Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Vines for Madison, Wisconsin March 12, 2015 What are some good options for non-aggressive native vines for southern Wisconsin? I am looking for something that can cover a chain-link fence and benefit local insects. I don't want it to take ov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen shrub for Austin TX February 28, 2015 I am wanting an evergreen shrub 6-8 ft tall to use as a screen in our backyard. Do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen privacy screen in California February 18, 2015 Hello, My family and I just bought a house in Paradise CA. I want to.plant privacy plants that are native to northern California. I would like the plant to be green all year but drought resistant if... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small evergreen shrubs for part shade in Texas January 31, 2015 Mr. Smarty Pants, I'm, for some reason, at odds with myself about a shrub decision. I have need about 8 ft of hedge-like evergreen shrub(s) that I can maintain around 4ft to go under a window. It... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Redwood as a Screening Tree for Santa Cruz Garden? January 20, 2015 I have a small yard in Santa Cruz, CA and we have to hide/distract from a power line. My husband is demanding a redwood. Is this sane? The space it will have to grow in is about 20x20. What species of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer-resistant trees for privacy in Texas January 09, 2015 I need to find a deer resistant tall shrub or tree to plant and hide the deer fence my neighbor just put up on our property line. My property has full sun in parts and mostly shady in other parts and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' 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 Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for waxleaf privet December 15, 2014 i just removed some waxleaf privet due to reading about the invasive and allergy problem to it. Is indian hawthorn blueberry muffin any better? what shrub do you recommend? I want it to grow about 6-1... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seven foot privacy fence in Tucson November 25, 2014 I am looking for a privacy hedge for a home in Tucson, Arizona that will be in full sun. Needs to be at least seven foot tall and low water and maintenance. Any suggestions. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for Amber Jubilee Ninebark in California November 22, 2014 AMBER JUBILEE bush separating my neighbor and me, is spreading its roots into our water pipes. Want to rip out. What plants are root friendly and also give you privacy? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of non-native Buddha Belly bamboos November 08, 2014 I have several budha belly bamboos. They froze down last winter. I have got them back to 5 ft. I need them around 8-10 for privacy. Any suggestions? Also how to I protect them this winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| California Vine for Privacy Screening November 06, 2014 I have a two story house going up behind my back yard. I would like to plant a climbing vine with non-invasive roots to provide privacy. I live in Los Angeles and the trellis would receive almost full... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need shrubs for a privacy screen in Glendale CA October 30, 2014 Dear. Mr. Smarty Plants I need to grow a tall hedge 15-20 feet minimum to block a condo complex which overlooks my back yard. I need a fast growing hedge which is non toxic to dogs and one which roo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a Privacy Barrier Plant for NC August 21, 2014 I am trying to determine the best plant for a privacy barrier for my area in NC that has clay soil. I have a 6 foot high fence but need something 12 feet or taller. It has to be something that does no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen sumacs for privacy along fence August 02, 2014 I would like to plant enough Evergreen Sumacs along our fence for privacy for the length of our backyard which is 60 ft. Fifteen feet on the left and right ends are shaded with the right side being d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Hedge for Maryland Porch July 03, 2014 I am working on a screen/fence, which is a barrier hedge between our house and our next door neighbor's house to add privacy to our screen porch and dining area, especially in winter. The fence would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Screening Plants for Cape Cod June 17, 2014 I need to plant some fairly high growing leafy plants/bushes/trees for privacy and as a sound barrier in (the remains of) a pine forest in Cape Cod, MA. The pines grow tall and skinny so that we can s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pfluegerville Screening Hedge May 25, 2014 We live just north of Austin in a subdivision built on farm land so we have relatively flat land with good soil. We just put in a pool and are needing a privacy hedge along our 66 ft back fence. We ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Hedge Suggestions for Tampa, Florida May 15, 2014 My back wall is made of stone and is about 6' high. We are very close to a busy road. I need a plant that will reach about 7-8 feet high or a hedge to reduce some of the noise. What plant/hedge would... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Trees for Pleasanton, CA April 30, 2014 I was looking for some fast growing trees for my backyard that backs up to Valley Ave in Pleasanton, Ca. The city just cut down 4 Redwoods behind me and there is so much noise from the traffic now Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Hedge for Dripping Springs, TX April 25, 2014 We live in Dripping Springs, TX and are looking to find a suggestion for privacy hedges that are non-toxic to dogs, drought resistant, can handle rocky soil and full sun. We prefer flowering hedges. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Shade tolerant plants for privacy from Larchmont NY April 19, 2014 Love your site! We have a 4'x4'x50' stone wall, full sun, with a planting bed 30"H by 24"D. We're looking for privacy, so a hedge with pruning is needed. We have looked at Ilex Crenata (8'),... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant mistakes from Cedar Park, TX April 09, 2014 At our "Wilts End" in Cedar Park, TX. and are looking for a tall shrub/tree that will hide a 6-ft tall concrete wall and muffle the noise from a busy street. The wall forms a very wide-angled V shap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native vine for privacy on metal mesh fence from Houston March 20, 2014 Is there a native vine that does not get top heavy in order to provide privacy from the bottom to the top on an expanded metal mesh fence? It's okay if it dies back, but prefer for it to be evergree... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen for Pace Florida March 10, 2014 We live in the Florida panhandle and I wondering what we could use as a natural fence line between our property and the neighbor's. I love the look of oleander, but upon research found it to be toxic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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