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.

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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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Sunday - March 24, 2013

From: Atlanta, GA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Privacy Screening, Trees
Title: Tall trees for privacy screen in St. Augustine FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Please let me know what kind of evergreen tall trees I can plant for privacy in my back yard in the st. Augustine, Florida area. Thanks for your assistance.

ANSWER:

To answer your question, we will go to our Native Plant Database and, on the Combination Search near the middle of that page, we will search on Florida for the state and "tree" for Habit. Since you told us only that you wanted tall evergreen trees we will select on "evergreen" under Duration and 36 to 72 ft. for ultimate height. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center only recommends plants native not only to North America (excluding Mexico) but to the area in which those plants grow naturally. All the trees on our list for you are native in or near St. Johns County on the northeast Florida coast. Bear in mind that it will be many years before these trees attain their mature height, and you should be aware of the extent of their root systems before you plant them near foundations, sidewalks and other hardscape.

Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar)

Ilex opaca (American holly)

Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar)

Persea borbonia (Redbay)

Quercus virginiana (Coastal live oak)

Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palmetto)