Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Monday - April 29, 2013

From: Boca Raton, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Sources for Ilex shrubs from Boca Raton FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Where can I find Ilex plants in the Boca Raton, FL area? I would like to use them for hedges.

ANSWER:

There are 13 members of the Ilex (holly) genus native to North America; of those, 10 are native to Florida, but only 4 are native to Palm Beach Co., in the southeastern tip of Florida. We suspect this is a function both of the soils in south Florida and of the amount of moisture.

Ilex native to the area of Palm Beach County, FL:

Ilex ambigua (Carolina holly)

Ilex cassine (Dahoon)

Ilex glabra (Inkberry)

Ilex myrtifolia (Myrtle dahoon)

You can follow each plant link to our webpage on that plant, where you can learn its growing conditions, including the amount of sun it needs. Then, go to our National Suppliers Directory, put your town and city or just your zipcode in the "Enter Search Location box and click on GO. This will give you a list of native plant nurseries, seed suppliers and consultants in your general area. All will have contact information so you can find out if they have in stock what you need before you go shopping.

 

From the Image Gallery


Carolina holly
Ilex ambigua

Inkberry
Ilex glabra

Myrtle dahoon
Ilex myrtifolia

More Privacy Screening Questions

Privacy Screen for Heavy Clay and Full Sun in Louisiana
April 19, 2013 - What would be a fast-growing plant for privacy in Louisiana? I have heavy clay and full sun.
view the full question and answer

Low-Maintenance Hedge for Massachusetts
February 17, 2014 - I want to put in a native low-maintenance hedge in a sunny spot with plants that can take dry soil. I would like the plants to grow to less than 4 feet wide. It can be an informal hedge, but I don't ...
view the full question and answer

Need a privacy screen of native plants for swimming pool in Garden Ridge, TX
February 10, 2013 - We are building a pool and would like to use native plants as a screen around the fence, preferably a shrub that grows quickly to about 6 feet. Any suggestions? Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Screen for highway noise in Conroe, Texas
March 18, 2010 - I have 120' of fence line which backs up to a busy highway, and now there are plans to widen it to four lanes. Is there a native tree or shrub which could help dampen the noise and block out the view...
view the full question and answer

Privacy screen for Pace Florida
March 10, 2014 - We live in the Florida panhandle and I wondering what we could use as a natural fence line between our property and the neighbor's. I love the look of oleander, but upon research found it to be toxic...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.