My backyard is my go-to spot for my inner peace. Away from gadgets I enjoy the view of green foliage with vibrant blossoms. It really soothes my brain.
But, I don’t want any neighbors to pop into my privacy.
Instead of garden screens, I’d prefer planting fast growing shrubs to block neighbors’ view.
Apart from providing privacy, these shrubs add texture, color and life to your landscape.
Some even pull in birds and butterflies, turning a simple screen into a little slice of nature.
The best part is you don’t have to wait years for results. Pick the right shrub and you’ll have a thick, green wall within a couple of growing seasons.
14 Fast Growing Shrubs for Privacy
Most of these shrubs add one to three feet of height each year, so you get a solid privacy screen within two to three growing seasons.
Give them the right spot and basic care, and they’ll do the rest without much fuss from you.
1. Green Giant Arborvitae
Think of a giant Christmas tree that never loses its needles, and you’ve got a good picture of this shrub. In spring, fresh green growth pushes out along its branches, giving the whole plant a soft, full look. Summer brings a deep, rich green color that holds steady through the heat.
By fall and winter, the foliage barely changes. It stays green and dense even when snow piles up around it, so you never lose your privacy screen during the colder months.
This shrub grows fast, often adding three feet or more each year until it reaches its full height of 40 to 60 feet. Its shape stays neat and pyramid-like without much pruning, which makes it a favorite for tall privacy screens and windbreaks along property lines.
It handles full sun to partial shade and does well in most well-drained soils. Birds often nest inside its thick branches, and deer tend to leave it alone.
Also Read: 18 Steep Hillside Landscaping Ideas within Budget
2. Leyland Cypress
Picture a wall of soft green feathers swaying in the breeze. That’s this shrub in spring, when new growth adds a lighter green tint to its branches. Summer deepens the color, and it holds strong through fall and winter without dropping a single needle.
This shrub shoots up three to four feet a year, quickly reaching 40 to 60 feet tall. It thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and USDA zones 6 to 10, making it perfect for tall privacy hedges and windbreaks.
3. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Picture a slim green column standing guard along your fence line. In spring, soft new tips brighten the tightly packed foliage. Summer keeps it a rich, steady green, and that color holds right through fall and winter without fading or dropping.
This shrub grows at a moderate pace, about one foot a year, reaching 12 to 15 feet tall. It stays narrow and upright, making it ideal for tight side yards or foundation plantings. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil, and thrives in USDA zones 3 to 8.
4. Wax Myrtle
This shrub looks like a shaggy green cloud, with narrow leaves that release a spicy scent when brushed. Spring brings fresh growth along its loose branches. Summer keeps the foliage thick and glossy, and small blue-gray berries show up on female plants by fall, lasting well into winter.
It grows fast, often three feet a year, filling out to 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. This shrub tolerates poor, sandy soil and salty air, making it perfect for coastal hedges. It prefers full sun and thrives in USDA zones 7 to 10, and birds flock to its winter berries.
Check this: 27 Deck Awning Ideas for outdoor space
5. Cherry Laurel
Picture a glossy green hedge that never seems to thin out, no matter the season. Spring brings spikes of small white flowers standing above the dark leaves. Summer keeps the foliage thick and shiny, and that same deep green carries straight through fall and winter without any drop.
This shrub grows fast, adding two feet or more a year, reaching 10 to 18 feet tall. It fills in dense and full, making it a strong choice for privacy hedges or screening along a fence. It grows well in full sun to partial shade, prefers moist well-drained soil, and does best in USDA zones 6 to 9. Birds enjoy the small black fruits it produces later in the season.
6. Carolina Cherry Laurel
This shrub carries the same glossy leaves as its cousin but handles heat and drought with ease. In spring, clusters of tiny white flowers dot the branches, giving off a light, sweet smell. Summer keeps the foliage dark and dense, and small black fruits appear by fall, sticking around through winter.
It grows at a fast clip, often two to three feet a year, topping out at 20 to 30 feet if left alone, though regular trimming keeps it hedge-sized. This native shrub tolerates heat, drought, and poor soil, making it a solid pick for southern privacy screens. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in USDA zones 7 to 10, drawing in songbirds with its winter fruit.
7. Privet
This shrub forms a tight green wall that clips into any shape you like. Spring brings small white flowers with a strong smell some love and others avoid. Summer keeps it dense and leafy, holding color into fall, with dark berries following in winter.
It grows fast, up to three feet a year, reaching 12 to 15 feet. It prefers full sun, adapts to most soils, and suits USDA zones 5 to 8.
8. Red Tip Photinia
Bright red new leaves open each spring, looking almost like small flames against older green foliage. Summer fades the red to deep green, and white flower clusters appear briefly. Fall and winter keep the shrub full and evergreen.
This shrub grows quickly, two to three feet a year, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall. It likes full sun, well-drained soil, and thrives in USDA zones 7 to 9.
Also Read: 22 Paver Edging Ideas for Your Backyard Garden
9. Nellie R. Stevens Holly
Glossy, spiky leaves give this shrub a classic holiday look year-round. Spring brings small white flowers, and by fall, bright red berries cover the branches, lasting through winter.
It grows fast, three feet a year, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall. This shrub prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, and suits USDA zones 6 to 9. Birds love its winter berries.
10. American Holly
Spiky, dark green leaves stay on this shrub all year, giving it a classic evergreen look. Spring brings small white flowers, and by fall, red berries dot the branches, sticking around through winter for a festive touch of color.
This shrub grows slowly to moderately, about one foot a year, reaching 15 to 30 feet tall. It prefers full sun to partial shade, moist well-drained soil, and suits USDA zones 5 to 9.
11. Skip Laurel
This shrub keeps its glossy, dark green leaves through every season, forming a solid wall of color. Spring brings small white flower spikes, and summer keeps the foliage thick and full. Fall and winter show little change, staying lush and evergreen.
It grows at a steady pace, one to two feet a year, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall. It prefers partial shade, moist well-drained soil, and thrives in USDA zones 6 to 9.
12. Red Twig Dogwood
Bright red stems steal the show once the leaves drop, turning this shrub into a winter standout. Spring brings small white flowers, and summer keeps the foliage green and full. Fall leaves shift to a soft reddish-purple before falling away.
This shrub grows fast, up to two feet a year, reaching 6 to 9 feet tall. It prefers full sun to partial shade, moist soil, and suits USDA zones 3 to 8.
13. Burning Bush
This shrub earns its name each fall, when its green leaves turn a fiery, unmistakable red. Spring brings small yellow-green flowers, and summer keeps the foliage a soft green. Winter reveals its corky, textured bark once the leaves drop.
It grows at a moderate pace, one foot a year, reaching 6 to 10 feet tall. It prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, and thrives in USDA zones 4 to 8.
14. Viburnum
This shrub bursts into bloom each spring, covered in clusters of white or pink flowers that fill the air with a sweet scent. Summer keeps the foliage lush and green, and fall brings a mix of red, orange, and purple color, often followed by clusters of dark berries.
It grows at a moderate to fast pace, one to two feet a year, reaching 6 to 15 feet depending on the variety. It prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, and thrives in USDA zones 4 to 9. Birds and butterflies flock to its flowers and berries.
Conclusion
Privacy doesn’t have to mean a tall fence blocking your whole view. These 14 fast growing shrubs give you the same coverage, plus color, texture, and a bit of wildlife along the way.
From the evergreen wall of Green Giant Arborvitae to the seasonal blooms of Viburnum, there’s a shrub here for every yard and every style.
Take a look at your space, check your sun and soil, then pick the shrub that fits best.
Give it a couple of growing seasons, and you’ll have a private backyard that feels like your own little escape.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting