Achieve privacy with 9 fast-growing hedges for any landscape

Posted on 10/09/2025

Achieve Privacy with 9 Fast-Growing Hedges for Any Landscape

Are you searching for natural ways to create privacy in your outdoor space? With urban and suburban development on the rise, homeowners are increasingly seeking options to enhance privacy while also beautifying their landscape. One of the most effective and visually appealing solutions is the use of fast-growing privacy hedges. These natural barriers not only provide seclusion but can also add value, greenery, and tranquility to any property. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top nine fastest-growing hedges that will help you achieve privacy and transform your landscape into a serene haven.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

When it comes to privacy landscaping, speed is often of the essence. Many traditional hedges and trees can take years to grow tall and thick enough to provide effective screening. Opting for quick-growing hedge plants allows you to:

Achieve privacy in less time
Block unwanted views
Reduce noise from busy roads or neighbors
Create defined outdoor spaces
Enhance curb appeal and property value

Imagine relaxing in your backyard sanctuary, surrounded by lush, green foliage shielding you from prying eyes--fast-growing hedges make this a reality far sooner than you might expect.

backyard property

Important Factors When Selecting Hedges for Privacy

Not every fast-growing hedge plant is suitable for every climate or requirement. Consider the following factors before making your choice:

Climate: Will the plant thrive in your USDA hardiness zone?
Sunlight: Does the area receive full sun, partial shade, or deep shade?
Soil Type: Is your soil acidic, alkaline, sandy, loamy, or clay-based?
Water Needs: How drought-tolerant is the plant?
Maintenance Level: Are you looking for a low-maintenance hedge or are you willing to trim and shape it?
Height and Width: How tall and wide do you want the privacy screen to grow?
Evergreen or Deciduous: Do you want year-round privacy or are deciduous hedges acceptable?

Select the right hedge for your landscape, and you'll enjoy natural privacy for years to come.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Hedges to Achieve Privacy in Any Landscape

To help you make an informed decision, we've curated a list of the best fast-growing plants for creating a privacy screen. Each option is unique, offering different aesthetics, growth rates, and care requirements. Let's explore the top fast-growing hedges for privacy:

1. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: Up to 40-60 feet tall, 12-18 feet wide

Green Giant Arborvitae is prized for its fast, dense growth and adaptability. It maintains rich green foliage all year, making it an excellent choice for those desiring year-round seclusion. Its uniform shape and tolerance for different soils make it a low-maintenance staple in privacy landscaping.

2. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Growth Rate: 3-4 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 6-10
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Height/Width: 60-70 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide

The Leyland Cypress is renowned for its rapid vertical growth and ability to form a solid green barrier in just a few years. Its soft blue-green foliage creates a uniform screen, perfect for large properties and windy sites. Regular trimming can maintain a more manageable height and ensure full, thick coverage.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: 4-15 feet tall, 4-8 feet wide

Privet hedges are among the fastest shrub options for creating privacy boundaries. They tolerate regular trimming for formal hedges and are well-loved for their ability to quickly fill in gaps. Some species, like Ligustrum ovalifolium, are semi-evergreen, offering partial privacy protection year-round.

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 6-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Height/Width: 10-20 feet tall, 5-10 feet wide

This robust shrub offers glossy, deep-green leaves and fragrant spring flowers. Cherry Laurel is highly adaptable and can thrive in shade, making it ideal for north-facing borders or under tree canopies. With its quick growth and thick foliage, it's a top pick for fast privacy hedges in challenging spots.

5. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 7-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: 10-15 feet tall, 5-10 feet wide

Red-Tipped Photinia is a vibrant choice for privacy fencing, thanks to its brilliant red new growth that matures to a deep green. This eye-catching shrub forms a dense barrier and is especially striking in spring and fall. It's easily shaped into a formal hedge and provides an excellent backdrop for mixed plantings.

6. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Growth Rate: Up to 1.5 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: 2-15 feet tall, 2-6 feet wide (variety dependent)

Classic boxwood hedges offer elegance and year-round privacy. While some types grow slower than others, varieties like the 'Wintergreen' or 'Green Mountain' offer above-average speed while maintaining dense, evergreen foliage. Boxwoods are ideal for formal gardens, low borders, and traditional privacy fencing.

7. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

Growth Rate: Several feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 5-10 (variety dependent)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: 10-30+ feet tall, width varies

Bamboo is unrivaled when it comes to ultra-fast, lush screening. Its tall canes and dense leaves make it an effective privacy plant for modern and tropical-style landscapes. Clumping varieties are recommended over running types to prevent invasive spread. Bamboo brings soft rustling sounds, vertical interest, and modern flair to your outdoor retreat.

8. Pyracantha (Firethorn)

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 6-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height/Width: 6-20 feet tall, width varies

Pyracantha offers exceptional privacy--and added security--with its dense, thorny branches. In addition to rapid growth, its clusters of white spring flowers and bright red or orange berries attract pollinators and birds. Use Firethorn for impenetrable hedging along property lines and boundaries where additional protection is desired.

9. Escallonia

Growth Rate: 1.5-2 feet per year
Hardiness Zones: 7-10
Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade
Height/Width: 4-15 feet tall, 4-8 feet wide

Escallonia brings both privacy and color to your borders. With glossy green leaves and clusters of pink, red, or white flowers from late spring through summer, it's a favorite for pollinators and homeowners alike. This shrub tolerates coastal conditions and makes a lush, flowering hedge in milder climates.

Caring for Your Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

To achieve lasting privacy, you'll need to look after your new hedge. Here are expert tips for success:

Soil Preparation: Start with well-draining soil. Use organic matter to improve poor soils.
Proper Spacing: Plant shrubs far enough apart to allow full, healthy growth--check each variety's requirements.
Watering: Water new plantings regularly, especially during the first year. Most hedges prefer deep, infrequent watering.
Fertilization: Feed fast-growing hedges in spring and fall with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for vigorous growth.
Pruning and Trimming: Regular trimming encourages thick, bushy growth and helps maintain the desired shape and height.
Pest & Disease Management: Monitor for pests like aphids or fungal issues and treat early to prevent spread.

Well-chosen and well-maintained fast-growing hedges can thrive for decades, serving as living walls and beautiful boundaries.

Creative Design Ideas for Privacy Hedges

Privacy doesn't have to mean boring. Try these hedge design ideas to add personality and charm to your landscape:

Combine multiple hedge varieties with different leaf colors and textures for year-round appeal.
Mix flowering shrubs with evergreen hedges for seasonal color and fragrance.
Shape hedges into arches, waves, or classic geometric forms for a unique look.
Layer tall background hedges with lower shrubs for added depth and soundproofing.
Plant climbing vines like jasmine or clematis at the base of hedges for vertical blooms.

Benefits of Fast-Growing Hedges for Home Privacy

Choosing fast-growing privacy hedges over fences or walls brings a host of environmental and aesthetic benefits:

Natural air filtration and improved air quality
Increased wildlife habitat for birds and beneficial insects
Beautiful year-round foliage and seasonal interest
Lower noise levels from outside sources
Added property value and curb appeal
Reduced soil erosion on slopes and hillsides
Increased cooling and energy savings by providing shade and windbreaks

With the right privacy hedge, you create a peaceful retreat--naturally.