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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - June 13, 2008
From: Las Cruces, NM
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Evergreen plants for a windbreak
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Our church has need to plant a windbreak. We would like fast growing native plants, preferably evergreen or really early 'leafers' to protect us from our windy season beginning in mid/late February.ANSWER:
Here are several evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs native to New Mexico that should work well. To see more possibilities visit the Recommended Species page and click on New Mexico on the map for a list of commercially available native plant species suitable for landscaping.
Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) evergreen
Atriplex canescens (fourwing saltbush) semi-evergreen
Cercocarpus montanus (alderleaf mountain mahogany) almost evergreen
Fendlera rupicola (cliff fendlerbush) deciduous to semi-evergreen
Fraxinus greggii (Gregg's ash) almost evergreen
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) evergreen, small tree to 40 feet
Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) evergreen
Pinus edulis (twoneedle pinyon) evergreen, small tree 10-30 feet
Yucca elata (soaptree yucca) evergreen
Yucca torreyi (Torrey's yucca) evergreen
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Need plants beneficial or attractive to bees in Dripping Springs, TX
January 27, 2014 - Can you provide a specific list of plants beneficial or attractive to honey bees in the Texas Hill Country (we raise bees in Dripping Springs, TX.) Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Need suggestions for a replacement tree for Hackberry tree in Austin, TX in Austin TX.
May 25, 2013 - We have a large hackberry tree in our front yard. We are cutting it down this fall. I would like to replace it with a tree native to this area..preferably something fast growing. What are your reco...
view the full question and answer
Need help identifying a tree with wintergreen-flavored bark that grew in my backyard during my youth in Cumberland, RI.
March 24, 2010 - Growing up in Cumberland, Rhode Island (a town in the northern part of the state) there was a tree in our backyard with thin, brown peel-able bark. The bark itself had white stripes. Under the layer o...
view the full question and answer
Want to identify caterpillar that is stripping prickly ash in Flatonia, Tx.
April 05, 2011 - What is the 5/16ths long 1/8th inch long pale opaque green caterpillar that strips prickly ash? It has tiny black dots down its spine and along each side. It has stripped two large trees?
Will th...
view the full question and answer
Native trees safe for cattle in Waller TX
October 27, 2009 - I have a ranch where the pastures have no trees. Can you recommend native species which as safe for cattle and relatively maintenance free?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |