fast growing screening plant in shade

11 years ago

The utility company cut down a mugho pine tree that had grown into a power line and we need something to screen our sunroom from our neighbor's deck and windows. Their home is higher on the hill and their deck overlooks our yard. We live in an area with lots of mature oak trees so we have lots of shade with a few hours of sun a day. Maximum height we can have is 10 feet (aka power line problems), sun is 3-4 hours mid-day, soil is typical Ozarks soil - thin, rocky, limestone rock about 3 feet below the surface. We have wet spring, damp fall and hot humid summers. Winter temps can be around zero or so during short periods, with snow and/or ice. Our time is limited for yard work so would need something that didn't require a lot of pruning. We mulch and use compost, but the plants would need to be able to cohabit with oak trees. Planting bed is on the west side of the house, about 8 feet from the foundation.

We were thinking clumping bamboo. Any experience with clumping bamboo in our area (Northwest Arkansas) or other plant suggestions are most welcome. Budget is a consideration. Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

helenh
11 years ago
I have never grown bamboo but MO Botanical Garden says blue fountain clumping bamboo is hardy here and would grow in shade. I thought of leatherleaf viburnum but I have never grown it myself. I have seen it as a foundation plant and thought the leaves were interesting. It gets both positives and negatives on-line so you would need to research it. I think it would be evergreen in Northwest Ark and is more tolerant of shade than some other viburnums. If I had neighbors overlooking my yard and with a good view in my window, I think I would look into some sort of cedar lattice structure made of 4 by 4's for a frame with wood lattice on it. Then you could grow a vine or something in front of it. Plants can grow fast but usually it takes are few years unless you buy big plants to begin with. I am not handy so I have no idea how to build something. Also you may need something really long. Good luck.
christie_sw_mo
11 years ago
I don't have any experience with bamboo but I believe there are some types that are very aggressive spreaders and some that are not. There used to be a nursery in Arkansas that specializes in bamboo. I wonder if it's still there.

If you decide to go with vines, the native coral honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens) would attract a few hummingbirds and butterflies for you to watch from your sunroom. There are several named cultivars of that same species. 'Major Wheeler' is supposed to be one of the best bloomers so I will leave a link for that one below. It wouldn't have the same wonderful fragrance of Japanese Honeysuckle but it won't be nearly as invasive either. It has a VERY long bloom time.

I'm fairly certain lonicera sempervirens would create a screen must faster than most shrubs, stay the size you want, and do well with a few hours of afternoon sun like you mentioned.

Vines tend to extend a ways above their support and then just grow back down on themselves. For instance, if you wanted your screen to be about eight feet tall, you might want five foot supports; taller supports for a taller screen. That was a really rough guesstimate so you'll want to get some more opinions. Gardenweb has a Vines Forum or you might try asking in the Perennials forum since it has a lot of visitors.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Major Wheeler'
Related Discussions
Need fast growing screen for property in the shade/Z5
Q
Comments (5)
Have you considered bamboo? You probably don't see much of it in Michigan, but that doesn't mean it can't work. I compiled a quick list of some that should have a pretty good combination of cold and shade tolerance. The first few won't get more than about 6or7 feet tall, but unless your neighbor has a really tall dog, they might work for you.: Indocalamus tessellatus Sasa palmata Sasa tsuboiana Shibataea chinensis Yushania chungii Fargesia nitida Fargesia murieliae I encourage you to do your own research. Bear in mind if you do that the minimum temps you will encounter are for leaf kill. If in some winters you get 10 degrees or so colder than the minimum temps you are reading about, that still shouldn't kill the plant. You may have some dead twigs to prune away in the spring, but the plant will send out new growth. Bamboo is definitely fast growing- whether you see a cane that is 10 ft or 70 ft- that represents 1 yrs growth! However, it does take a few years before it really gets going. Bamboo, of course, does spread far and wide by underground runners unless you contain, root-prune, or buy a special "clumping type" which just stays in place and gets fatter year after year. The last three bamboos suggested are clumpers. Good luck!
...See More
fast growing screening plants
Q
Comments (6)
I agree with jaykoko about the acmena smithii. We have one and it's getting bushy now. My husband prunes one for a client of his and it's so thick you can't see through it at all. The tree seems to respond very well to regular pruning. Another one is the Lilly Pilly Express (sorry, I don't know its botanical name) which is supposed to be the fastest growing variety. I have three and they are on a shady side so they haven't grown as fast as I expected, though they have suddenly put on a lot of growth lately. It grows to 4 metres, I think, but can be pruned. But my favourite is the smithii. Donna.
...See More
please help me decide on a fast growing screen
Q
Comments (5)
My previous home was backed up by the high school parking lot, not very pretty and much activity. With only a 6 foot fence allowed for separation, I planted a row of Ligustrums grown a tree to branch out at the fence top. They grew fast and made a dense screen. My problem with them was the amount of mess they made with droppings on the paved area and the roots were massive and close to the surface, that prevented even the most aggressive plants from growing under them on my side of the fence. Here I have planted Rhus integrifolia as a screen with much better results. They require no care or water at all, make little mess, and I can grow pretty much what I want under them. They grow very fast, are native, require very little width, and easily reach 20 feet, with only an occasional lateral branch requiring removal. Al
...See More
Screening plant growing in full shade?
Q
Comments (5)
Yes, the wall is north-facing, and the area of the garden within 4 feet of it, where we'd like to place screening plants, is in shade with no direct sun for about 4 to 5 months of the year. I guess we don't understand whether this would be considered part shade, with only ambient light available, or full shade.
...See More

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Grow Your Own Privacy: How to Screen With Plants and Trees

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Use living walls to lower your home and garden's exposure while boosting natural beauty in your landscape

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Grow a Lush Privacy Screen

By Christine Tusher

No need to wait forever for patio privacy the green way. These 10 ideas will get your screening up and running in no time

Full Story

181

TREES Great Design Plant: Acer Rubrum Brings Shade and Beauty

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Red maple — a fast-growing, low-maintenance Eastern native — has spectacular fall foliage and early-spring flowers that feed pollinators

Full Story

CURB APPEAL How to Make a Window Garden Grow

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Get the scoop on materials, installation, plantings and more to bring the charming look of window boxes to your home

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Plants That Snobs Love to Hate — and You'll Love to Grow

By Bill Marken

Don't dismiss these common annuals, perennials and shrubs — there are reasons they've been popular for so long

Full Story

HOUSEPLANTS 10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors

By House Nerd

Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall

Full Story

120

COOL-SEASON CROPS Cool-Season Vegetables: How to Grow Radishes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Fast growing and bright, these easy-care veggies are great for kids and bring plentiful color to a fall or spring garden

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared

Full Story

FARM YOUR YARD 10 Easy Edibles to Grow in Containers

By Marianne Lipanovich

These herbs, vegetables and fruits are just as happy in a pot as they are in the ground

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES What Kind of Roses Should You Grow?

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Want to add the beauty of roses to your garden? Find out which ones, from old-fashioned to modern, are right for you

Full Story

104

fast growing screening plant in shade

Comments (2)

helenh

christie_sw_mo

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US