Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
Not Yet Rated

Monday - December 22, 2008

From: Bainbridge, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Native shrubs for wildlife and screening in Georgia
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I live in Bainbridge, GA. I have 3 acres and want to plant for wildlife. I would like to plant fast growing native shrubs along the 400' of road that will benefit wildlife and shield us from the traffic. Suggestions?

ANSWER:

Lucky you, you live in an area that will happily support several good evergreen shrubs, all of which have benefits for wildlife, with berries, nectar sources and shelter for nesting, Two of them are members of the Ilex or holly genus and all three are dioecious which means that the berries appear on the female plant but it is necessary that a male plant of the same species be within 30 to 40 feet of the female for pollination. With a hedge that long, you can easily place a few males along the length, which will provide sufficient pollination for many females. The berries of all of the hollies are known to be mildly toxic, but the birds thrive on them, and it seems less likely, in the large area you have described, that children would be snacking on the berries. These plants are all relatively fast-growing and depending on how many shrubs you are willing to purchase and plant, could be anywhere from 6 feet apart (for faster fill-in) to 12 feet apart, as they frequently have a spread equal to their projected height. All can be trained to be small trees, but you would probably prefer to leave them as shrubs for maximum density and privacy. They are all native to Georgia and should be commercially available. For sources, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape consultants in your general area. Our suggestions are:

Ilex glabra (inkberry) - 6 to 12 feet in height and spread

Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) - 12 to 25 feet in height

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) - 6 to 12 feet in height and spread, fragrant foliage, attracts a number of birds


Ilex glabra

Ilex glabra

Ilex vomitoria

Ilex vomitoria

Morella cerifera

Morella cerifera

Morella cerifera

 

 

 

More Privacy Screening Questions

Need suggestions for shrubs for for screening along a 70 ft fence in Dallas, TX.
June 29, 2009 - Hi, My new home backyard is right adjacent to an intersection of reasonably busy roads. The other side of one of these roads is commercial area. From your website, I understand that Wax Myrtle is bes...
view the full question and answer

Screen plants to replace non-native Chinese raintrees in Marble Falls, TX
February 15, 2010 - Five four year old Koelreuteria bipinnata (Chinese Rain) trees were mistakenly cut to the ground. They were planted fairly close together, perhaps ten feet apart. The purpose for them was to provide a...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen privacy screen 8 feet or less
January 29, 2016 - In needing to plant an evergreen privacy screen, what is the tallest Ceniza variety? I'm having great difficulty finding an evergreen hedge material 8' or less. After having taken a class in pla...
view the full question and answer

Privacy Screen for Reading MA
June 27, 2012 - Best tree to grow for a privacy screen - Hello, we recently moved into a new house in Reading and have an open area on the side of our house where we can make a privacy screen from our neighbors. Wha...
view the full question and answer

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...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.