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

2 ratings

Saturday - April 07, 2012

From: Center Hill, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Hedgerow plants non-toxic to horses
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What would be a good, fast growing, hedgerow plant that is NON-POISONOUS TO HORSES? Thank you.

ANSWER:

You can see "Natives to Grow in SUMTER County" on the Florida Native Plant Society webpage. Here are some plants from that list that are evergreen or semi-evergreen and would make good hedgerow plants. None of them are listed in any of the Toxic Plant Databases listed below.

Baccharis halimifolia (Groundseltree) is semi-evergreen and the remainder of the plants listed are evergreen.

Ilex glabra (Inkberry)

Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle)

Psychotria nervosa (Seminole balsamo) and here are more photos and information

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle palm)

Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto)

Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) and here are more photos and information

TOXIC PLANT DATABASES

ASPCA's Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Horses [Note: The first list is for plants toxic to horses and the second list is for plants non-toxic to horses.]

Horse Nutrition: Poisonous Plants from Ohio State University Extension Service

10 Most Poisonous Plants for Horses from Equisearch

Pennsylvania's Poisonous Plants from the Universtiy of Pennsylvania

Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock

Toxic Plants of Texas

Poisonous Plants of North Carolina