Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - August 08, 2008
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Privacy hedge for South Dakota
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I'm looking for something to use as a hedge. 8 foot or so tall offering semi privacy all year. I like dogwoods but loss of leaves in the winter makes me skeptical. Boxwood would be interesting but only 2 feet tall. Any suggestions? I have an area up to about 8 feet wide and 100 feet long. Thanks - Sioux Falls, SDANSWER:
There aren't many choices for small evergreen shrubs/trees native to South Dakota except for pines, junipers and spruces, which in their native state grow quite tall. However, many of these have cultivars or varieties that have been developed that grow to a smaller size and could work as evergreen shrubs.1. There are several cultivars of Picea glauca (white spruce) that are termed 'dwarf' that could work (e.g., 'Conica' or "Dwarf Alberta Spruce", 'Pixie' and 'Rainbow's End').
2. Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) also has cultivars that are shorter (e.g., 'Welchii' and 'Medora').
There is also the Cercocarpus montanus (alderleaf mountain mahogany), which is described as having almost-evergreen leaves, which I assume means it holds on to its leaves longer than most deciduous trees or it is evergreen in milder climates such as Virginia.
More Trees Questions
Looking for an evergreen vine to grow on trellis as a privacy screen
July 11, 2015 - Hello,
I'm looking for an evergreen vine to grow on a free standing trellis. It is used as a screen on our back porch, so ideally we would not like to use anything that flowers due to the insects ...
view the full question and answer
Precautions regarding pruning live oaks in the Austin area.
October 27, 2015 - Is it still recommended that we clean pruning shears and spray wounds when pruning live oaks in the Austin area?
view the full question and answer
Box elder beetles in Austin TX
February 02, 2012 - We have an large infestation of box elder beetles. They are crawling all over the yard and sometimes on the outside of the house. When you walk in the yard a cloud of them rises up and fills the air. ...
view the full question and answer
Live oak trees with rusty spots and holes on tree trunks
September 21, 2011 - I have live oak trees that have developed rusty spots, small holes on the tree trunks and sawdust on the trees base. They were planted in Oct 2010. We have had a hot dry summer in Texas this year an...
view the full question and answer
What are the native fruit-bearing plants in North America?
February 16, 2010 - What are the native fruit-bearing plants in North America?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |