Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - January 25, 2008
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Fast-growing evergreen shrub/tree as a screening fence
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Our commercially-zoned property is adjacent to a residential area. The city planning and zoning board has said okay to a vegetation boundary instead of a fence for blocking headlights. The requirements are that it reach at least 6 feet tall and be completely opaque within 2 years and it needs to be 5 feet across. We would like something that is evergreen and fast growing, but not invasive. Something that produces berries or flowers would be nice as well. Do you have any suggestions?ANSWER:
There are a couple of relatively fast-growing evergreens that come to Mr. Smarty Plants' mind first:Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) and Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)
There are several other evergreens that aren't quite as fast-growing, but would also serve your purpose:
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry)
More Privacy Screening Questions
Need suggestions for cold resistant, hardy hedge plant in Jonathan, NC.
June 28, 2011 - I'm looking for a Full sun, cold resistant, hardy, non-invasive plant to be used for a property line hedge for North Carolina. Preferably NOT slow growing. What can you suggest?
view the full question and answer
Additional screening under yaupons in Georgetown TX
November 09, 2011 - We live on a corner and have a berm along the south side of our yard which blocks our backyard from the street. It was planted with uprights yaupons. With the drought, deer have eaten the bottom por...
view the full question and answer
Thorny shrub for deterring break-ins in southeast Texas
February 05, 2013 - Looking for a very, very, thorny three or four foot tall shrub for in front of windows to deter break-ins. Considering Rosa Rugosa rose but it is not native.
view the full question and answer
Trees and shrubs in Wisconsin
July 30, 2009 - I live in Hudson, WI, just across the border from Minn/St Paul and would like to create a privacy screen between my front yard and my neighbors yard. Right now it's full sun, but I want to plant a c...
view the full question and answer
White flowers to plant in front of evergreen tree screen in Altoona PA
June 15, 2010 - I have planted about 30 evergreen trees (as a screen). I would like to plant a row of low maintenance whitish flowering bushes or low maintenance large flowering plants in front of this row. Any sug...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |