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_00.gif)
Saturday - January 31, 2015
From: Waco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shade Tolerant, Shrubs
Title: Small evergreen shrubs for part shade in Texas
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
Mr. Smarty Pants, I'm, for some reason, at odds with myself about a shrub decision. I have need about 8 ft of hedge-like evergreen shrub(s) that I can maintain around 4ft to go under a window. It will get some morning sun (1-2 hours) and the dappled sun (3 hours or so) when my red oak has leaves on it. It gets 4-5 hours of sun when the oak does not have leaves on it. The shrubs will live in black clay soil that I have made well draining, and they will be sandwiched between two American Beautyberries. It is the size-shade combination that has me stumped. For example, everything I can think of are understory shrub-trees like evergreen sumac, but I don't know if I can maintain it at the 4ft size. Your wise counsel will be greatly appreciated.ANSWER:
My suggestions for you include Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon), Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle) and Mahonia trifoliolata (Agarita). All of these species grow well in partial shade and are amenable to pruning to maintain a desired height of four feet. Ideally, they should be pruned at least a couple of times a year to preserve a nice appearance. If not pruned until they reach a height of six or seven feet the pruned plants might look rather ragged because of gaps in leaf cover. Of the three plants I suggest, Wax myrtle is the fastest grower and Agarita the slowest.
These species should be available at one of your local plant nurseries.
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Trees with non-invasive roots or tops in Newhall CA
November 07, 2011 - We would like to plant a tree with noninvasive roots near our garden wall and concrete driveway in a grassy area in the front yard facing west. This spot is very sunny in the afternoon with automatic ...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting large Silverado Sage bushes from Mesa AZ
August 19, 2013 - We just bought a condo with three Silverado Sage, each one is 6-8 ft tall, trained to grow as "trees" with bare branches for the bottom 4 feet or so, and beautiful flowering branches on top. They ar...
view the full question and answer
Water-Wise Privacy Hedge for California
February 22, 2016 - I would like recommendations for a privacy hedge that would grow at least 12 feet tall with non-invasive roots and hopefully water-wise in Los Angeles.
view the full question and answer
Evergreen privacy screen
August 10, 2015 - We are looking for a good plant(s) that would provide a privacy screen by our fence. We were looking at clumping bamboo (maybe black) because it grows quickly and it not too thick. The new plants woul...
view the full question and answer
Natural Privacy Planting for New Jersey
October 09, 2013 - I have a question about privacy plantings in New Jersey (Monmouth County). We have a wooden fence around the perimeter of backyard with some various older trees. We wanted to start anew and wanted to ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |