21 Fast-Growing Privacy Shrubs to Create Your Perfect Backyard Sanctuary
Looking for quick solutions to block nosy neighbors or unsightly views?
Fast-growing privacy shrubs offer the perfect combination of beauty and functionality for your landscape needs.
Unlike fences or walls, living privacy screens grow more beautiful with time, provide habitat for wildlife, and can dramatically increase your property value.
Plus, many varieties can add several feet of height in just one growing season!
Ready to transform your exposed yard into a private retreat? Let’s explore 21 fast-growing shrubs that will create the secluded oasis you’ve been dreaming of.
1: Arborvitae (Thuja)
These evergreen workhorses grow up to 3 feet per year and form dense, uniform screens that retain privacy year-round.
Popular varieties like ‘Green Giant’ and ‘Emerald Green’ reach impressive heights while maintaining a relatively narrow footprint.
Plant them 3-4 feet apart for a seamless living wall.
Their low-maintenance nature and tolerance for various soil conditions make them a top choice for privacy hedges across most of North America.
2: Leyland Cypress
Few plants can match the Leyland Cypress for rapid growth – expect 3-4 feet yearly in ideal conditions.
Their feathery, blue-green foliage creates a soft-textured screen that can reach 40-60 feet if left unpruned.
Adaptable to most soil types, these pyramidal evergreens thrive in zones 6-10. Just ensure you have ample space, as they can spread 15-20 feet at maturity.
3: Bamboo
For truly impressive growth rates, bamboo is unmatched – some varieties can grow 3 feet in just 24 hours!
Choose clumping varieties like Fargesia to avoid the invasive spreading that running bamboos are notorious for.
The rustling sound of bamboo leaves adds a peaceful audio element to your garden.
Their hollow stems and delicate leaves create an exotic, resort-like atmosphere in any landscape.
4: Privet (Ligustrum)
This traditional hedge plant earns its popularity through reliable growth of 2-3 feet annually.
Varieties like ‘Sunshine’ offer golden foliage that brightens shady areas, while ‘Waxleaf’ provides glossy, dark green leaves.
Privet responds exceptionally well to shearing, allowing you to create formal, tailored privacy screens.
The fragrant white flower clusters in summer attract butterflies, adding ecological value to your boundary line.
5: Red Twig Dogwood
These versatile shrubs provide year-round interest with bright red winter stems that create a stunning display when other plants lie dormant.
Growing 2-3 feet yearly, they quickly form dense thickets reaching 8-10 feet tall.
Red twig dogwoods thrive in wet areas where other shrubs struggle.
Their white spring flowers, summer berries, and vibrant fall colors make them a four-season privacy solution.
6: Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Enjoy intoxicating citrus-scented blooms while gaining privacy with this fast-growing deciduous shrub.
Growing up to 2 feet per year, mock orange reaches 10-12 feet tall and nearly as wide when mature.
The fountain-like growth habit creates a graceful, arching screen.
After the spectacular spring flowering period, the dense foliage continues to provide excellent privacy throughout summer and fall.
7: Forsythia
Nothing announces spring like forsythia’s brilliant yellow blooms.
These vigorous shrubs grow 1-2 feet annually, quickly forming a 8-10 foot tall boundary that’s virtually maintenance-free.
Their naturally arching branches create an informal, relaxed privacy screen.
Plant in full sun for the most prolific flowering and densest growth habit.
8: Cleyera
This elegant evergreen offers rich burgundy new growth that matures to glossy deep green.
Growing 1-2 feet yearly, Cleyera forms a dense 10-12 foot screen with minimal maintenance.
Small, fragrant white flowers appear in spring, followed by colorful berries.
Cleyera’s tolerance for shade makes it perfect for creating privacy in woodland gardens or areas where other screening plants might struggle.
9: Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
This native evergreen combines rapid growth with exceptional durability.
Growing 1-2 feet annually, Eastern Red Cedar creates a dense, textural screen that wildlife adores.
Their distinctive blue berries attract birds, while the aromatic foliage naturally repels certain insects.
These drought-tolerant trees require almost no maintenance once established, making them perfect for boundary plantings.
10: Photinia
The stunning red new growth of Photinia creates a vibrant privacy screen that changes color throughout the seasons.
Growing 2-3 feet yearly, these evergreen shrubs quickly reach 10-12 feet tall.
White flower clusters appear in spring, creating a beautiful contrast against the red foliage.
Regular pruning encourages more red new growth, allowing you to maintain both privacy and the dramatic color display.
11: Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)
These versatile evergreens closely resemble boxwood but grow much faster at 1-2 feet per year.
Their small, dense leaves create a refined privacy screen that responds exceptionally well to shearing.
Japanese holly thrives in partial shade, making it perfect for creating privacy along woodland edges.
Their black berries provide winter interest and food for birds after the growing season ends.
12: Viburnum
With over 150 species available, viburnums offer something for every landscape need.
Fast-growing varieties like ‘Alleghany’ and ‘Prague’ add 2-3 feet of height annually while providing multi-season interest.
Spectacular spring flowers give way to colorful berries that attract wildlife.
The dense branching structure creates effective privacy even in winter when deciduous varieties have dropped their leaves.
13: Ninebark (Physocarpus)
Named for its exfoliating bark that adds winter interest, ninebark grows an impressive 2-3 feet yearly.
Colorful varieties like ‘Diabolo’ and ‘Coppertina’ offer burgundy or golden foliage that stands out in the landscape.
Clusters of white or pink flowers appear in late spring, attracting pollinators.
These tough native shrubs tolerate poor soil and neglect while still providing rapid screening.
14: Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Combining rapid growth with wildlife benefits, butterfly bush can add 3-4 feet in a single season.
Modern sterile varieties like ‘Miss Molly’ and ‘Blue Chip’ offer the growth you want without invasive spreading.
The fragrant flower panicles attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects all summer long.
Cut back hard in early spring to maintain dense growth and maximum flowering.
15: Euonymus
Evergreen varieties like ‘Manhattan’ grow 1-2 feet yearly while providing year-round screening with minimal care.
Variegated forms like ‘Emerald Gaiety’ brighten shady areas with their white-edged leaves.
Euonymus tolerates heavy pruning, allowing you to create formal hedges or more natural privacy screens.
Their adaptability to various light conditions makes them versatile privacy solutions for challenging spots.
16: California Lilac (Ceanothus)
These West Coast natives combine rapid growth with stunning blue flower displays.
Growing 1-2 feet yearly, they quickly form an 8-10 foot screen covered in pollinator-friendly blooms each spring.
Drought-tolerant once established, California lilacs require almost no supplemental irrigation.
Their evergreen nature in milder climates ensures year-round privacy with minimal maintenance.
17: Wax Myrtle
This versatile evergreen grows 3-5 feet in its first few years, quickly creating dense screening.
The aromatic leaves naturally repel mosquitoes and other insects, making your outdoor space more comfortable.
Wax myrtle’s salt tolerance makes it ideal for coastal properties. The waxy gray berries provide winter food for birds while adding visual interest to your privacy screen.
18: Cherry Laurel
Growing 2-3 feet annually, cherry laurel quickly forms an impenetrable evergreen screen with glossy leaves and fragrant spring flowers.
Popular varieties like ‘Skip’ and ‘Otto Luyken’ offer size options for different spaces.
These adaptable shrubs tolerate heavy shade where many screening plants struggle.
The dense branching pattern effectively blocks views even when planted in a single row.
19: Holly (Ilex)
Beyond the familiar Christmas holly, this diverse genus offers many fast-growing privacy options.
‘Nellie Stevens’ holly grows 2-3 feet yearly, creating a dense, prickly barrier that discourages trespassers.
The glossy evergreen leaves provide year-round screening while red berries add winter interest.
Plant both male and female specimens to ensure the heaviest berry production on female plants.
20: Loropetalum
These distinctive shrubs offer purple-burgundy foliage and hot pink fringe-like flowers while growing 1-2 feet per year.
Reaching 10-15 feet tall and nearly as wide, they quickly create substantial screening.
Loropetalum’s tolerance for various soil conditions makes it adaptable to most landscapes.
The year-round color makes these evergreens a standout choice among privacy options.
21: American Beautyberry
This native shrub combines rapid growth with spectacular purple berry clusters that persist well into winter.
Growing 2-3 feet yearly, beautyberry quickly reaches its mature height of 6-8 feet.
The arching branches create a natural, graceful screen that’s especially effective when planted in groups.
Fall brings bright yellow foliage before the leaves drop to reveal the vivid purple berries.
Conclusion
With these fast-growing privacy shrubs, you can transform your exposed yard into a secluded retreat in just a season or two.
Choose varieties that match your climate, soil, and style preferences to create your perfect outdoor sanctuary.
