Nix them, bad idea...

I would instead go for a mix of Texas Sage, Texas Persimmons, Wax Myrtles, Black Chokeberries, Jujube, Texas Mountain Laurel, etc..

This post was edited by blakrab on Thu, Sep 25, 14 at 22:58

Thanks - I'll check those out. Do you know about or have any opinion the density of Fragrant Tea Olive?

Also, I'm looking for an evergreen that gets to a minimum of 8'.

Osmanthus is a nice, fragrant shrub..

Wax Myrtle, Texas Sage, Pineapple Guava & Loquat are large evergreen shrubs/small "trees." Although 7b may be a bit too cold for the last 3..

I'd probably use a lot of Wax Myrtles then -- as they are evergreen, produce edible berries and also function as an insect repellent!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Wax Myrtle

Evergreen sumac is a great hedge making native and it is bloom right now. Will grow in brutal sun and part shade .

Okay - you guys are all so helpful! I'm pretty sure I'm going to use a few wax myrtles.
Few more questions (please bare with me) - what type of Sage would be fastest growing to a minimum of 8 feet?
The reason I'm struggling - I'm more of a dark green formal "pruned look" type of gardener which is why I struggle with using the whispy Sage-look and tend to go toward the evergreen/juniper hedges. I know that's disloyal Texas talk. lol Are there any moderate to fast growing juniper/cypress type hedges that would be okay for a Texas landscape?

Or, what about this hedge?
variegated pittosporum