Creating a private outdoor space often starts with a simple, natural solution. A privacy screen of shrubs creates a living barrier that adds beauty and seclusion. If you’re looking for the best plants to block neighbors, reduce noise, or simply define your property line, this guide to 10 shrubs for privacy will give you a clear path forward.
Living fences made from shrubs offer advantages over wooden or vinyl panels. They improve air quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and increase your property’s value. They also change with the seasons, offering year-round interest beyond just a static wall.
Choosing the right shrubs depends on your climate, soil, desired height, and how quickly you need coverage. We will cover evergreens for year-round screening, fast-growing options, and flowering varieties that add a splash of color.
10 Shrubs For Privacy
This list is curated to include shrubs suitable for a range of growing zones and garden styles. Each selection offers dense foliage and reliable growth habits perfect for creating a private retreat.
1. Emerald Green Arborvitae
The Emerald Green Arborvitae is a classic choice for a neat, formal hedge. Its dense, bright green foliage maintains its color throughout all four seasons, providing consistent privacy. It has a naturally narrow, columnar shape that requires minimal pruning.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 10-15 feet
- Mature Width: 3-4 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to medium
- Sunlight: Full sun
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7
Plant these about 3 feet apart for a seamless hedge. They are deer-resistant to a degree and relatively low-maintenance once established. Ensure they have well-drained soil, as they are susceptible to root rot in wet conditions.
2. Cherry Laurel
Cherry Laurel, also known as English Laurel, is a broadleaf evergreen prized for its rapid growth and glossy, dark green leaves. It can quickly form a tall, dense screen and produces fragrant white flower spikes in spring.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 15-20 feet
- Mature Width: 10-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
This shrub adapts to various soil types and can even tolerate heavy shade, though growth will be less dense. Regular pruning helps maintain a thick form and desired height. Be aware that all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.
3. Schip Laurel
A cultivar of Cherry Laurel, Schip Laurel (or Skip Laurel) is a more cold-hardy and disease-resistant option. It features similar glossy leaves but with a slightly more upright and narrow growth habit, making it excellent for tighter spaces.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 10-12 feet
- Mature Width: 5-7 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Its tolerance for deep shade is exceptional for an evergreen. Space plants 4 to 5 feet apart for a hedge. It’s an ideal choice for urban gardens where light might be limited by structures or large trees.
4. American Holly
For year-round privacy with iconic seasonal interest, American Holly is a superb native choice. Its spiny, dark green leaves and bright red winter berries create a beautiful and effective barrier that also supports local birds.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 15-30 feet
- Mature Width: 10-20 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Remember that you need both a male and female plant to produce berries. Plant as a standalone specimen or space 5-6 feet apart for a formidable, prickly hedge that deters intruders.
5. Forsythia
Forsythia announces spring with a vibrant burst of yellow flowers before its leaves appear. This fast-growing deciduous shrub forms a sprawling, arching thicket that provides excellent visual screening during the growing season.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 8-10 feet
- Mature Width: 10-12 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sunlight: Full sun
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
It’s best used in informal, naturalistic settings. Prune immediately after flowering to control its size and encourage a dense growth habit. Forsythia is very adaptable and can thrive in poor soils where other shrubs might struggle.
6. Lilac
Lilacs are beloved for their fragrant spring blossoms, but their dense, multi-stemmed form also makes a wonderful privacy screen. Common lilac varieties can grow quite large, creating a substantial living wall.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 8-15 feet
- Mature Width: 6-12 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Sunlight: Full sun
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
For best flowering and dense foliage, lilacs require at least six hours of direct sun. They prefer slightly alkaline soil. Prune spent flower heads to encourage blooms for the next year and thin out old stems periodically to keep the plant healthy.
7. Boxwood
Boxwood is the quintessential shrub for formal, manicured hedges. Its small, evergreen leaves can be sheared into precise shapes, making it perfect for creating a clean, architectural privacy screen of any height.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 2-12 feet (varies by cultivar)
- Mature Width: 2-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Popular cultivars like ‘Green Velvet’ or ‘Wintergem’ are known for their hardiness. Space plants according to the specific cultivar’s width, usually about half the expected spread apart. They require well-drained soil.
8. Privet
Privet is a workhorse of the privacy hedge world. It’s incredibly fast-growing, tolerates heavy pruning, and forms a very dense, leafy barrier. While often deciduous, some varieties are semi-evergreen in milder climates.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 4-15 feet
- Mature Width: 4-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Very fast
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
It can grow almost anywhere but may become invasive in some regions, so check local guidelines. Frequent trimming is necessary to maintain a tidy appearance and prevent legginess. It’s one of the most cost-effective options for quick screening.
9. Viburnum
Viburnum is a diverse genus with many excellent choices for privacy. Varieties like the dense, evergreen ‘Chindo’ Viburnum or the fragrant Burkwood Viburnum offer three-season interest with flowers, berries, and often fantastic fall color.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 6-15 feet
- Mature Width: 6-12 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium to fast
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 (varies)
They are generally pest-resistant and attract pollinators. Choose an evergreen variety for year-round coverage or a deciduous one for a more dynamic, seasonal screen. Most prefer moderately fertile, moist soil.
10. Canadian Hemlock
Canadian Hemlock is a soft-needled evergreen that creates a graceful, feathery screen. It tolerates heavy shearing well, making it suitable for tall hedges, but it’s also beautiful when allowed to grow in its natural, pyramidal form.
