Native Plants
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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.
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Friday - January 25, 2008
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Fast-growing evergreen shrub/tree as a screening fence
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Our commercially-zoned property is adjacent to a residential area. The city planning and zoning board has said okay to a vegetation boundary instead of a fence for blocking headlights. The requirements are that it reach at least 6 feet tall and be completely opaque within 2 years and it needs to be 5 feet across. We would like something that is evergreen and fast growing, but not invasive. Something that produces berries or flowers would be nice as well. Do you have any suggestions?ANSWER:
There are a couple of relatively fast-growing evergreens that come to Mr. Smarty Plants' mind first:Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) and Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)
There are several other evergreens that aren't quite as fast-growing, but would also serve your purpose:
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry)
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