Shauney-

My vote would be for the red tipped Cocoplum. These are fantastic for hedges as they grow densely, can be maintained at the height range you desire, but also dont grow so fast that one needs to trim them every week in summer.

I have about a 30-35 ft of hedge with them and love them.

Shauney, we are in the same situation as you and have yet to make a final decision. Our progress so far:

- The easiest solution for us is podocarpus. While it grows slowly, 4' - 5' plants are readily available from most nurseries. So you get a lot of impact from the start. They are pricy compared to viburnum.
- While podocarpus and viburnum are easy to care for, they are not very exciting. One landscape designer suggested we go with White Bird of Paradise, which is an interesting choice.
- A common screening plant used in our area is Wax Myrtle.
- The Cocoplum seems to be a popular choice in south Florida. but they are frost sensitive. We're on the margin between Zones 9b and 10 and I don't want to take the risk of losing an established privacy hedge to a killing frost.
- Our current thinking (and we seem to change our minds daily) is to go with White Bird of Paradise next to the pool screen for quick effect and then install a hedge along the property line consisting of the Awabuki variety of Viburnum odoratissimum with layers of Oak and Sweetbay Magnolia.

IMO I would rethink the white bird. I have had 2 clumps, away from the house, for over 10 yrs. They will grow to 20 ft and grow a stalk/tree-like with the leaves at the top. All the biggest stalks were blown down by Wilma. They were heavy and would take your pool screen with them.

If you change your mind or want to thin the clump, they are a bear to dig and seperate.
A large leaf Heliconia might be a better choice for that look.

Awabuki viburnum love it, also am loving the look of sea grape.
Aimee

How about some bamboo?

Hi:

How about Jamaican caper? Lovely, lightly fragrant flowers, colorful seeds when they open, lovely leaves, never needs pruning since it has a pyramidal habit, native, no pests, doesn't need to be fertilized or fussed with once established. The Univ. of Miami has some as hedges around parking lots. They look so pretty. Mine has been through several hurricanes and no worries.

Julie--WPB

I have two eugenia privacy hedges on either side of our property... I absolutely love it. It grew fast enough to establish privacy, but is very mantainable. We only trim it about every 3-6 months (depending on the time of year). It is very easy to maintain! I highly reccomend it.
K

the pool is complete and i now need to get the privacy hedge up. i went to a couple of nurserys and looked at eugenia,viburnam,cocoplum,capella gold. i really likes the arbicolla green. someone at the nusery suggested a palm that she says makes a good privacy hedge. it is called a cat palm. they are much nicer than those i mentioned above but also double the cost. they say it will get to 6'. anybody out there have these cat palms and how big do they get? if the cat palms will give me the privacy i need then i probably will go with them. the arbicola green are also very nice. i have to decide this week so all opinions are appreciated.

Areca palm is also nice. I don't know if there's a down side to it. For example, would the fronds tear up your screen?

Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) is beautiful, though because of spines, it is used more to keep people out.....could have the pool to yourself though. :o)

-Ethan

I would not recommend the Podocarpus, it can get tall and scraggly, as a matter of fact I am looking to plant another row of hedges, either Cocoplum or Cherry Hedge to cover the Pordocarpus and have full privacy. I have not decided which one yet, I am doing some research. Any suggestions?