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

Wednesday - January 07, 2009

From: Winnsboro, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Privacy hedge for East Texas
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I need suggestions for a native shrub/bush as a privacy hedge for East Texas conditions. Thank you.

ANSWER:

We've had several inquiries lately regarding privacy hedges, and Mr. Smarty Plants is pleased that people are chosing this landscaping option. Although slower than building a fence, the outcome is more aesthetically pleasing, and the potential of attracting birds and other wildlife is worth the wait. Mr. Smarty Plants will give you a few suggestions, and tell you how you can search our database to come up with a list of your own.

Wax myrtle, Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) an evergreen shrub growing 6-12" ft. tall. See more at Aggie Horticulture Database

Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) a picturesque, evergreen shrub growing 12-25 ft tall. Female plants produce an abundance of red berries. See more at Aggie Horticulture Database

Possum Haw, Ilex decidua (possumhaw) is a small deciduous tree growing 15-30 feet tall. The leaves remain dark green through the fall, finally turing yellow before they drop. Female trees produce red berries that persist through the winter. See more at Aggie Horticulture Database.

Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) is a small to medium-size, deciduous shrub with aromatic foliage. It can grow 6-12 ft. tall, and produces dark red berries that can persist into March. See more at Aggie Horticulture Database.

Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) is a colony forming shrub that can grow 10-20 ft. tall. Female plants produce red berries in erect clusters that persist through the winter. See more at Aggie Horticulture Database.

For a plant that will form a denser hedge, you might consider Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar). There are dwarf varieties available that could fit your situation. Contact UConn Plant Database or North Carolina State University

For more information about East Texas shrubs, go to our website and select Recommended Species. Click on east Texas on the map, and you will get a list of 133 commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in East Texas. If you chose the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and chose Shrub in the "Habit"window, your plant list shrinks to 23 shrubs suitable for East Texas. Clicking on any name on the list will take you to the NATIVE PLANT DATABASE page for that plant. There you can learn characteristics of the plant, such as habitat, size, growing conditions, benefits, etc. The ADDITIONAL RESOURCES box toward the bottom of the page can link you to further informatiion sources on Google. Visit our Suppliers Directory for help in locating nurseries theat sell the plants you chose for your hedge.

For help closer to home you might contact the Wood County Master Gardeners.


Morella cerifera

 


Ilex vomitoria


Ilex decidua


Rhus aromatica


Rhus glabra

 

 

 

More Privacy Screening Questions

Native evergreen for privacy screen
May 15, 2008 - I want to incorporate a tree in my landscaping near my house (10-15 feet) for privacy, what are the best trees that don't shed their leaves and have nice flowers and their roots wont destroy my found...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen tree for privacy screen in Granbury Texas
December 21, 2014 - We need to put an evergreen privacy screen between our barn and our neighbor's new 132' long, unattractive building, which runs along & is just 40' away from our fence line & where they have decid...
view the full question and answer

Thorny shrub for deterring break-ins in southeast Texas
February 05, 2013 - Looking for a very, very, thorny three or four foot tall shrub for in front of windows to deter break-ins. Considering Rosa Rugosa rose but it is not native.
view the full question and answer

Low-Maintenance Hedge for Massachusetts
February 17, 2014 - I want to put in a native low-maintenance hedge in a sunny spot with plants that can take dry soil. I would like the plants to grow to less than 4 feet wide. It can be an informal hedge, but I don't ...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen tree for privacy screen in Collin County, Texas
May 26, 2010 - I am looking for a shrub or tree that will serve as a privacy screen. I would like it to grow very tall and be thick to help provide some privacy. I live in Collin County, and the area where the tre...
view the full question and answer

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