Creating a private, serene outdoor space is a dream for many homeowners. But for those who want fast results, traditional fences can feel like a slow or costly solution.
Fast-growing shrubs, however, offer a natural, budget-friendly, and beautiful alternative. Whether you want to hide unsightly views, create a peaceful green retreat, or simply provide privacy from neighbors, there are plenty of options.
When choosing shrubs, opt for varieties with a fast growth rate of two to three feet per year. Also, take into account the plant’s mature size, planting, and maintenance needs, and whether they are evergreen or deciduous.
As you select your shrubs, be mindful of your hardiness zone’s growing conditions, including sunlight exposure, soil type, and watering needs for thriving growth and long-lasting privacy.
Here are 10 top choices for fast-growing privacy shrubs.
10 Top Choices for Fast-growing Shrubs for Privacy
1. Arborvitae
If you’re after an elegant, evergreen solution that grows 3-5 feet annually, Green Giant Arborvitae might just be the one fast-growing shrubs and would create an instant green wall. Its rich green, feathered needles form a plush, solid wall that stays beautiful and full every season, lending a polished look to any landscape.
This hybrid is exceptionally hardy and resistant to diseases, making it a great low-maintenance choice for gardeners. It can reach up to 12-20 feet in width, so be sure to give it ample space to grow, and it will reward you with a graceful, year-round privacy screen.
2. Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress is a privacy classic, known for its incredibly fast growth of 3-4 feet per year, making it ideal for anyone who wants privacy now.
Its soft, feathery green foliage remains thick and lush year-round, offering a nearly impenetrable wall of greenery that can soar to over 30 feet tall. This tree’s sheer height and density make it perfect for creating a natural fortress around larger properties. Easy to care for and highly adaptable, it appreciates regular watering, especially in hot conditions, ensuring it grows up strong and healthy.
3. Red Twig Dogwood
Red Twig Dogwood is a standout, especially in the winter months when most plants are bare. Its deep red stems add vibrant color to cold landscapes, creating visual interest when everything else fades.
This shrub grows about 1-2 feet per year and brings lush, green leaves through spring and summer, with the red stems taking center stage after the leaves fall. This makes Red Twig Dogwood ideal for year-round interest and works well as part of a mixed hedge for varied textures and colors.
4. Lilac (Syringa)
Lilacs are beloved for their romantic, fragrant blooms that signal spring has arrived. Growing 1-2 feet per year, they make a beautiful, dense hedge that also fills the air with a heavenly scent in spring.
With blossoms in shades of purple, pink, and white, lilacs attract pollinators and bring a soft, natural beauty to any privacy screen. Best suited to cooler climates, lilacs prefer a bit of pruning right after flowering to maintain their shape, and their captivating fragrance makes them a top choice for any privacy hedge.
5. Forsythia
Forsythia is a herald of spring, bursting into a golden explosion of blooms as soon as winter fades, bringing cheerful color to your garden before most other plants have woken up.
Growing 2-4 feet per year, this shrub transforms into a lush, green privacy screen through spring and summer. Forsythia’s vibrant yellow flowers attract pollinators, and its bushy form can be pruned into shape or left to grow naturally, depending on the look you’re after. This plant is as tough as it is beautiful, making it a wonderful, low-maintenance shrub for privacy.
6. Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a versatile shrub known for its dense, lush foliage and rapid growth, reaching heights of 3-4 feet per year. With its various types—groundcover, low-growing, or larger shrub varieties—Cotoneaster allows for a range of options to suit your garden’s style and needs.
One popular cultivar, Cotoneaster lucidus, reaches an impressive 6 to 10 feet in height and width, making it ideal for privacy screening. In the spring, Cotoneaster produces small, white to pale pink flowers that are attractive to pollinators, followed by clusters of red berries in the fall.
7. Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Common Ninebark is a hardy, low-maintenance shrub that’s both drought-tolerant and adaptable, making it a fantastic option for privacy screens.
Ninebark grows quickly, typically adding 1-2 feet per year, and can reach a mature height of 6-10 feet, making it a substantial privacy shrub.
In late spring, it produces clusters of white or pale pink flowers, which turn into red seed capsules in the fall, adding seasonal color and attracting wildlife. Easy to care for, Ninebark thrives in various soil types and conditions, giving you a beautiful, low-fuss privacy screen.
8. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Pussy Willow is one of the most distinctive fast-growing shrubs, known for its soft, fuzzy catkins that appear in late winter and early spring, resembling little patches of wool.
This fast-growing shrub, adding 2-3 feet annually, is ideal for those who want a tall, dense privacy hedge with a unique visual interest even in the colder months. Pussy Willow not only adds beauty but also supports early-season pollinators, as its catkins provide crucial food for bees and other beneficial insects.
It thrives in moist soils and can grow exceptionally well near water features like ponds or streams, where it will spread naturally. This shrub is a wonderful choice for a privacy hedge that contributes to garden ecology while adding a soft, natural touch.
9. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Rose of Sharon brings tropical flair with its large, colorful blooms that appear in late summer and last through fall. Growing at a rate of 1-2 feet per year, this shrub forms a dense privacy screen with the bonus of beautiful flowers in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white.
Rose of Sharon is easy to care for and thrives in full sun, though it can tolerate a bit of shade. Its blossoms are magnets for butterflies and hummingbirds, adding even more life to your garden’s privacy screen.
10. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are fast-to-moderate-growing deciduous shrubs, adding 1-2 feet annually and reaching 3-10 feet tall. Known for their large, colorful blooms in white, blue, pink, or purple, they make gorgeous privacy screens, especially varieties like Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens.
These fast-growing shrubs thrive in moist, well-drained soil with partial sun and can change flower color based on soil pH. In winter, dried flower heads provide texture, making hydrangeas a beautiful, seasonal choice for a lush, vibrant hedge.
DIY Privacy Landscaping Ideas for Backyards
Mixed Shrub Privacy Fence Ideas
Consider mixing various fast-growing shrubs for a more dynamic, layered look. Combining evergreens with flowering shrubs adds color and texture to your landscape.
Layering Different Plants for Added Privacy and Aesthetic
Plant taller shrubs at the back, with smaller shrubs or decorative grasses in front. This layered approach adds depth and maximizes privacy coverage.
FAQ
-
What are the fastest-growing shrubs for year-round privacy?
-
Leyland Cypress, Thuja Green Giant, and Red Twig Dogwood are popular fast-growing options that stay green all year.
-
-
How long does it take for privacy shrubs to grow tall enough for coverage?
-
With the right conditions, fast-growing shrubs can provide coverage within 1-2 years.
-
-
Can I grow privacy shrubs in containers if I have limited space?
-
Yes, certain shrubs like Boxwood and Dwarf Arborvitae can thrive in containers and still provide some privacy.
-
-
How do I maintain the height and health of my fast-growing privacy shrubs?
-
Regular pruning and seasonal fertilizing will help you control height and promote healthy growth.
-
By choosing the right fast-growing shrubs and giving them proper care, you can transform your outdoor space into a private, green oasis in no time. Remember, “A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” Gertrude Jekyll. With a little effort and the right plants, your backyard can become the perfect retreat you’ve always wanted. Discover the fastest-growing privacy shrubs here!
