Native Plants

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Thursday - May 01, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Evergreen shrubs for screen
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I'd like your recommendation for an evergreen shrub (flowers would be a nice bonus but not as necessary as the evergreen factor) or small tree with a height hopefully under 12' and a width hopefully less than 3' or 4'. This is to help with the view out our living room windows which look out at our neighbors red brick. The shrubs or small trees would be planted on the northern exposure side of the house. There is some sunlight when the sun is high up, but not direct - there are no other trees on that side providing any shade. I'm thinking a yew, evergreen sumac, nandina, dwarf wax myrtle or some type of virburnum. Thanks for the help!ANSWER:
Here are some evergreen native shrubs/small trees that should do well in partial shade and have attractive flowers and/or berries.Rhus virens (evergreen sumac)—flowers and berries
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)—great flowers
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon)—small flowers, but beautiful red berries
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas cenizo)—great purple flowers that bloom after rains at various times of year
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)—berries for birds
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry)—flowers and berries
As far as I know, there are no Viburnum species native to Texas that are evergreen.
There are no yew trees native to Texas.
Please don't use Nandina domestica—it is not native and is listed on the TexasInvasives.org web site.
More Privacy Screening Questions
Shrubs and trees to protect beehives in Godley TX
April 06, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Is there a (relatively) fast growing native small tree or large shrub (NOT cedar) that tolerates Johnson County clay, full sun, sometimes damp and sometimes dry soil with no...
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Native evergreen trees or shrubs for privacy screen in South Carolina
April 02, 2008 - RE: Wednesday - April 02, 2008
From: Johnston, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Native Trees
Title: Native evergreen trees or shrubs for privacy screen in South Carolina
Author: Barbara Medford
Qu...
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Native, flowering plants for privacy fence in Hamilton Co., TX
October 31, 2006 - Looking for a native plant or climbing vine to grow on a high (8') game fence to create privacy and hide what's behind the wire. It will be planted near Hico, Texas. Would love the added benefit o...
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Spacing for wax myrtles as screen in Texas
December 21, 2008 - I have bought 30 wax myrtles, 15 gallon sized, and would like to plant them along my fence line, as a screen. How far apart is the recommended distance when planting plants of this size?
Thank you!
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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...
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