Hopseed Bush Or Dodonaea Viscosa, Fast Growing Drought Resistant Screen Shrubs
One of the best drought tolerant, fast growing screen plants is called Dodonaea viscosa or Hopseed Bush.
These drought resistant shrubs are fast growers to about 10 feet tall and almost as wide.
They take full sun to part shade and once established in the garden (1-2 years) they can survive on rainfall alone.
This makes them a valuable landscape plant especially in areas hit with water restrictions or drought.
Hopseed bushes have a growth habit that is somewhat open and airy, with lots of small branches and long leaves adding to the lacy, willowy feel.
They can be trimmed as hedges or espaliers for a slightly denser effect or pick one strong branch to train as a tree.
Dodonaea are good for layering in the landscape, to create a full, lush feel in the border.
Hopseeds are perfect for the back of the bed, along fences or as border screens.
Try planting a few dodonaeas to wall off a secluded garden room in the back yard.
In late spring they develop large, papery seed pods, usually light brown, which hang on for weeks and rustle in the breeze.
Create a little resting spot near them so you can listen to their whispers after a long day.
Hop Bush or Hopseed Bush are named after their seed pods that resemble hops.
Hop Seed bushes come with leaves in either bright, lime green or dark purple.
Both versions have leaves about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and are very shiny on multiple shrubby branches and have similar growing requirements.
The darker varieties need more sun to keep their dark colors.
Dodonaea viscosa is native to the hot Western US and Hawaii.
They do best in USDA Zone: 9-11, or Sunset Zone: 7-24.
The purple Hopseed in the back of the border helps create depth and mystery.
The green Hop Shrubs stand out more and look dramatic when backlit by a western sunset.
Their seed pods break down quickly in the soil, but are not recommend for planting near pools or any other place where leaf litter would be a problem.
In the back of the garden, consider these shrubs as self-mulching.
Nether color Hopseed creates a solid screen the way a brush cherry can.
You can sometimes see through them if you try.
Think of them as lace curtains for your garden.
They're pretty, drought tolerant and fast growing.
These drought resistant shrubs are fast growers to about 10 feet tall and almost as wide.
They take full sun to part shade and once established in the garden (1-2 years) they can survive on rainfall alone.
This makes them a valuable landscape plant especially in areas hit with water restrictions or drought.
Hopseed bushes have a growth habit that is somewhat open and airy, with lots of small branches and long leaves adding to the lacy, willowy feel.
They can be trimmed as hedges or espaliers for a slightly denser effect or pick one strong branch to train as a tree.
Dodonaea are good for layering in the landscape, to create a full, lush feel in the border.
Hopseeds are perfect for the back of the bed, along fences or as border screens.
Try planting a few dodonaeas to wall off a secluded garden room in the back yard.
In late spring they develop large, papery seed pods, usually light brown, which hang on for weeks and rustle in the breeze.
Create a little resting spot near them so you can listen to their whispers after a long day.
Hop Bush or Hopseed Bush are named after their seed pods that resemble hops.
Hop Seed bushes come with leaves in either bright, lime green or dark purple.
Both versions have leaves about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and are very shiny on multiple shrubby branches and have similar growing requirements.
The darker varieties need more sun to keep their dark colors.
Dodonaea viscosa is native to the hot Western US and Hawaii.
They do best in USDA Zone: 9-11, or Sunset Zone: 7-24.
The purple Hopseed in the back of the border helps create depth and mystery.
The green Hop Shrubs stand out more and look dramatic when backlit by a western sunset.
Their seed pods break down quickly in the soil, but are not recommend for planting near pools or any other place where leaf litter would be a problem.
In the back of the garden, consider these shrubs as self-mulching.
Nether color Hopseed creates a solid screen the way a brush cherry can.
You can sometimes see through them if you try.
Think of them as lace curtains for your garden.
They're pretty, drought tolerant and fast growing.
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