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
3 ratings

Tuesday - June 12, 2007

From: Mineral wells, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Variety of native tall plants for a screen in shady area near Ft. Worth
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Hello, we live west of Ft Worth. We are looking for tall plants to form a visual screen along a chain link fence we share with a neighbor. We have post oaks there and it is very shady and the ground is sandy and sloping. Our neighbor has planted eleagnus along her side but it is only a few feet tall. The fence line is about 100 feet long and we would like a variety of native plants 6 to 10 foot tall. Can you suggest anything?

ANSWER:

Here are a variety of native shrubs or small trees from your area that fit your criteria:

Evergreens

Ilex vomitoria (yaupon)

Rhus virens (evergreen sumac)

Deciduous

Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo)

Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)

Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)

Ilex decidua (possumhaw)

Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)

Ptelea trifoliata (common hoptree)

Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn)

Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye)

Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)


Ilex vomitoria

Rhus virens

Amorpha fruticosa

Callicarpa americana

Rhus aromatica

Rhus glabra

Cornus drummondii

Ilex decidua

Prunus mexicana

Ptelea trifoliata

Frangula caroliniana

Ungnadia speciosa

 


Viburnum rufidulum
 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Erosion Control in Bartlesville OK
May 10, 2012 - What kind of plants can we use to stop erosion and loss of bank on a creek that is mostly shaded? Is there any free advice/plants for people that are losing land due to water levels rising/dropping?
view the full question and answer

Non-Poisonous, Shade Tolerant Vine for Austin
February 01, 2011 - Hello, I live in northwest Austin and have a very shady wood fence I would like to cover and was thinking about a vine. I have a toddler and a dog so anything poisonous is out of the question. I woul...
view the full question and answer

Shade tolerant low shrub for Houston
September 28, 2013 - Please suggest a shade loving shrub that doesn't get more than 3' tall for a foundation planting along a front porch in Houston, TX. I prefer native, drought resistant if possible. No nursery person...
view the full question and answer

Ground cover for shade from Atlanta GA
May 28, 2012 - I am looking for recommendations for a ground cover. I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have a large shady slope on which I would like to use low maintenance/water native ground cover. What wou...
view the full question and answer

Plants for shade under pine trees in Grapevine TX
May 16, 2010 - What plants are good to put under pine trees in the shade? I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area? The previous owners stuck a Japanese Maple in there that seems to be ok and some sort of holly bush (n...
view the full question and answer

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