Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Sunday - February 15, 2009

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Vine for shaded area in Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hi! I live in South Austin, and love my backyard. It is enclosed by chain-link fencing, and shrouded by (ack!) Hackberry trees. I would like to plant a vine on one fence to provide a privacy screen. There is an established vine (I think Virginia Creeper), but it is very sparse and does not do well. I have had no success with anything that I have planted there (several honeysuckles, even the Japanese). The fence receives only filtered light through the trees, and could be watered regularly if needed. Is there a vine that would thrive here and take over? Blooms are not a concern, but would be a plus. Or is there a way that I can make the creeper thicken densely? Thanks!

ANSWER:

Sounds like you have already tried most of the plants Mr. Smarty Plants would have suggested, so maybe you need to go to Plan B. "Shade" is considered to be less than 2 hours of sun a day, and several of the vines you have mentioned should have been able to do well there. So, let's look at the hackberry trees and see if that is the problem.

A number of trees have allelopathic tendencies, meaning they maintain sole rights to the moisture and soil nutrients in their space, at the expense of anything that tries to grow under them. Celtis occidentalis (common hackberry) can spread toxic materials to inhibit other plants in their area through roots, leaves and stems. Thus, low productivity rates and relatively bare areas occur under hackberry trees. It is not a particularly attractive tree, but it is considered a boon to several forms of wildlife, including birds who nest in the tree and eat its berries, and is a larval host and/or nectar source for butterflies Tawny Emperor, American Snout and Question Mark. Besides all that, it does provide shade in summer, not a small consideration in Texas. The hackberry is most definitely a survivor, being able to adapt to many soils and environments and, once established, is well-equipped to hold its ground. 

Just in general terms for your landscape, it wouldn't hurt to have a trained arborist come in and limb up and thin those hackberries. Cutting them down would be a huge project and would alter your landscape probably more than you wish. It would appear you are going to have to find a non-plant solution to your need for privacy. There are products that can be interwoven into chain link fence that you might consider.  Or you might consider replacing the chain link fence with a higher, more opaque fencing. We just don't think you're going to defeat the hackberries.

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Landscaping with wildflowers in shade in Maryland
January 11, 2008 - I'm an old White House Correspondent who covered LBJ as well as Mrs Johnson and knew and admired her. I visited the Wildflower Center with her on one occasion. I hope you will forward this to an appr...
view the full question and answer

Competition between Horseherb and Chickweed
July 04, 2014 - Ok, sorry I did it wrong the 1st time!? I live in Houston, and I have chickens! I also have mass amounts of Horseherb, and I want to buy some chickweed seeds and plant it for my chickens! My question ...
view the full question and answer

Plants for a Austin thicket underlayer
July 25, 2014 - We live in Austin, west of 183. We are planning to put a thicket in our backyard, where there is no threat of deer. Anchoring the thicket are a clump of live oaks, a Texas persimmon, an Eve's Necklac...
view the full question and answer

Flowering plants for shade in St. Augustine FL
May 25, 2009 - I would like to know what flowering plants I can purchase that grow in a shaded area in St Augustine Florida
view the full question and answer

Wildlife Attracting Plants for a Shady Patio
July 03, 2014 - We have a concrete patio that receives 2-3 hours of sunlight a day, so the only plants we will be able to grow will be in container. We are looking for plants that do well in shade, and containers and...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.