Plants to Hide ColorBond Fences

Trees

• Trees screen fences. Choose slow-growing, small species to plant around a fence, as they require less maintenance. The trident maple (Acer buergerianum) grows from 25 to 35 feet tall with a 20- to 30-foot spread. This deciduous tree thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. It tolerates drought, heat, salt, poor soil and urban pollution. It has small, lustrous leaves that turn red, orange and yellow in fall. Trident maples are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8. Chinese hollies (Ilex cornuta) grow to 25 feet tall with glossy, spiny foliage. These evergreens produce long-lasting red fruits and have a naturally rounded growth habit. Chinese hollies are hardy in zones 7 to 9 and prefer full sun. They tolerate drought, heat and a range of soil types.

Shrubs

• Evergreen shrubs offer year-round screening, while deciduous shrubs often provide showy flowers or fruits. Species with dense foliage hide your fence. The sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboretum) grows from 10 to 20 feet tall with a 15-foot spread. This deciduous shrub blooms with aromatic, white, butterfly-attracting blossoms in the spring, followed by glossy, black, bird-attracting berries. These versatile, native shrubs tolerate drought, heat, shade and wet soils, and are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. If your fence site is shady, choose a Japanese plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia). This evergreen thrives in partial to full shade and tolerates drought and heat. Japanese plum yews grow to 10 feet tall with a 14-foot spread, and have spiraled, glossy foliage.

Ornamental Grasses

• Many ornamental grass species thrive in hot, dry conditions. These versatile plants come in a range of colors and textures and most require very little maintenance. For a very tall fence, plant giant reed (Arundo donax). This 14- to 20-foot tall grass thrives in a range of conditions from full sun to light shade and dry soil. Giant reed has large, gray-green leaves and produces 3-foot long, puffy, red inflorescences. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10. Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis "Gracillimus") also tolerates heat and drought. This 6- to 8-foot tall grass grows in upright to slightly arching clumps of fine, green and white foliage. It is hardy in zones 5 to 9 and grows well in sun to light shade and well-draining soil.

Perennials

• Choose colorful perennials for your fence planting site's front. Tall species include Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum). This hardy, perennial wildflower grows from 10 to 15 feet tall and blooms from the summer through the fall with flat clusters of purple flowers. Joe Pye weed has toothed foliage and purple stems. Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) grow to 5 feet tall and prefer full sun and well-draining soil. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, these perennials bloom from spring through fall with large pink, purple, white, yellow and light-orange blossoms.