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Thursday - May 01, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Evergreen shrubs for screen
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I'd like your recommendation for an evergreen shrub (flowers would be a nice bonus but not as necessary as the evergreen factor) or small tree with a height hopefully under 12' and a width hopefully less than 3' or 4'. This is to help with the view out our living room windows which look out at our neighbors red brick. The shrubs or small trees would be planted on the northern exposure side of the house. There is some sunlight when the sun is high up, but not direct - there are no other trees on that side providing any shade. I'm thinking a yew, evergreen sumac, nandina, dwarf wax myrtle or some type of virburnum. Thanks for the help!ANSWER:
Here are some evergreen native shrubs/small trees that should do well in partial shade and have attractive flowers and/or berries.Rhus virens (evergreen sumac)—flowers and berries
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)—great flowers
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon)—small flowers, but beautiful red berries
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas cenizo)—great purple flowers that bloom after rains at various times of year
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)—berries for birds
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry)—flowers and berries
As far as I know, there are no Viburnum species native to Texas that are evergreen.
There are no yew trees native to Texas.
Please don't use Nandina domestica—it is not native and is listed on the TexasInvasives.org web site.
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