Native Plants

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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.

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Friday - November 23, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Drought-tolerant shrub for privacy screen
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is there some kind of drought resistant bush or thorny plant we can rim our property with to stop all the foot traffic through our yard? We don't care if it's pretty, just something thick and/or thorny to stop people wandering through our property day and night. We have over an acre lot which is near IH35 and would like some privacy. We have bamboo on one side which works nicely, but can this be transplanted to grow on the empty side of our yard? Thank you!ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants has several recommendations, but they don't include your bamboo since it isn't native to your area and what we are all about at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is "to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes."Since you are looking for privacy, Mr. SP is going to recommend several evergreen plants that are native to your area:
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita)—both thorny and evergreen
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush)
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)—can be trimmed into a thick hedge
Here are a couple that are both evergreen and very thorny, but are only 1-3 feet tall (unless they are in bloom):
Agave havardiana (Havard's century plant)
Agave univittata (thorncrest century plant)
Agave americana (American century plant)
You can look for nurseries and seed companies in your area that specialize in native plants by visiting our National Suppliers Directory.
More Privacy Screening Questions
Privacy screen in Idaho
February 15, 2010 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I need to add privacy to a chain link fence. The fence is shaded by large trees.They add shade from up high but little privacy at fence level.What would you recommend I plant...
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Screening plant for wall in Florida
February 26, 2010 - Hi Mr. Smarty Pants,
I live near Tampa, FL and I want to put a line of privacy plants/hedges along a brick wall. The wall is 6' high with openings in the top 3' of the wall. The length of the w...
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Privacy screening from Phoenix AZ
April 14, 2013 - I live in the center of Phoenix, Az. On the eastern side of my house we have some 2 story condos next door. The width of the side yard is about 12'-15' and it gets lots of shade. I also have my powe...
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Privacy screen and windbreak plants
June 14, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I am searching for ideal plants to provide a privacy screen and windbreak for the north side of my yard. I live in Pflugerville..the soil seems mostly caliche but hits limest...
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Shrubs/ Trees for Privacy Screening on Cape Cod
April 17, 2012 - Hi, I need a recommendation for a row of trees/shrubs that I can put on my boundary line to block my neighbor. It's in a wooded area that I could thin somewhat. I would need them to be fast growing...
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