When it comes to creating privacy in your outdoor space, fast-growing shrubs and trees are an excellent option. Not only do they provide a natural barrier, but they also add beauty and texture to your landscape.
Whether you’re looking to create a secluded retreat or block out an unsightly view, these 31 fastest-growing shrubs and trees will help you achieve the privacy you desire.
#1. Skip Laurel Shrub
The Skip Laurel Shrub is a popular choice for privacy hedges due to its dense, evergreen foliage and fast growth rate. It can reach a height of 10-12 feet, making it an excellent option for creating a tall and thick barrier.
#2. Waxleaf Privet Hedge
With its glossy, dark green leaves, the Waxleaf Privet Hedge is a versatile shrub that can be pruned to form a dense and attractive privacy hedge. It grows quickly and can reach a height of 6-10 feet.
#3. Common Purple Lilac
Known for its fragrant purple blooms, the Common Purple Lilac is a classic choice for privacy hedges. It can grow up to 15 feet tall and creates a beautiful and aromatic barrier.
#4. Lemon Lights Azalea Shrub
The Lemon Lights Azalea Shrub is prized for its vibrant yellow blooms and compact growth habit. It can reach a height of 4-5 feet, making it an ideal choice for lower privacy hedges.
#5. Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub
The Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub is valued for its large, showy blooms and attractive foliage. It can grow up to 6-8 feet tall and provides a stunning backdrop for any privacy hedge.
#6. Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo
The Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo is a fast-growing evergreen shrub with colorful foliage that adds interest to any privacy hedge. It reaches a height of 3-4 feet and is easy to maintain.
#7. Lavender Rhododendron Shrub
With its beautiful lavender blooms, the Lavender Rhododendron Shrub is a striking addition to any privacy hedge. It can grow up to 6-8 feet tall and thrives in partial shade.
#8. Arctic Willow
The Arctic Willow is a cold-hardy shrub with silvery foliage that adds a unique touch to privacy hedges. It grows quickly and can reach a height of 6-8 feet.
#9. Endless Summer® Hydrangea Shrub
The Endless Summer® Hydrangea Shrub is prized for its repeat blooming and compact growth habit. It can reach a height of 3-4 feet and adds a pop of color to any privacy hedge.
#10. Camellia ‘Shi-Shi Gashira’ Shrub
The Camellia ‘Shi-Shi Gashira’ Shrub is a compact evergreen with beautiful pink blooms. It grows to a height of 4-5 feet and is an excellent choice for smaller privacy hedges.
#11. Tri-Color Dappled Willow
The Tri-Color Dappled Willow is known for its variegated foliage and graceful arching branches. It can reach a height of 6-8 feet and adds an elegant touch to any privacy hedge.
#12. White Pussy Willow
The White Pussy Willow is prized for its fluffy white catkins and attractive foliage. It can grow up to 10-12 feet tall, creating a stunning and unique privacy hedge.
#13. Austree Willow Hybrid Tree
The Austree Willow Hybrid Tree is a rapid grower that can reach heights of 10-15 feet in just a few years. Its dense foliage makes it an excellent choice for creating tall privacy screens.
#14. Nellie Stevens Holly
The Nellie Stevens Holly is an evergreen tree with dense, dark green foliage that provides year-round privacy. It can grow up to 15-25 feet tall, making it an ideal option for larger privacy hedges.
#15. Leyland Cypress Tree
Known for its rapid growth and dense foliage, the Leyland Cypress Tree is a popular choice for creating tall and thick privacy screens. It can reach heights of 30-40 feet in just a few years.
#16. Sunset Glow Bamboo
The Sunset Glow Bamboo is a fast-growing bamboo variety with colorful culms that add visual interest to privacy hedges. It can reach heights of 10-15 feet and creates a tropical ambiance.
#17. Edible Bamboo Plant
The Edible Bamboo Plant not only provides privacy but also offers the added benefit of producing edible shoots. It can grow up to 20-30 feet tall, making it an excellent choice for larger privacy screens.
#18. Thuja Green Giant
The Thuja Green Giant is a vigorous evergreen tree that can reach heights of 30-40 feet in just a few years. Its dense foliage and rapid growth make it an ideal option for creating tall privacy hedges.
#19. Full Speed A Hedge® American Pillar Arborvitae
The Full Speed A Hedge® American Pillar Arborvitae is a columnar evergreen tree with a narrow growth habit, making it perfect for creating vertical privacy screens. It can reach heights of 20-30 feet.
#20. Lombardy Poplar Tree
The Lombardy Poplar Tree is known for its rapid growth and distinctive columnar shape. It can reach heights of 40-50 feet in just a few years, providing fast and effective privacy screening.
#21. Eastern White Pine Tree
The Eastern White Pine Tree is valued for its soft, feathery foliage and rapid growth rate. It can reach heights of 50-80 feet, making it an excellent choice for creating tall privacy screens.
#22. Moonglow Juniper
The Moonglow Juniper is a hardy evergreen tree with silvery blue foliage that adds a touch of elegance to privacy hedges. It can grow to heights of 15-20 feet, providing medium-sized screening.
#23. Robin™ Red Holly Tree
With its vibrant red berries and glossy green foliage, the Robin™ Red Holly Tree is both decorative and functional as a privacy screen. It can reach heights of 12-15 feet, adding color and interest to your landscape.
#24. Canadian Hemlock
The Canadian Hemlock is an elegant evergreen tree with graceful branches and soft needles. It can grow to heights of 40-70 feet, providing a lush and natural privacy barrier.
#25. Dawn Redwood Tree
The Dawn Redwood Tree is a deciduous conifer with delicate, fern-like foliage that turns a beautiful coppery color in the fall. It can reach heights of 70-100 feet, creating a majestic backdrop for privacy hedges.
#26. Vanderwolf’s Pyramid Limber Pine
The Vanderwolf’s Pyramid Limber Pine is a compact evergreen tree with dense, blue-green foliage that adds texture to privacy screens. It can grow to heights of 20-30 feet, providing medium-sized screening.
#27. White Spruce Tree
The White Spruce Tree is a cold-hardy evergreen with dense foliage that provides year-round privacy. It can reach heights of 40-60 feet, making it an excellent choice for creating tall and thick privacy screens.
#28. Golden Bamboo
The Golden Bamboo is a fast-growing bamboo variety with vibrant yellow culms that add a splash of color to privacy hedges. It can reach heights of 15-20 feet, creating a bright and cheerful screen.
#29. Black Bamboo
With its striking black culms, the Black Bamboo adds drama and sophistication to privacy hedges. It can grow to heights of 20-30 feet, providing a bold and modern screening option.
#30. Multiplex Bamboo
The Multiplex Bamboo is a clumping variety that forms dense, evergreen screens ideal for creating secluded outdoor spaces. It can reach heights of 15-20 feet, providing effective privacy screening.
#31. Blue Cloak White Fir Tree
The Blue Cloak White Fir Tree is prized for its striking blue foliage and conical shape, adding a unique touch to privacy hedges. It can grow to heights of 30-40 feet, creating a stunning visual barrier.
Benefits of Privacy Hedges
Privacy hedges offer several benefits beyond just creating seclusion in your outdoor space:
- Aesthetic Appeal: Privacy hedges add beauty and texture to your landscape, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your property.
- Noise Reduction: Thick hedges can help muffle sound, providing a quieter and more peaceful outdoor environment.
- Windbreak: Hedges can act as natural windbreaks, protecting your outdoor living areas from strong gusts.
- Wildlife Habitat: Many shrubs and trees used for privacy hedges also provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
- Property Value: Well-maintained privacy hedges can increase the value of your property by enhancing its curb appeal and desirability.
Whether you’re looking to create an intimate outdoor retreat or simply want to block out unwanted views, the benefits of privacy hedges make them an attractive addition to any landscape.
How to Plant and Care for Fast-Growing Privacy Shrubs
To ensure the success of your privacy shrubs, follow these planting and care tips:
- Selecting the Right Location: Choose a spot with adequate sunlight and well-drained soil.
- Preparing the Soil: Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it and incorporating organic matter to improve drainage and fertility.
- Planting Techniques: Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and place the shrub in the center, ensuring it’s at the same level as the surrounding soil.
- Watering and Fertilizing: Water newly planted shrubs regularly to establish root systems and fertilize them according to specific species’ requirements.
- Pruning and Maintenance: Regular pruning is essential to maintain the desired shape and density of privacy shrubs. Remove dead or damaged branches and trim as needed to encourage healthy growth.
Alternative Options for Privacy
While privacy shrubs are effective, there are alternative solutions to consider:
- Fencing: Installing fences can provide instant privacy and security, but they may lack the natural beauty of shrubs.
- Trellises and Vines: Growing vines on trellises can create a living privacy screen while adding vertical interest to your garden.
- Living Walls: Vertical gardens composed of plants grown on structures can offer privacy while maximizing limited space.
Environmental Benefits of Privacy Shrubs
In addition to providing privacy, fast-growing privacy shrubs offer several environmental benefits:
Air Purification: Shrubs help filter pollutants from the air, contributing to cleaner and healthier surroundings.
Soil Erosion Prevention: Their extensive root systems help stabilize soil, reducing erosion and preserving landscape integrity.
Biodiversity Promotion: Privacy shrubs provide habitat and food sources for various wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity.
Conclusion
Fast-growing shrubs and trees are excellent choices for creating privacy hedges in your outdoor space. Whether you opt for colorful flowering shrubs or tall evergreen trees, there are plenty of options to suit your specific needs and preferences. By selecting the right plants and maintaining them properly, you can enjoy the benefits of natural privacy while enhancing the beauty of your landscape.