What type of plants or trees can I plant in a shady area for privacy from my neighbors?
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Hudson Designs on Jun 13, 2011Hello Marilynn, I would recommend blue spruce. Plant them about and 10 foot apart, 4 to 5 foot tall and in 5 years you will have 10 foot trees. They make a good wind and vision break point.Helpful Reply
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3po3 on Jun 13, 2011Eastern redbud is another nice option that will also give you beautiful spring color, grows fast and tolerates some shade.Helpful Reply
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Douglas Hunt on Jun 14, 2011You might want to consider holly, Marilyn. Many, like the Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) are quite shade-tolerant and will easily achieve the height you are looking for.Helpful Reply
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Walter Reeves on Jun 14, 2011I strongly disagree with the suggestion to plant bamboo...it is WAY too invasive here. 'Bright n Tight' cherrylaurel is a good choice.Helpful Reply
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White Pine Land Studio, LLC on Jun 14, 2011Not that Walter needs any backup, but I cannot agree more strongly. As a Landscape Architect, I am frequently asked how to deal with the "neighbor's bamboo hedge" that is taking over the neighborhood. Cherry Laurel is a great suggestion, and I would expect nothing less from Walter!Helpful Reply
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Vicki on Jun 16, 2011I plan to plant some Tea Olive shrubs that have morning sun and afternoon shade by my back yard for privacy from my neighbors. Plus, enjoy nice scents from Tea Olive shrubs with my back yard swinger.Helpful Reply
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Erica Glasener on Jun 16, 2011I also like Illicium parviflorum- Anise- an evergreen or Osmanthus fragrans-tea olive, no bamboo unless you want your neighbors to complain when it grows in their yard too.Helpful Reply
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Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping on Jun 16, 2011All the suggestions here are great choices. Camellias, althogh not really considered a fast grower, can reach 15-20 feet if you let them. I also know quite a few people that have had great success with Canadian Hemlocks and they are such beautiful trees.Helpful Reply
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Karen H on Jun 17, 2011I agree with Walter, Bamboo will take over. A neighbor plannted some a few years back and I have been figting it ever since. It's really hard to kill and very invasive. I think there are clumping and non-clumping varieties. If you absolutley feel you must have it, put it in a pot or atleast get the non-clumping variety. Be nice to your neighbors and don't do it!!!Helpful Reply
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Virginia Peary on Jun 17, 2011Hi Have you looked into planting bamboo? It grows VERY fast & spreads just as fast. You will have to keep a eye on the spread of it, as it will move very fast & grows tall as fast. Does not matter where you plant it, light, shade ect... Check it out it will.... keeps others from seeing you or you from them. Costs are low just about anywhere you find it. Good luck?Helpful Reply
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Flowerscapes Garden Design & Landscaping on Jun 18, 2011Bamboo is way too invasive and is on the list for invasive plants. Please avoid planting it or encouraging anyone else from doing so.Helpful Reply
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Karen H on Jun 23, 2011I still have yet to get rid of the stuff . anyone know any good control methods?Helpful Reply
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Ginger H on Jun 23, 2011Bamboo can grow a foot overnight and the underground roots spread like wildfire. Don't plant it!! Check out Elaeagnus which is a very fast growing, hardy shrub (great fragrance during bloom time!) It is an excellent choice for hedges and green screens where you want to obscure a less-than-desirable view. You can expect your shrubs to grow up to 15 feet with widths in proportion to their mounded shape. It won't be long before your screening needs are a thing of the past.Helpful Reply
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Erica Glasener on Jun 23, 2011Ginger is right about eleagnus growing fast, it too can become invasive, I would urge you to choose another shrub, good choices mentioned for shade in the other posts- Osmanthus fragrans, Illicium parviflorum and others are effective evergreens but not potentially invasive.Helpful Reply
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Erica Glasener on Jun 23, 2011One more- the native Florida Leucothoe which is called Agarista populifolia just to get you the correct plant.Helpful Reply
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Douglas Hunt on Jun 24, 2011I planted Florida Leucothoe with just this idea in mind, as one of my neighbors...well, let's just say I need a screen...but I think it's going to long time before it is effective in that regard. It is otherwise a great plant, and I live in hope of its screening potential.Helpful Reply
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Erica Glasener on Jun 24, 2011Maybe a mixed screen with Florida Leucothoe and Anise (Illicium parviflorum) would do the trick.Helpful Reply
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360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Jun 24, 2011Maybe a Viburnum awabuki 'Chindo'. It is a fast grower getting around 12-15 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. It has fragrant white flowers and shiny leathery leaves. It is listed as a deer resistant shrub.Helpful Reply
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Douglas Hunt on Jun 25, 2011My local nursery claims you can get a 6-foot hedge from three-gallon plants of sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) in 18 months with the right fertilizing and pruning. Anything that grows that fast makes me nervous, but if you need a dense screen quickly, it may do the trick.Helpful Reply
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Janelle Moorefield on Feb 21, 2013I need advice on a border brush/trees. I don't want them too tall (like over 15/20 feet). They need to be narrow and non-invading. I want to plant something at the back of my property- one line. Then have a few feet gap and a garden. I live in Richmond, VA- if that help with plants that grow well in this area. The area I want to plant gets full sun all day.Helpful Reply
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Douglas Hunt on Feb 22, 2013Janelle, you will get better responses if you post your question as a new question using the red "post/ask" button on the upper right of the page. More people will see it that way. But, for starters, one plant that would would well in the situation you describe is "Bright 'N Tight" cherry laurel.Helpful Reply
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