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 - January 29, 2016
From: Temple, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Evergreen privacy screen 8 feet or less
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
In needing to plant an evergreen privacy screen, what is the tallest Ceniza variety? I'm having great difficulty finding an evergreen hedge material 8' or less. After having taken a class in planting Natives, it seems that this height is nearly nonexistent. Thanks for your help!ANSWER:
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) does best in full sun where its maximum height is 8 feet. It can be pruned to maintain whatever height you want below 8 feet. Here is the description from Aggie (Texas A&M) Horticulture. L. frutescens 'Compacta' is one variety that grows 4 to 5 feet high with a spread of 4 to 5 feet.
Other possibilities for a native evergreen shrub for a privacy screen are:
Morella cerifera (Wax myrtle ) grows 6 to 12 feet high and can be pruned and shaped. Here is more information from Lee County Florida Extension Service.
Prunus caroliniana (Cherry laurel) can grow up to 30 or 40 feet but will make a dense shrub when pruned. Here is more information from the Department of Agriculture Forest Service and from Mississippi State University.
You can search for the nearest nursery that specializes in native plants in our National Suppliers Directory.
From the Image Gallery
More Pruning Questions
Pruning the leaves of Sago Palm.
March 10, 2010 - Is it a cardinal sin to remove all the sago palm branches? This winter they were so badly scorched by the cold that hardly a frond went unaffected. So I cut them all off as I needed to get around the...
view the full question and answer
Cutting back woody plants after freeze in Leander TX
December 10, 2009 - I have several woody shrubs in a prominent location. Now that the leaves have frozen, how far back should I cut them? These are Flame Acanthus, Salvia ballotiflora, and Aloysia macrostachya, but I w...
view the full question and answer
Pruning non-native peach in Austin, TX.
June 18, 2015 - I planted two five gallon Texas Star peach trees last February but didn't have the nerve to prune them back to knee height. After having been convinced that this is a good thing to do, I'd like to k...
view the full question and answer
How to deal with suckers on Flame-leaf Sumac
May 20, 2013 - Hi! It seems you can have too much of a good thing! Our flameleaf sumac is taking over our yard. There are multiple shoots appearing in our flower beds and in the lawn. How do I get rid of the unwante...
view the full question and answer
Tree removal from Austin
November 18, 2013 - Unfortunately we need to cut down a Spanish oak (11" diameter, over 50 feet tall) that is leaning against our upper story deck (if it falls, the roof, deck, and steel supports may be crushed). A lim...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |