Native Plants
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Monday - June 08, 2015
From: Sugar Land, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Fence Shrub for Sugarland, TX
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Hello I live in Sugar Land TX, I am looking for a fast growing shrub to plant along my six foot wood fence for a privacy screen. There is not a lot of room for them to grow in width but there is plenty of sun. Can you recommend something please? I would like something similar to Thuja but I read it doesn’t do well this far south. I already have considered Ligustrum, wax myrtle and chaste tree. Is there anything else? Is there a bamboo variety that is truly non-running/non-invasive?ANSWER:
Mr Smarty Plants can make suggestions. You have a number of decent choices, but none of those you mentioned will work well where you live. Both native varieties of Thuja don’t thrive nearly as south as you are and we don’t recommend bamboos as they are non-native and generally invasive.
A couple other similar questions have been received from the general Houston area. These might give some additional insight as the answers vary a bit from what I describe below.
Flowering Shrub for Houston, TX
Shrubs for fenceline in Houston
As you can see, the method used by Mr Smarty Plants is to select from native species that thrive in your area and also have the characteristics you request. When I went to answer your question directly, I used the Collection for Gulf Marshes and Prairies. I then narrowed the selection to shrubs 4 to 6 feet high and did some reading to see if there was more useful information in the record. Of the 17 that result from the selection, these three seemed interesting choice to me, consider these - and, of course, you can review the larger list yourself by following the same procedure.
Hibiscus laevis (Halberdleaf rosemallow) Grows 4-6 feet - - showy blooms
Malpighia glabra (Acerola) 4-6 feet, illustrations of fence type applications
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto) 5-10 feet tall - - for a palm type appearance
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Screen for highway noise in Conroe, Texas
March 18, 2010 - I have 120' of fence line which backs up to a busy highway, and now there are plans to widen it to four lanes. Is there a native tree or shrub which could help dampen the noise and block out the view...
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Looking for shrubs to replace Photinia as a privacy screen in Arlington, VA.
February 08, 2011 - Suggestions to replace diseased red tipped photinia. Looking for hardy privacy screen type of evergreen, not too deep with height of approx. 10-12'
Thank you
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Tree for screening along road
August 20, 2008 - What would you recommend for a linear tree lined street that needs to act as a buffer to hide less desirable backyards of ugly houses. The road is on lake travis near austin, texas. was hoping for a...
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Evergreen screening tree for Wichita Falls TX
November 25, 2015 - Recommendations for a screen plant. Dry. full sun. 20 to 30 ft.high. evergreen. Wichita Falls, TX location.
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Native plants under trees for privacy barrier in Fairview, TX
April 29, 2009 - I am looking for suggestions on what to plant for a Privacy Barrier. The area in question is a shaded area under a tree line of about 200+ feet long. I am hoping for year round coverage. The canopy...
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