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

Tuesday - April 05, 2011

From: Charleston, WV
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Need suggestions for plants to form a privacy hedge in Charleston, WV.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Mr. Smarty Pants, I live in zone 6 and an looking for an evergreen privacy type hedge that grows no taller than 10'-12'. I am not interested in any boxwood type of hedge. The evergreens would be planted on a hillside that receives sun for most of the day. What would you recommend? Thanks for the help.

ANSWER:

"Privacy hedges" is a common topic of the questions that Mr. Smarty Plants receives, and he is going to take two approaches to help you solve your problem.

The first is to look at answers to previously answered questions. These may not fit your situation, but they include some plants that might you might consider for your location. Here's a couple about privacy hedges: #2926, and #3405.

Next, let's learn how to use our Native Plant Database. Click on the link, scroll down to the Recommended Species Lists Box. Clicking on the map will enlarge it so that you can click on West Virginia. This will give you a list of 122 commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in West Virginia.

Clicking on the name of each plant will bring up its NPIN page that has a description of the plant, its growth requirements, and photos in most cases. All of the plants listed aren't suitable for hedges, so you need to go to the "Narrow Your Search Box" at the right side of the screen. Once there, make the following selections: select West Virginia under State, select Shrub under Habit, and select Perennial under Duration. Check Sun under Light requirement, and Moist under Soil Moisture. Click on the Narrow your Search button and you will get a list of six plants. Unfortunately most of the flowering shrubs listed are deciduous, not evergreen.

A an evergreen plant on the list that is a consistent performer as a hedge is Wax myrtle Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle).

There are a couple of conifers that you might consider. One is  Eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) This evergreen usually reaches a height of 30 - 40 ft. but can be pruned to form a hedge. There are dwarf varieties available that would make this easier. Contact UConn Plant Database or North Carolina State University.

Another conifer that can be used as a hedge is  Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)Again, there are dwarf varieties available. Also see daytonnursery.com.


Morella cerifera


Juniperus virginiana


Thuja occidentalis

 

 

 

 


 

More Privacy Screening Questions

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

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

Hedgerow to block sounds and scenes of traffic
May 01, 2011 - What would make the best year round hedgerow to block the sight and sounds of traffic 60 feet from my house?
view the full question and answer

Privacy shield for Long Island, NY
May 13, 2009 - I live in Long Island New York (Smithtown), Zone 6, I think. My yard has mostly shade and I would like to plant something for privacy along my back fence because my neighbors house is close and their...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen hedge for screen in Austin
November 02, 2008 - We are looking for a tall, fast growing, drought tolerant, evergreen hedge to run along our ~200' back property line in West Lake, west of Austin, TX. This is at the bottom of a slope, and runs th...
view the full question and answer

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