"Striking Garden Scene" issue 85
Hello,
- Does anyone have a copy of issue #85 they are willing to part with?
- Anyone have ideas for tall (15' or so), fast growing plant in partial to full shade to use as dense border for privacy from annoying neighbor? Live in zone 5.
Thanks,
KGB
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(post #15289, reply #1 of 7)
you can try several things for screening in shaded borders in zone 5:
1. thuja: dark american does ok in semi-shade; green giant is the fastest grower.
2. fargesia (hardy clumping bamboo, won't be invasive). fargesia robusta is the tallest and fastest growing, but most expensive. fargesia nitida, fargesia murielae.
3. fence
(post #15289, reply #3 of 7)
Thanks Gardenmarker, I did find some bamboo which sounds like it might work. I'll look into the thuja.
(post #15289, reply #6 of 7)
I thought all bamboo was invasive...
I have the same need as kgb, but the area where I need the screen is not very wide. Are there shrubs that will grow 6' high or more, but will not get that wide? I can get suckers of Eastern Wahoo from a friend; would that be a good choice?
(post #15289, reply #2 of 7)
KGB, Hi! I am in Zone 5. What about Elephant Ears (alocasia odora) It has foliage all summer with a nice tropical effect. I have heard some do pretty well in part shade. You could consider Rose of Sharon which will grow in the shade & provide a better screen each season. I have it around certain borders of my yard. I think for fast growth I would choose a Willow. There were a few wild Willows (shrubs) on my property when we moved in & they have provided a nice screen for us. I block out neighbors to the one side of me with a Blue Spruce, White Lilac and a beautiful and very wide Magnolia tree! Good Luck to you...
"The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind." -Carly Simon
(post #15289, reply #4 of 7)
Thanks Tulip, I didn't realize Elephant Ears could be so tall. I'll certainly look into your suggestions.
(post #15289, reply #5 of 7)
Some Elephant Ears get very big, but I doubt they would get big enough to be an effective screen in your zone unless you bring them indoors or into a greenhouse in the winter, either to keep them growing or get them started early. Alocasia 'Sarian' is one of the big ones, but it will go dormant below 45 degrees and is only hardy to zone 9. http://naturalselections.safeshopper.com/51/301.htm?799 Alocasia robusta is maybe the biggest, but also wants lots of warmth and humidity. http://www.malesiana.com/plant/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=AL-43-1
There are some Magnolia grandiflora cultivars that are hardy to your zone. Little Gem is a smaller cultivar (15-20'), but won't be particularly fast growing and I don't know if it's as hardy as 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' or the other cold hardy varieties. Other possibilities (but not fast): Ilex glabra, Ilex x meserveae, Viburnum rhytidophyllum or its hybrids, Viburnum x pragense, Viburnum lantana (semi-evergreen), Leucothoe, Pieris.
(post #15289, reply #7 of 7)
KGB,I have several Viburnum in my borders also...They screen well but do grow much slower ....If your looking for a fast screen people around here talk about Poplar trees or Russian Olives....Its not immediate result but quite good in a few years. One other idea is a tall privacy fence where a flowering vine can be trained to grow & cover it... I think in Zone 5...fast growth is found primarily in willows (shrubs). It was my exact problem about 15 years ago....The Elephant Ear Bulbs need to be dug out in the fall & replanted in the spring. Castor Bean is another plant (Ricinus) It has a tropical look. It can grow to 10 feet. The leaves are 1 to 3 feet long. It requires full sun. The seeds are poisonous. It is grown as an annual here...Its another quick coverage idea! I would love to hear any other ideas you are able to acquire....Good Luck.... Its mild here today & to my delight my garden beds are greening up!!! Spring is here...
"The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind." -Carly Simon