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
Friday - June 13, 2008
From: Las Cruces, NM
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Evergreen plants for a windbreak
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Our church has need to plant a windbreak. We would like fast growing native plants, preferably evergreen or really early 'leafers' to protect us from our windy season beginning in mid/late February.ANSWER:
Here are several evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs native to New Mexico that should work well. To see more possibilities visit the Recommended Species page and click on New Mexico on the map for a list of commercially available native plant species suitable for landscaping.
Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) evergreen
Atriplex canescens (fourwing saltbush) semi-evergreen
Cercocarpus montanus (alderleaf mountain mahogany) almost evergreen
Fendlera rupicola (cliff fendlerbush) deciduous to semi-evergreen
Fraxinus greggii (Gregg's ash) almost evergreen
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) evergreen, small tree to 40 feet
Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) evergreen
Pinus edulis (twoneedle pinyon) evergreen, small tree 10-30 feet
Yucca elata (soaptree yucca) evergreen
Yucca torreyi (Torrey's yucca) evergreen
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Propagating Pavonia seeds
October 10, 2013 - Could you please recommend a method for scarifying Pavonia seeds?
Thank you
view the full question and answer
What is the bush that has very bright red berries in the fall/winter and no leaves?
December 27, 2015 - What is the name of the bush that has very bright red berries in the fall/winter and no leaves? I am familiar with amour honeysuckle, and I'm sure that it is not that.
view the full question and answer
Non-native daylilies and pachysandra in same area from New York City
April 07, 2012 - Will daylilies and pachysandra thrive if planted in the same
bed, or will they harm each other?
view the full question and answer
Native grasses and shrubs for Houston project
November 21, 2008 - I am working on a project in Houston. As part of the sustainable approach of the project, I would like to plant native / adaptive, non-invasive grasses and shrubs. It is key that they use little wat...
view the full question and answer
Plants to keep children out of yard
April 23, 2008 - I WANT TO PLANT SOMETHING ALONG A FENCE LINE TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF OUR YARD. NEEDS TO GROW FAST BUT NOT POISONOUS
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |