Appearance, functionality and animal safety are important factors for horse owners to consider as they change the trees and other plants in an equine’s environment, Oklahoma State University Extension experts said.

“People are used to just getting on the internet and looking things up, but information about what plants are acceptable around horses can be very confusing and often seemingly contradictory,” said Brad Secraw, Cleveland County Extension agricultural educator.

For example, in Cleveland County where urban and rural lifestyles meet, a horse owner may want to provide privacy screening to keep animals out of sight of neighbors.

There are several elements to weigh, among them whether the plants grow well in Oklahoma, whether they lose their foliage during winter months and, most importantly, whether they are toxic to horses.

“I recommend contacting your local county agricultural or horticultural Extension educator to see if he or she can’t make an on-site visit,” said Kris Hiney, OSU Extension equine specialist.

“General recommendations a person might get off the internet are a good starting point and can help the property owner better understand input costs and investment of time, energy and effort. However, there are a great many variables that need to be considered with each specific site.”

For privacy, the following plants are good possibilities for Oklahoma horse operations:

Eastern redcedar – An invasive plant seen far and wide across Oklahoma but able to maintain its greenery in colder weather. Never plant seed-bearers, often referred to as females. Tree nursery operators should know the difference between sex types.

Arborvitae – Similar to a cedar tree but not as competitive with other plants in terms of soil nutrient and water use. It is a thick and tall evergreen when fully grown. Crepe myrtle – Scenic

Crepe myrtle – Scenic flowers will bloom mid- to late-summer. The loss of leaves in winter may limit the screening effect.

Forsythia – This selection has showy yellow flowers in the spring, and while it loses leaves in winter, the plant has a thick branching structure. However, it only grows to about 5 feet tall. Rose of Sharon – Nice

Rose of Sharon – Nice flowers and it becomes more treelike as the plant ages. The major drawback is that it loses leaves in winter.

Russian olive – This attractive option is a light silvery green color. Unfortunately, it has thorns and loses its foliage in the winter.

Star magnolia – Flowers in the spring but loses its leaves in the winter.