I suggest you beg, borrow, or steal a copy of Dirr's Trees and
Shrubs for Warm Climates. You will find MANY shrubs listed to
fit your application.

Besides the zone, are you in a rainy or dry climate? That
will make a difference.

Most bamboo is highly invasive, and I would not recommend it.

If you get a fair amount of rain, you could consider some of
the viburnums, in particular, Viburnum suspensum, V. tinus, or
V. odoratissimum. They all grow in zone 9, are evergreen,
reach approimately the height you are requesting, and are
sturdy, attractive plants readily available at garden centers.
Of these, I would choose V. odoratissimum if you have sun,
V.tinus if you have shade or mostly shade, V. suspensum if you
have at least half sun and sandy soil.

M.


wrote:

Hi All,

I have a question which I am sure has been asked many times before
about screening plants (for zone 9). I have a picket fence approx. 4ft
(1.2m) high and 15ft (4.5m) in length which I would like to plant in
front of. I am not looking for a complete privacy screening hedge nor
something that is super tall.

Ideally I am looking for a medium coverage, approx. 10ft (3m) tall.

Suggestions so far have been pittosporums, bamboo or conifers, none of
which I am really interested in.

Any thoughts? I have tossed up ideas about weeping trees of some sort
like a weeping cherry that would grow higher than the pickets then
cascade over slightly.

Thanks Heaps

Mike
On the North Carolina coast - Zone 8a
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