantana trees".They were amazing!! Have these trees been grown from the annual plant we have...
view the full question and answer
Non-native Norfolk Pine suffering in Corpus Christi TX
August 02, 2011 - About ten yrs. ago I transplanted my Norfolk Pine into the ground in my backyard. With all the frosty weather of 2010/2011 the Spring brought a browning/dying of a lot of the Norfolk Pines in this are...
view the full question and answer
Distance from wall to plant Eastern red cedar
September 26, 2008 - I want to plant a row of Eastern red cedar on the high side of a 2 to 2 1/2 ft large Pavestone block retaining wall, preferably as close to the wall as possible. We have put maybe 4-5" of gravel beh...
view the full question and answer
More on oak problems in Carrollton TX
April 04, 2011 - Thank you for answering me, I will contact a specialist to see if we can determine the cause. but since writing you we have pulled down a small twig to see the leaf more closely, it is more of a reddi...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |