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.

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?

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

Not Yet Rated

Friday - June 29, 2012

From: Smithtown, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Evergreen Privacy Hedge for Long Island
Answered by: Larry Larson

QUESTION:

I live on Long Island and want a privacy evergreen hedge partial sun.

ANSWER:

In checking out your request, Mr Smarty Plants found quite a few previous question/answer pairs that fit a very similar profile. What I will do then is put them out for your reading pleasure and comment on a few suitable plants that are common.

Here are the previous discussions:
Evergreen Trees for Long Island
Evergreen Shrubs for Long Island
Privacy Screen for Long Island
Evergreen Hedge for NY [Breezy Pt, NY]
Privacy Screen in Long Beach NY [this answer has a good discussion of the general method of finding plants to suggest]
Hedge Options for Sag Harbor, NY:

From my reading – Here is a list of Partial Sun Evergreens that should do well in your area. I’ve included their rough heights.
Morella pensylvanica (Northern bayberry) [3-12 ft.]
Ilex glabra (Inkberry)  [6-12 ft.]
Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae) [to 30 ft.]
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar)  [30-40 ft.]
Ilex opaca (American holly)  [25-60 ft.]