Six on Saturday – Screen Planting

by theshrubqueen

My husband and I moved to Florida almost eight years ago, it took seven years and a lot of dedication to clear our back property line of what could be politely called ‘unwelcome vegetation’. A mass of invasive Brazilian Pepper and as weird as it seems Snake Plant/Sansiveria/Mother In Law’s Tongue. It takes heavy equipment to get rid of the Sansevieria. It was so dense we couldn’t tell what was behind us.

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While this may not look that bad, the guy that lives behind us keeps a semi-abandoned boat on the property line. It is past time for a screen planting. I dithered, uh debated a lot of different plant material, and combinations but finally settled on these:

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Clusia (Clusia rosea), a fast growing Florida native sometimes called the Autograph Tree as you can scratch your initials into the leaves and they last for years. These usually get about 20 feet tall.

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Java White Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana ‘Java White’) a variegated yellow, white and green shrub for a 6 – 8-foot hedge at the end of my vegetable garden. The hedge will tie into the taller screen plantings.

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Silver Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus ‘sericues’). Another Florida native, these silvery trees reach about 20 feet and the wood is good for smoking fish.

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The anchor plants screening the worst view – Traveller’s Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis). These are not palms at all but related to Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) These should reach 30 feet tall and grow very upright and retain their fan shape at the base. Called Traveller’s  Palm as a thirsty traveler in the tropics can cut into the base and find a drink of fresh water – I have not tried this.

 

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Yet another Florida native, Thyrallis (Galphimia glauca) these flower off and on year round and reach about six feet.

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Now, all I need to do is plant this.

For more Six on Saturday follow this link to the Propagator’s blog MORE Six on Saturday.

Happy Gardening!

 

 

 

16 comments on “Six on Saturday – Screen Planting”

  1. Chloris says:
    November 2, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    I love your choice of plants, it’s going to look wonderful, worth all the hard work.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. automatic gardener says:
    November 2, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    I can ‘t believe the Sansevieria. Maybe I should dig up the one I have growing in the backyard. I’m looking forward to see you screen finished.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Eliza Waters says:
    November 2, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    Great choices, Amy. It’s going to look fabulous!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Sheryl says:
    November 2, 2019 at 9:53 pm

    Wonderful plant selections – they will look great.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Chris Mousseau says:
    November 3, 2019 at 1:08 am

    They look so…exotic and tropical…to me! Duh! Up here it would tae a decade or more for trees to reach those heights – will they grow faster in Florida?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Chris Mousseau says:
    November 3, 2019 at 1:22 am

    Wow.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. tonytomeo says:
    November 12, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    Gee, I recognize only the traveler’s palm. You certainly have some distinct species there.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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