Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - April 19, 2013
From: St. Martinville, LA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Lists, Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Privacy Screen for Heavy Clay and Full Sun in Louisiana
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
What would be a fast-growing plant for privacy in Louisiana? I have heavy clay and full sun.ANSWER:
The first place to go to find a list of potential plants is our Native Plant Database. Use the Combination Search feature instead of Recommended Species. This will provide a bigger selection with much more choice to narrow down. The volunteers and staff at the Wildflower Center who maintain the database have partners in different regions to help with these recommended species lists based on what is easy to access in local nurseries.
Under Combination Search, select the following categories: Louisiana, Habit – Shrub then search again for Tree, Duration – Perennial, Light Requirement – Sun, Leaf Retention - evergreen. This will give you 12 plants to consider after some plants were ruled out because they didn't like heavy clay. Next you can narrow down your search further by size, flower color, and soil moisture (dry, moist or wet) requirements. Once you have your list of a few possibilities, then consider their rate of growth and see if they meet your requirements.
Shrubs to consider:
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon)
Lycium carolinianum (Carolina wolfberry)
Morella caroliniensis (Southern bayberry)
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)
Trees to consider:
Ilex opaca (American holly)
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar)
Maclura pomifera (osage orange)
Pinus palustris (longleaf pine)
Prunus angustifolia (chickasaw plum)
Prunus carolianiana (cherry laurel)
Quercus virginiana (coastal live oak)
Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. rigidum (brazos bumelia)
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Mexican Plum with wilted leaves in Austin, TX.
June 06, 2012 - I am new to Texas & have a yard with mature mexican plum trees. They are quite beautiful however as summer sets in I notice that the leaves appear "wilted". Is this normal or should I be providing...
view the full question and answer
Something dripping from red oak in Austin
July 30, 2012 - There is a large red oak outside my apartment. The leaves are shiny and covered with what appears to be oil. The ground underneath is coated with this also. When I parked under the tree my car beca...
view the full question and answer
Is yellow tulip poplar alive from Gilbertsville PA
March 30, 2013 - How can I tell if my yellow tulip poplar is alive?
thank you
view the full question and answer
Fruit trees for Kempner, Texas
November 29, 2013 - I just moved to Kempner , TX and would like to plant a couple of fruit trees in my 1 1/4 ac yard. I would like to plant a species that will do well and produce edible fruit. Any assistance will be app...
view the full question and answer
Disposal of Ashe juniper from Austin
March 07, 2013 - I am in western Travis County and we have been clearing our land of some of the Ashe Juniper. When there is not a burn ban, we burn them because there are just too many to shred. I was wondering if ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |