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_00.gif)
Saturday - July 26, 2008
From: Hempstead, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Planting native yaupons on fence line for privacy
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in the country and someone bought the place next door and is building a house close to me.(150 yards) I want to plant yaupon trees on my fence line. Can I get seeds somewhere? I have yaupons all in my region. Some do not have berries, and that is what I want. Do you think I should buy very small ones and plant?ANSWER:
You are correct that the Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) is native to your area and appropriate for planting there for a privacy screen. Let's start with the berries: Nursery plants are typically female (fruiting) and are propagated by cuttings. You must have both a male and female plant to have berries. The male must be the same species as the female and bloom at the same time. So, if you don't want berries, you want only male trees. You can harvest seeds (from the fruit) of yaupon bushes, but, again, you're going to get some males and some females in there and then the females will have berries. Since the plants in nurseries are normally female, you may need to contact some nurseries and find out if they have any male plants to sell. Propagation by cutting or planting from seeds will both take a long time. The yaupon is slow-growing and tends to get thick and twiggy on the inside. Even if you bought only females from the nursery, there are bound to be "wild" males around that will pollinate those females and, again, you get berries. Either way you go, you're not going to get an instant privacy shield.
Some other possibilities for your privacy hedge:
Eysenhardtia texana (Texas kidneywood) - deciduous, but really a neat shrub or small tree
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) - blooms purple-blue or pink, supposedly when it is about to rain, evergreen.
When you follow these links to our Native Plant Database, you will find propagation instructions for each close to the bottom of the page, as well as descriptions, expected maximum size, etc. If you are interested in purchasing seeds or small plants, you can go to our Suppliers directory, type in the name of your town and state in the Enter Search Location and you will get a list of nurseries, seed companies and landscape professionals in your general area.
More Seed and Plant Sources Questions
Source for common names of plants in the United States
January 16, 2008 - Hello Mr. Plants!
I am writing to you on behalf of Carol Sharp who is one of the leading plant
and flower photographers here in the UK. We will shortly be making her
collections of work availab...
view the full question and answer
Source for invasive, non-native Lythrum in Indiana
April 28, 2009 - Please help me find where I can purchase Lithrum in Indiana. This is my favorite plant from long ago. I know it has been banned for the last few years. Presently you need a permit to sell Lithrum. I ...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on basketplant
August 22, 2005 - I want to buy a basketplant (Callisia fragrans). Do you know where can I buy it?
view the full question and answer
Looking for native plant nurseries
November 29, 2008 - I am in 75862 zip code which is a long way from everywhere. I am trying to find native plant nurseries within 100 miles. Many sites just talk about native plants, and have photos, but very little info...
view the full question and answer
How to find out which native plants grow in your particular area
March 26, 2010 - I'm doing an ecology project (prairie restoration) PLEASE RESPOND A.S.A.P MY PAPER IS DUE SOON!!!! Any native plants of Kenosha, WI?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |