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_23.gif)
Tuesday - May 18, 2010
From: Highland Village, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Evergreen hedge for Dallas-Fort Worth area
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Our red tip photina hedge is slowly succumbing to black spot and we'll need to replace it within the year. (Yes, I now understand red tips come in two varieties: diseased and about to become diseased.) The current hedge is pruned to 50 feet long, 7 feet high and 4 feet deep and the photina did a great job for 10 years. The replacement hedge plant needs to be evergreen and possess a controlled root system since the hedge is planted along a 4 foot high retaining wall. The area receives full sun and we have a drip line running along the base. Suggestions for the DFW area given the restricted depth and root constraints? Thanks in advance,ANSWER:
Photinia x fraseri (Redtip photinia) is a of hybrid the Japanese Photinia glabra and the Chinese Photinia serrulata and, as such, is not a plant native to North America. We are very happy that you are considering replacing your hedge with a North American native since the focus and expertise of the Wildflower Center are with plants native to North America. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a controlled root system, but the following are not noted for their roots disrupting walls or foundations. Here are suggestions:
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) can be kept pruned into a hedge
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush)
Mahonia swaseyi (Texas barberry)
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) and here is more information
You might consider growing vines along the retaining walls instead of shrubbery. Here are three that are evergreen:
Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)
Bignonia capreolata (crossvine) is semi-evergreen
Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower)
You can visit the Texas-North Central Recommended page for more possibilities for plants for your area.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Shrubs Questions
Brown leaves on Bottlebrush shrubs after freeze in Georgetown, TX
January 31, 2010 - I have Bottlebrush shrubs that have all brown leaves after the freezes that we have experienced here in central Texas. Will they be ok?
view the full question and answer
Pruning overgrown Texas sage
February 15, 2016 - Texas sage bushes have been left to grow like mini trees. Can we have trimmed back to get a 'full' bush? Bottom 2 feet of plant look so dead. Will it sprout again as a bush if trimmed back and do...
view the full question and answer
Need a drought resistant, maintenance free tree in Thomasville, GA.
April 20, 2012 - I have been through many tree forums and asked several nurseries about a good tree to plant but nobody has provided an adequate answer and I hope you can help. I live in SW Georgia (Zone 8) and need ...
view the full question and answer
Plant to cover retaining wall in Carlisle PA
August 01, 2010 - I have a block retaining wall in my back yard. I need to find a quick growing plant that will grow through late summer into fall and cover the wall with limited sunlight.
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on mockoranges
May 25, 2005 - I live in Colorado where it is common to have 1 or 2 late frosts. I planted 4 littleleaf mockoranges (Philadelphus Microphyllus) 2 years ago and they are pretty much in full sun most of the day. I h...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |