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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Wednesday - February 18, 2015
From: Paradise, CA
Region: California
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Evergreen privacy screen in California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
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 possibleANSWER:
Below are six native California evergreen shrubs/small trees that would provide privacy screening and are shown to grow in Butte County, California by the USDA Plants Database.
Arctostaphylos patula (Greenleaf manzanita) grows to 6 feet. Here is more information from Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Baccharis pilularis (Coyotebrush) grows to 6 feet. Here is more information from Sonoma County Master Gardeners and the University of California.
Cercocarpus montanus (Alderleaf mountain mahogany) can grow as high as 12 feet. Here is more information from Blue Planet Biomes.
Dendromecon rigida (Tree poppy) grows to 6 feet or more. Here is more information from Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
Fremontodendron californicum (California flannelbush) grows to 12 feet. Here is more information from San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon) generally grows to 8 feet, but can grow taller. Here is more information from Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Evergreens for privacy screen in WI
May 29, 2011 - We'd like to add privacy to our backyard with evergreen trees. The problem with this area is it very wet and the ground is soft and mushy until the dry summer conditions. We've rocklined the the a...
view the full question and answer
Is purple bindweed good for a screen growing on a fence?
September 12, 2012 - We cleared a bunch of dead trees and tree limbs (mostly cedars and some oaks) on our semi-rural property in Driftwood and now we're left with an undesirable view onto the neighboring property. We're...
view the full question and answer
Large shrubs for privacy screen in VA
October 12, 2010 - Tonight my husband and I took down two large shrubs about 15' tall and spread across our yard to provide mostly privacy from the road and traffic noise. My question is this, since it's the front of ...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen Vine for San Antonio Trellis
November 23, 2011 - I have a new trellis at the end of my patio on which I want to grow an evergreen vine. The area is fairly shady. I had settled on Carolina Jasmine, but read that it is very toxic which is worrisome ...
view the full question and answer
Privacy screening from Prosperity SC
May 19, 2013 - I need to know what would be a good tree to plant for blocking my neighbor's home it needs to be an evergreen and slender in the space it would take.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |