9 Privacy-Enhancing Hedges That Grow Fast

Posted on 27/05/2025

9 Privacy-Enhancing Hedges That Grow Fast

Are you seeking a natural privacy screen for your yard or garden? Privacy-enhancing hedges that grow fast offer an attractive green solution, creating living walls that filter noise, boost security, and enhance curb appeal. In this comprehensive guide, discover nine of the best fast-growing hedge plants for privacy, their benefits, care tips, and how to choose the right variety for your landscape.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Most homeowners prioritize privacy hedges because they grant a lush, living barrier that blocks unwanted views and dampens noise more beautifully than fences. When these hedges grow quickly, you'll enjoy seclusion--and a serene retreat--much sooner. Their benefits include:

• Enhanced privacy and security: Dense foliage obscures sightlines and deters intruders.
• Noise reduction: Thick hedges soak up ambient sounds from roads or neighbors.
• Windbreak: Tall hedgerows buffer strong winds, protecting your garden.
• Wildlife habitat: Fast-growing shrubs offer shelter and food for birds & pollinators.
• Visual beauty: Flowering and evergreen hedges add structure and year-round interest.

Below, explore our curated list of nine quick-growing privacy plants--perfect for every garden style and climate.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Leyland cypress ranks among the most popular fast-growing evergreen privacy hedges. This tall, dense conifer can gain up to 3 feet per year once established, quickly forming a solid green wall.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet annually
• Height: Up to 50 feet tall, easily pruned
• Light needs: Full sun to part shade
• Best for: Large landscapes needing full, tall screening

Key benefit: Leyland cypress offers instant privacy and serves as a robust windbreak. Regular trimming maintains a neat form and mature height.

2. Privet (Ligustrum species)

Privet is a classic choice for fast privacy hedging, renowned for its adaptability and vigorous growth. The dense, glossy-leaved hedge can reach impressive heights with minimal fuss.

• Growth rate: 1-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet tall
• Light needs: Tolerates full sun to shade
• Best for: Formal or informal clipped hedges

Note: Privet is semi-evergreen or deciduous, depending on species and climate. It sports fragrant white flowers in late spring.

3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')

The Green Giant Arborvitae is celebrated for its rapid, upright growth and robust green foliage. It's widely considered one of the most reliable fast-growing privacy shrubs for long-lived hedges.

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Height: 30-50 feet, easily trimmed lower
• Light needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Best for: Large, evergreen screens and windbreaks

Why choose it? This arborvitae variety is low-maintenance, disease-resistant, and keeps vivid color through winter. A top pick for suburban and rural landscapes.

4. Bamboo (Phyllostachys, Bambusa, and Fargesia species)

Bamboo is the fastest-growing privacy screen plant on earth--some varieties grow up to 3 feet a day in the right conditions! Its tall, elegant canes and dense foliage create attractive, modern hedges.

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year (clumping types recommended for privacy hedges)
• Height: 10-30 feet, depending on variety
• Light needs: Full sun or dappled shade
• Best for: Fast, exotic screen; urban gardens

Tip: Clumping bamboo is ideal for privacy hedges as it remains contained and doesn't invade like running types. Always choose the right species for your climate.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Popular in both Europe and North America, cherry laurel is a tough, fast-growing evergreen hedge boasting dark, glossy leaves and spring-scented white blooms.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 15-30 feet (easily clipped to any height)
• Light needs: Sun or deep shade
• Best for: Dense privacy, even in awkward spaces

Bonus: Cherry laurel tolerates pollution and salt spray, making it perfect for coastal gardens and city yards. Deer-resistant and adaptable to most soils.

6. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')

For a flash of color in your privacy hedge, red-tipped photinia is unbeatable. New leaves emerge vivid red, maturing to deep glossy green, while small white flowers add seasonal interest.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet; tolerates hard pruning
• Light needs: Full to partial sun
• Best for: Decorative, fast privacy screens

Did you know? With regular trimming, photinia forms a thick, impenetrable screen perfect for urban privacy.

7. American Holly (Ilex opaca)

This native evergreen shrub is famed for its shiny, spiny leaves and bright red berries (on female plants). American holly forms a dense, wildlife-friendly privacy hedge.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 15-30 feet, easily shaped
• Light needs: Sun or part shade
• Best for: Natural privacy hedge, native plant gardens

Highlight: American holly attracts birds and pollinators, adding winter interest even when much of the garden is dormant.

8. Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

Among the rapid-growing privacy hedges for warmer climates, wax myrtle is a standout. This semi-evergreen shrub brings aromatic, leathery green leaves, preferred by Southern gardeners.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-20 feet tall
• Light needs: Thrives in full sun
• Best for: Privacy with fragrance and native appeal

Fun fact: Wax myrtle also naturally repels insects, making it ideal near outdoor living areas.

9. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus, Viburnum odoratissimum)

Viburnum shrubs come in many forms, but select varieties like Viburnum tinus and sweet viburnum (V. odoratissimum) are prized for their thick growth and fast screening ability.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 8-20+ feet; easily trimmed
• Light needs: Sun or partial shade
• Best for: Flowering privacy hedge with all-season interest

Bonus: These viburnums offer fragrant spring flowers and often blue-black berries for wildlife. They're ideal for mixing in multifunctional hedges with ornamental flair.

How to Choose the Best Fast-Growing Hedge for Privacy

When selecting fast-growing privacy hedges, consider these important factors to ensure you choose the best living screen for your needs:

• Climate and hardiness: Pick species suited to your local USDA plant hardiness zone and rainfall patterns.
• Soil type: Some hedges prefer loamy, well-drained soils, while others tolerate clay or sandy conditions.
• Evergreen vs. deciduous: Evergreen hedges provide year-round coverage; deciduous types offer seasonal privacy.
• Growth habit and size: Think about mature height and spread; some plants work better for tall screens, others for low borders.
• Maintenance level: Fast growers often require regular pruning to keep tidy and control height.
• Wildlife value and allergies: Flowering hedges support bees and birds but may produce pollen.
• Aesthetic impact: What look are you hoping to achieve--formal, natural, colorful, or uniform?

Planting and Caring for Your Privacy Hedge

1. Site and Soil Preparation

Begin by removing weeds and loosening soil where your hedge will be planted. Amend with compost as needed, and check for proper drainage--most fast-growing screening plants dislike waterlogged roots.

2. Spacing and Planting

Follow the recommended spacing for each species (typically 2-5 feet apart). Closer spacing ensures quicker privacy, but plants may need thinning over time.

3. Watering and Feeding

Keep young hedges well-watered for the first year. Once established, most of these privacy hedges tolerate periods of dryness. Feed annually with balanced fertilizer to support lush, healthy growth.

4. Pruning and Shaping

Regular pruning helps fast-growing privacy hedges develop density and a neat shape. Lightly shear evergreen hedges in early spring; flowering types are best pruned after they bloom.

5. Mulching and Weed Control

Mulch at the base with bark or compost to lock in moisture and keep weeds at bay, giving your hedge a strong start.

Common Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How fast do privacy hedges grow?

Many species listed here can put on 2-5 feet of new growth per season with good care, but climate, soil, and initial plant size influence their speed.

Which hedge is best for year-round privacy?

Evergreen hedges (such as Leyland cypress, Green Giant arborvitae, and cherry laurel) provide continuous coverage, even in winter.

How soon will I get a solid screen?

With fast-growing varieties and optimal planting, privacy can be achieved in as little as 1-3 years. Good maintenance is key for rapid results!

Do I need to prune a fast-growing hedge?

Yes. Regular pruning encourages fuller, denser screens and prevents hedges from becoming leggy.

Final Tips for Lush, Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

• Select healthy nursery stock with strong roots for quicker establishment.
• Install drip irrigation to make watering easier over dry spells.
• Mix species for a more resilient and wildlife-friendly privacy hedge.
• Monitor for pests and diseases, especially in very dense plantings.
• Fertilize in early spring to maximize annual growth.

In Conclusion: Enjoy Your Fast, Living Privacy Screen

Ready to reclaim your outdoor space with a fast-growing privacy hedge? Each of these nine species offers rapid growth, lasting coverage, and tons of visual appeal--no matter your garden's style. Choose the right plants for your climate and needs, follow good planting techniques, and enjoy a lush living barrier that makes your backyard a true sanctuary. Whether you go for the towering evergreen wall of Leyland cypress, the colorful new growth of photinia, or the native charm of American holly, your privacy hedge will reward you with years of beauty, seclusion, and natural wonder.