Native Plants
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Monday - June 08, 2015
From: Sugar Land, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Fence Shrub for Sugarland, TX
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Hello I live in Sugar Land TX, I am looking for a fast growing shrub to plant along my six foot wood fence for a privacy screen. There is not a lot of room for them to grow in width but there is plenty of sun. Can you recommend something please? I would like something similar to Thuja but I read it doesn’t do well this far south. I already have considered Ligustrum, wax myrtle and chaste tree. Is there anything else? Is there a bamboo variety that is truly non-running/non-invasive?ANSWER:
Mr Smarty Plants can make suggestions. You have a number of decent choices, but none of those you mentioned will work well where you live. Both native varieties of Thuja don’t thrive nearly as south as you are and we don’t recommend bamboos as they are non-native and generally invasive.
A couple other similar questions have been received from the general Houston area. These might give some additional insight as the answers vary a bit from what I describe below.
Flowering Shrub for Houston, TX
Shrubs for fenceline in Houston
As you can see, the method used by Mr Smarty Plants is to select from native species that thrive in your area and also have the characteristics you request. When I went to answer your question directly, I used the Collection for Gulf Marshes and Prairies. I then narrowed the selection to shrubs 4 to 6 feet high and did some reading to see if there was more useful information in the record. Of the 17 that result from the selection, these three seemed interesting choice to me, consider these - and, of course, you can review the larger list yourself by following the same procedure.
Hibiscus laevis (Halberdleaf rosemallow) Grows 4-6 feet - - showy blooms
Malpighia glabra (Acerola) 4-6 feet, illustrations of fence type applications
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto) 5-10 feet tall - - for a palm type appearance
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Fast-growing hedge for North Carolina.
February 17, 2009 - I am looking for a fast-grownig evergreen hedge that can be kept no taller than 6 feet. It will be grown in partal sun facing north
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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...
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Evergreen Privacy Hedge for Long Island
June 29, 2012 - I live on Long Island and want a privacy evergreen hedge partial sun.
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Screening Shrub for Lubbock TX
April 08, 2012 - I am a landscape architecture student at Texas Tech University and am looking for a drought tolerant shrub to be used for screening a water well area. The location is the northwest corner of a yard wi...
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Evergreen shrub for screen in Bellville, Texas
October 03, 2009 - Would you please recommend a dense evergreen for a living screen in Bellville, TX (Austin County) that will receive full sun? Fast growing and a minimum height of 8' are preferred.
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