Native Plants
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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.
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Thursday - June 25, 2015
From: Ocala, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Lists, Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Dog-safe Privacy Screen for Ocala, FL
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Am desperately searching for fast growing privacy that would be non toxic to dogs in Ocala, Florida (zone 9 I think). Wanted Leland cypress but due to toxicity it won't work.ANSWER:
Mr Smarty Plants tends to divide and conquer on these kinds of questions. In this first half of my answer I have a number of Mr Smarty Plants previous question/answer pairs that are from Florida and looking for privacy screening help:
What grows in Tampa FL
Screening plant for wall in Florida Lots of plant suggestions!
Privacy screen for wet area in Florida
Privacy screen for Pace Florida
This should give you good set of suggestions for screening plants. Most are targeting the Tampa area, but you can check the USDA link {The line: “USDA Symbol: ILOP “ in each record} and their map shows you where the plant is native down to the county. I checked a number of the suggested plants and they are, in general, also native to Marion County, even the ones suggested for Pace.
Once you have a few candidates for plants you may want – You can check these as to their effect on Dogs. The two question/answer pairs noted below are some of our better ones for suggesting methods and reference lists as to plants that are toxic to dogs. Of course, the plant not being on that list is not the same as declaring it non-toxic but it is a very good indication!
This past question to Mr. Smarty Plants from a resident of Muskogee asked a similar question to yours. The answer is worth exploring. It includes suggestions and a number of web sites that will help determine what plants are poisonous. This question to Mr. Smarty Plants has an even more extensive list of sites that will help determine what plants you should avoid.
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Fast growing, tall evergreens for privacy in Buda, Texas
June 09, 2007 - I need to plant fast growing tall evergreens along a western 6 ft privacy fence. The function is privacy, and sound deadening. Our western privacy fence is along a 2 way noisy highway. Please advise a...
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Looking for plants for a privacy hedge, besides Ficus nitida, in Norco CA.
February 02, 2011 - I am looking to plant a hedge for privacy along my property line. We have horses so I need to make sure that what I plant is not toxic. Would Ficus nitida 'Little Gem' be a good choice? I...
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Natural privacy hedge for Kyle Texas
January 06, 2014 - I am looking to make a natural privacy screen in the Kyle Texas area. I am being pointed towards Leyland Cypress by some and told to shy away from this tree by others. I found Green Giant Arborvitae a...
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Privacy screen for Sedona AZ
August 02, 2013 - I live In Sedona Az. A builder just built a house next to my house and the new house is ugly to look at. What plant or tree would grow fast and reach 18 foot in height fast. It can be about 5 to 6 foo...
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Need a privacy screen of native plants for swimming pool in Garden Ridge, TX
February 10, 2013 - We are building a pool and would like to use native plants as a screen around the fence, preferably a shrub that grows quickly to about 6 feet. Any suggestions? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
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