Question: I have a property that adjoins a business that has a 8-9 ft tall chain link fence with barbed wire at the top. I am looking for a plant that would hide this fence year-round but yet be xeric. The area gets mostly sun but sits at the edge of a big oak tree (recently thinned). Ideally I'd like something that might bloom but don't want anything that will be excessively messy or has heavy fruits as it borders the driveway. The width of the area would be around 5 ft. Anything you can suggest would be much appreciated. (Just want, want, want! Is there a plant out there for me?!) Also, my experience with vines are that they usually clump up at the top and leave the rest of the fence bare.

Answer: Use Confederate Jasmine--evergreen, fragrant blooms in the spring, no fruit, shinny leaves, drought tolerant once established. Plant 4 feet apart. Clumping is no problem with Confederate Jasmine; just trim it back to the top of the fence and force breaks and growth towards the bottom of the vines.