Key Features:
- Mature Height: 40-70 feet (but easily maintained at hedge height)
- Mature Width: 25-35 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Sunlight: Full sun to full shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
It requires consistent moisture and protection from strong, drying winds. Hemlocks are susceptible to woolly adelgid, an insect pest, so monitor plants regularly if this pest is present in your area. It’s one of the few evergreens that thrives in full shade.
How To Choose The Right Privacy Shrub
Selecting from these 10 shrubs for privacy requires matching the plant to your specific conditions. Consider these factors before you buy.
Climate And Hardiness Zone
Your USDA Hardiness Zone is the most critical factor. A shrub that isn’t hardy in your winter will die. Always check the zone range for any plant and choose one rated for your zone or colder.
Sunlight Exposure
Assess the planting area throughout the day. Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct light. Partial shade is about 3-6 hours. Full shade is less than 3 hours of direct sun. Matching the shrub’s needs to your light conditions is essential for healthy growth.
Soil Type And Drainage
Most shrubs need well-drained soil. Test your soil’s drainage by digging a hole and filling it with water. If it drains within an hour, drainage is good. If it sits for hours, you have heavy clay and may need to amend the soil or choose a shrub tolerant of wet conditions.
Desired Height And Width
Think about the mature size, not the size at purchase. A shrub that grows 20 feet wide will need constant pruning if planted in a 5-foot space. Allow enough room for the plant to reach its natural size with minimal pruning.
Growth Rate
Fast-growing shrubs provide quick privacy but often require more frequent pruning and may have shorter lifespans. Slow-growing shrubs are lower maintenance and often more durable but require patience. You can mix them, planting fast growers between slow ones and removing the fast growers later.
Planting Your Privacy Hedge For Success
Proper planting gives your shrubs the best start. Follow these steps for a healthy, thriving screen.
- Plan Your Layout: Use string and stakes to mark the hedge line. Space plants according to their mature width, usually half to two-thirds of the spread.
- Prepare The Soil: Dig a trench or individual holes twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Loosen the soil in the hole and mix in compost.
- Plant Correctly: Place the shrub in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the ground. Backfill with the soil mixture, gently tamping it down to remove air pockets.
- Water Thoroughly: Create a small soil berm around the planting area to form a water basin. Water deeply immediately after planting to settle the soil.
- Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch (like wood chips) around the base, keeping it a few inches away from the stems to prevent rot.
Maintaining Your Privacy Screen
Ongoing care ensures your hedge remains dense, healthy, and beautiful for years to come.
Watering Schedule
New shrubs need consistent watering for the first two years. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on rainfall, to encourage deep root growth. Established shrubs are more drought-tolerant but will benefit from watering during extended dry periods.
Fertilizing Basics
Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs. Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can promote new growth that won’t harden off before winter.
Pruning For Density And Health
Pruning is key for a thick hedge. For most shrubs, prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. For spring bloomers like lilac and forsythia, prune right after flowering to avoid cutting off next year’s buds. Always prune so the base of the hedge is slightly wider than the top; this allows sunlight to reach the lower branches and prevents them from becoming bare.
Monitoring For Pests And Disease
Inspect your shrubs regularly for signs of trouble like discolored leaves, holes, or webbing. Catching issues early makes them much easier to manage. Identify the problem correctly before treating it, often with help from your local extension service.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Avoid these pitfalls to save time, money, and frustration.
- Planting Too Close Together: Overcrowding leads to competition for light, water, and nutrients, resulting in poor growth and increased disease risk.
- Ignoring Mature Size: Buying a cute 3-foot shrub that grows to 30 feet tall will lead to constant, difficult pruning or an overgrown monster.
- Poor Planting Depth: Planting too deep is a major cause of plant failure. The root flare should be visible at the soil surface.
- Underwatering After Planting: The first season is critical. Inconsistent watering stresses the plant and can kill it.
- Shearing At The Wrong Time: Shearing at the wrong time of year can remove flower buds or stimulate vulnerable new growth before frost.
FAQ About Privacy Shrubs
What Are The Fastest Growing Shrubs For Privacy?
Privet, Forsythia, and Cherry Laurel are among the fastest-growing options, often adding 2 feet or more per year under ideal conditions.
What Are The Best Evergreen Shrubs For Privacy?
For year-round coverage, excellent evergreen choices include Emerald Green Arborvitae, Cherry and Schip Laurel, Boxwood, and Canadian Hemlock. These provide consistent foliage in all seasons.
How Far Apart Should I Plant Privacy Shrubs?
Spacing depends entirely on the mature width of the specific shrub. A general rule is to space plants at a distance equal to half to two-thirds of their mature spread. For example, a shrub that grows 6 feet wide should be planted 3 to 4 feet apart.
Can I Create A Privacy Screen In The Shade?
Yes. While many shrubs prefer sun, several tolerate shade well. Schip Laurel, Canadian Hemlock, and certain Viburnum varieties (like Leatherleaf Viburnum) can perform good in partial to full shade.
How Long Does It Take For A Privacy Hedge To Fill In?
This depends on the growth rate and starting size. Fast-growing shrubs from 5-gallon containers may form a solid screen in 2-3 years. Slower-growing shrubs or smaller starter plants may take 5-7 years to achieve full density. Planting larger specimens initially can provide instant gratification but at a higher cost.