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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Tuesday - June 24, 2008
From: Charlotte, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Plants to put beside driveway
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a 100 foot dying grassy side to my driveway. It is about 5 foot wide. What could I plant that would not look like soldiers but be at least 4 foot high and I could use mulch or needles to beautify?ANSWER:
Here are some suggestions from our Recommended Species for North Carolina list of native species that are commercially available for landscaping solutions. These have varied shapes and textures and could be mixed for even more variety. You can find more shrubs from the above list by choosing the Narrow Your Search option and select 'Shrub' from the Habit (general appearance) category.
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Erythrina herbacea (coralbean)
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort)
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) This species is evergreen and there are dwarf cultivars available.
Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark)
Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
More Shrubs Questions
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...
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Non-blooming climbing rose in Conroe, TX
October 09, 2009 - I have a climbing rose and it has never bloomed and has no thorns, it was a cutting from another rose bush. I have given it water and fertilize and have mulch around it also.
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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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HOA chopping down wax myrtles from Katy TX
April 24, 2011 - My local HOA just chopped down 80+ wax myrtles saying that they lived out their life span..they are roughly 18-20 years old..is there a species of wax myrtles that lives only 20 years..or did they co...
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Privacy screen from Simpsonville SC
May 04, 2013 - My neighbor cut down his part of our shared woods so now we see his whole "outside patio area". What kinds of fast growing shade loving trees and shrubs can we plant on our property line that will c...
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