Plants that can be used to create a screen or barrier are much in demand, and with so many plants marketed as screening plants it can become a little difficult sometimes to select the right plant.
All plants differ in growing requirements, some require shade others sun, some need moisture and others are drought tolerant, however other factors need to be considered when selecting a screening plant.
Considerations when selecting screening plants
- Height
Although almost all plants can be pruned to height, with screening plants it is good to get some idea of a final height. No nursery can ‘guarantee’ a final height, but they can give a good idea of the height range. - Width
Some plants spread out a lot, others have a more upright or columnar habit. With buxus for instance the cultivar ‘Graham Blandy’ which is often labeled as ‘Emerald Pillar’ is very narrow growing and quite tall. - Maintenance
Some plants require more pruning than others to keep in shape, maintenance may be important - Columnar / upright
A part of the width problem, do you need an upright plant for a narrow space, or maybe an upright plant would just ‘look better’ - Evergreen deciduous
Make the decision, are you happy with a screen during the summer months, but not concerned about winter, or do you want a year round privacy screen - Growing in pots or in the ground
The immediate thought is grow screening plants in the ground, however many can successfully be grown it pots or containers where the situation demands, bamboo is one that works well in a container. - Density
Again some plants are naturally dense and bushy, others are not so, decide what you want.
Medium to Tall Dense Growing
- Lily Pilly
- Evergreen Magnolias
- Camellias (wonderfull flowering screen)
- Photinia
- Viburnum (very popular large leafed plant)
- Murraya
Columnar or Fastigate (Tall and Skinny screening plants for narrow spaces)
- Pencil Pines
- Bamboo (clumping types such as slender weavers)
- Buxus Graham Blandy
- Pryus callerana ‘capital’ (deciduous)