How do the landscaped areas with cute dog relate to the unlandscaped areas? You have an hoa that regulates plants INSIDE your property? If so where is the list of approved plants?

Thank you- good question. The fence is to the right of our sweet dog Daisy. I used an older photo as our plants are covered now. I've attached a few photos. I forgot to mention the ground doesn't have the best drainage in the back fence line but good on the right side. Yes unfortunately our neighborhood controls what we put in our backyard! Pretty crazy but we're stuck with it. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!

Fatsia japonica is on the list and is a relatively hardy tropical-looking shrub. It wouldn't need covering in winter. A small tree with big leaves and pretty flowers followed by striking fruit is Clerodendrum trichotum. It's not on the list. But is the HOA really going to snoop around your back yard checking? And are the members sufficiently clued up to recognize shrubs when they see them? You could tell them it was a fancy Hydrangea. Would they know? Or you could add Phormiums and say they're just big Irises.

Your current plants aren't on that list anyway. Have they complained?

I find the whole concept of dictatorial HOAs weird. And judging by anecdotes I read on these forums they seem to be pretty ignorant on garden and environmental matters.

Excellent points thank you. I agree completely. You are right- nothing has been said about the plants around our pool and we’ve been here 3 years. But they did make us put 2 trees back in when we removed them. They only knew because we asked permission about something else and they saw pictures. I’m never going to ask again. I’ll check these plants out many thanks!

HOAs are out of control! We live in a new subdivision and have to get approval for anything in the back yard. They even dictate planters. And changing your house numbers.

You have a lot of yard, some of it between high fence and high house. How many hours of sun does the area you want to plant up get? You want understory trees that can take your conditions. I really like Virginia Fringe trees, which are probably native to you. (If you buy any, make sure it's not a Chinese Fringe tree, which looks pretty similar, but doesn't host native birds and pollinators). It does okay in partial shade.

Chionanthus Virginicus · More Info

You can put some Itea along the shady side of the fence. It's short, native and pretty and will soften the fence.

You may not need many trees if you are careful about placing them along view you want to block. If you do need trees in a narrow space, some of the options listed come in fastigate (Skinny, narrow) forms.

Thanks. Most of our yard is fun sun but there is some shade from the 2 story house next door so that suggestion may work. Lovely trees!

Both my woody suggestions can take shade. Indeed, the Fatsia would prefer a little.

Thinking you want something tall enough to block the neighbors from looking in…

I might use a non-running, that is to say, a clumping bamboo for the tropical look. It would however cost a small fortune to do a long line of them. Semiarundinaria fastuosa is one of my favorites for a screen. The neighbors might panic, but use a root barrier to calm them.

Another idea is the purple leaved variety of Dodonea viscosa. Cheap.

And then there is Cocculus laurifolius (now Pachygone laurifolia)

Some evergreen forms of Cornus kousa look pretty good in a sub-tropical setting too.

Visit some of the better arboretums and gardens in NC for more ideas.

It's easy to think you want something along the fence line and to put in what is essentially a hedge. However, often, but careful placement of one or two trees or bushes, you can block views and have more space.