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 - May 07, 2010
From: Bellingham, WA
Region: Northwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens
Title: Plants for a mixed hedgerow for privacy and for the birds
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What are the best native plants for a mixed hedgerow in a small backyard? I want privacy (heights 5'-10') and bird friendly. Thank you for your information.ANSWER:
You can visit the Washington Recommended native plant list for commercially available landscaping plants for your area. Use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to select 'Shrub' from the General Appearance box. You can also enter other preferences for Light Requirement, Soil Moisture, etc.
Here are a few suggestions from the list for your mixed hedge row:
Cornus sericea (redosier dogwood)
Mahonia aquifolium (hollyleaved barberry)
Morella californica (California wax myrtle) and here are photos and more information.
Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry)
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea (blue elder)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Native Asclepias spp. for Monarchs in Connecticut
June 15, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I live in Naugatuck Connecticut and I want to hatch my own monarch butterflies. I know that Monarchs like to hatch eggs on Milkweed plants. There are many types of milkweed p...
view the full question and answer
Plant for deep shade in Pennsylvania
April 09, 2013 - Hi! I am landscaping our house and trying to use only plants that provide seasonal benefit to bees, butterflies, birds etc. not the deer though. My question is that I have a fairly steep slope of abou...
view the full question and answer
Wildlife and bird friendly hedgerow for Chicago suburb
November 30, 2013 - Want to plant a wildlife/bird friendly hedgerow
in suburban Chicago. Looking for a recommended mix of understory trees as well a shrubs and grasses. Site is part shade with average to wet soil and tr...
view the full question and answer
Attracting birds in Greenville, SC
April 15, 2009 - Hi,
I live in Northeastern South Carolina near the mountains and I am making a shade garden in my back yard. I also want to attract birds to my yard. There are 100 ft tall and even some 125 ft tal...
view the full question and answer
Host plants for Painted Lady Butterflies (Vanessa cardui)
August 22, 2009 - I am looking for host plants for the Painted Lady Butterfly that I can plant in my school's (I am a teacher) native plant/butterfly garden. As part of the curriculum, each Fall our 2nd graders study ...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |