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Looking for a defensive/security plant

CApug
9 years ago

I am having issues with a neighbor parking in front of my house and waking my family up every night with their comings and goings, leaving trash from their car on my yard, and trampling the Lavender and Santolina I have planted there. I asked them to please park in front of their own home but they refuse. So my thought is if i plant a very unfriendly shrub along the area they insist on parking near perhaps they will stop.

Can anyone suggest a fast growing shrub that might work? Should be drought tolerant, thorny or with spines perhaps? Doesn't get too tall- no more than 5-6 feet. I am in the hills in Los Angeles.

Thank you.

Comments (14)

  • bossyvossy
    9 years ago

    Pyracantha is nasty enough but if neighbors are that thoughtless they will likely trample on ANYTHING u plant

  • CApug
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    True... but maybe if it scratches their expensive car enough times they will have a change of heart! I will look up Pyracantha. thanks :)

  • cold_weather_is_evil
    9 years ago

    A line of small boulders can be viewed as a sturdy plant. They are hard to trample, can fit neatly (and partially buried) between the sidewalk and the curb (if that's your layout), are unfriendly to parking efforts partially off the street, and they get in the way of people's access to their car passenger doors.

    It would be unwise to suggest roofing nails, so I won't.

  • Babka NorCal 9b
    9 years ago

    Another suggestion...Barberries are prickly...I just pruned one and those thorns go thru latex coated gloves.

    -Babka

  • CApug
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks for the replies. No sidewalk just a hill slope leading from my house down to the street below. You have the right idea about blocking access to the car! I will look into Barberries also.
    I saw something called "rhaphithamnus cyanocarpus" online that I liked but can only find it from one place in seed form and I need something I can buy that is already a good size so I can solve this issue speedily.

  • CApug
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    a Rose Glow Barberry looks just about perfect. Matches the color theme in my yard ( red fountain grass with lavender and santolina) and seems just nasty enough- Can also grow slightly over the curb. Thank you!!

  • aquilachrysaetos
    9 years ago

    My favorite 'nasty' is Rosa Californica. I live on a corner and have 200 feet of curb. I mined my Cape Honesuckle hedges with R.C. Nobody jumps my fences.

    I have Prickly Pear cactus along another fenceline. I planted Cleveland Sage, Lantana, small Crape Myrtles and Matilija Poppy with it. It's a beautiful border.

  • OregonGrape
    9 years ago

    Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia-flowering Gooseberry) is extremely thorny and gets to about 5' x 5'. It's also native and drought-tolerant as heck. It grows at a moderate rate and might transplant OK from 5 gallon containers.

    Another thought: park your car(s) in that spot while your plant is getting established.

    This post was edited by OregonGrape on Sun, Apr 20, 14 at 22:42

  • CApug
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    More great ideas... Thank you.

  • peachymomo
    9 years ago

    There are lots of tough, hardy, and beautiful roses that thrive in your area. Another route would be agave, not only do they have nasty thorns if you get the juice on your skin it'll make you break out in hives. I also second the suggestion of using rocks, I love the look of stone in the landscape and it might help protect your thorny plants until they get big and nasty.

    Good luck with your project, I hope you can discourage your neighbor and create a beautiful garden at the same time!

  • CApug
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I love rocks too- my last home had decomposed granite and natural rocks- big. This wouldn't work where the trouble spot is though at this place. I just saw two HUGE agave plants on craigslist for $40 each. They look 4 ft tall at least. Going to check with my gardener how hard it is to transplant them. Thanks everyone!

  • nil13
    9 years ago

    Bouganvillia has nasty thorns and if you plant it near the curb, it will reach out into the street pretty quickly.

  • fruit_n_vegetables
    9 years ago

    I agree with nil13; bouganvillia has really big thorns(is also slightly poisonous if it penetrates into the skin)but the nice thing is that this plant 's thorns blend in with the branches. Also, it has really nice flowers for decoration, too(hot pink to purple).

  • devolet
    9 years ago

    Dyckia Platyphlla Cherry Cola, it is dark, barbed, gorgeous, and mean. Puya plants which are a similar, and related to bromeliads; also barbed, one has turquoise blooms, and Firethorn as mentioned in earlier post. I have one, and I'm afraid of it. You won't grab any of these without whimpering or belting out colorful metaphors.