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 - November 12, 2010
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Hedge for a shady spot
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
In the Statesman you recently provided good suggestions about a privacy screen. I need a hedge that will grow under a huge old oak tree. Will wax myrtle or red cedar work for us? I have yaupon and mountain laurel in the yard already but they grow too slowly. What do you think about eleagnus? They seem to grow quickly and the deer haven't devoured them yet!ANSWER:
I think Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle) might be your best bet. It grows relatively fast and provides dense foliage if pruned occasionally. Another possibility is Rhus virens (Evergreen sumac), which has shiny evergreen leaves and clusters of red fruit throughout the winter. Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) might be hard to keep in a compact form in the relatively low light under your oak tree. Don't give up on Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon) and Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel). Although slow growers at first, when they reach about 4 feet in height both species seem to take off. We have little experience with the non-native Eleagnus, and we prefer to recommend natives whenever appropriate. There are three species of Eleagnus on the TexasInvasives.org site, and you might wish to check out their database: http://www.texasinvasives.org/invasives_database.
Another interesting possibility if your oak canopy lets through a fair amount of light is Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo). The dense gray-green foliage of Cenizo might lighten up the understory and produce pink flowers about two weeks after a good rain.
Speaking of rain, I should remind you that oak trees soak up water like a sponge. Make certain that your choice of hedge is well watered.
Attached below are photos of the recommended plants:
From the Image Gallery
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Native grasses for shade for Austin
September 21, 2009 - I just read with interest your article on multi-species native lawns. However, I believe the suggested grasses don't grow well in the shade, is this true. Are there any suggestions for native (mult...
view the full question and answer
Native shade-loving container plant for Austin
May 02, 2009 - What is a good plant that works well in a container, is shade-loving and produces some blooms?
view the full question and answer
Replacement for shade grass in El Paso TX
April 05, 2013 - We currently have a Honey Mesquite tree with thinning bermuda grass underneath in our front yard. I suspect that the filtered shade is killing the bermuda. I was thinking of planting Buffalo Grass, or...
view the full question and answer
Screening bush for shady area
June 05, 2008 - I need some kind of bush that will act as an air conditioning blind. So far the deer have eaten or destroyed everything planted in the very shady mulch bed. What do you recommend?
view the full question and answer
Low maintenance, shade tolerant groundcover for Pacific Northwest
August 09, 2012 - What's a good low maintenance, shade tolerant ground cover for the Pacific Northwest? It needs to have good erosion control, too.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |