Achieve Privacy with These 9 Fast-Growing Hedges

Posted on 22/08/2025

Achieve Privacy with These 9 Fast-Growing Hedges

Feeling overlooked by neighbors or craving a secluded outdoor haven? Establishing privacy hedges is a natural, attractive solution that not only creates a private boundary but also beautifies your landscape and provides a haven for birds and wildlife. In this article, we'll explore nine fast-growing hedges that will help you achieve privacy quickly and effectively. Whether you have a small urban garden or a large rural property, you'll find perfect hedges for privacy tailored to various climates and needs.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

Living fences have stood the test of time for a reason. Fast-growing privacy hedges deliver several advantages:

• Privacy and Security: Dense hedges act as a natural barrier, deterring unwanted views and visitors.
• Noise Reduction: Thick foliage can muffle and absorb urban noise.
• Environmental Benefits: Hedges enhance air quality, serve as windbreaks, and provide vital habitats.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Lush green walls add structure and year-round beauty to gardens.
• Cost-Effective: Compared to building fences or walls, establishing a live privacy screen can be more budget-friendly in the long run.

Ready to discover the best fast-growing hedges for privacy? Let's examine the top picks!

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

The Classic Privacy Powerhouse

Leyland Cypress is one of the most popular and reliable choices for fast-growing privacy screens. With its rapid growth rate--often 3 to 5 feet per year--this evergreen conifer quickly forms a thick, majestic wall of green when planted in rows. Leyland Cypress is tolerant of a variety of soils and adapts to many climates, making it a staple in privacy landscaping.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 60-70 feet (typically trimmed to 20-40 feet for hedging)
• USDA Zones: 6-10
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Best For: Large-scale privacy needs and long fences

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

Low Maintenance and Disease Resistant

Green Giant Arborvitae has earned its place as one of America's favorite fast-growing hedges for privacy. This vigorous hybrid is resistant to common diseases, including the dreaded bagworm, and adapts to various soils. It retains dense foliage all year, providing a rich green privacy barricade even in winter.

• Growth Rate: 3-4 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-50 feet (easily sheared shorter)
• USDA Zones: 5-8
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Best For: Homeowners who want a low-maintenance, resilient hedge

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

The Flexible, Fast-Growing Living Wall

If you need a fast privacy hedge that tolerates shaping, privet is hard to beat. Common privet species, such as Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet), are renowned for thick, lush foliage and a speedy growth rate. Privet is a superb choice for formal hedges and cottage gardens alike.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet (or trimmed lower)
• USDA Zones: 5-8
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Best For: Clipped, formal hedges and versatile privacy screens

4. Bamboo

The Ultimate Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge

Bamboo stands out among quick privacy hedges for its astonishing growth speed--some varieties can shoot up to a foot per day under ideal conditions! Clumping bamboo species make excellent, non-invasive hedges, producing a dense and tall screen in record time. Be sure to select clumping, not running, bamboos to prevent unwanted spread.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3-5 feet per year (or more in prime conditions)
• Mature Height: 10-40+ feet (variety dependent)
• USDA Zones: 6-10 (varies by species)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Best For: Contemporary gardens and tropical looks

5. Holly (Ilex spp.)

Evergreen Elegance With Bonus Berries

Holly varieties such as Ilex crenata (Japanese holly) and Ilex aquifolium are excellent evergreen hedges for privacy. Not only does holly offer glossy leaves year-round, but female plants also bear vibrant winter berries that attract birds. Many holly species are fast growers and can be shaped into formal or informal screens.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year (some species grow faster)
• Mature Height: 10-30 feet (pruned as needed)
• USDA Zones: 5-9 (varies by species)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Best For: Beautiful, wildlife-friendly garden borders

6. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus and Relatives)

Exceptionally Dense and Quickly Grown

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is famous for its robust, broad leaves and lush appearance. With a rapid growth rate and exceptional density, cherry laurel is a favored option for homeowners seeking an impenetrable hedge for privacy. Laurel tolerates heavy shade and even urban pollution, making it suitable for a range of sites.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 15-30 feet (usually trimmed to 6-10 feet)
• USDA Zones: 6-9
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to deep shade
• Best For: Dense, glossy garden hedges in shaded areas

7. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

Striking Color and Fast Growth

The red-tipped photinia is cherished not only for its quick growth but also for its vibrant red new foliage, which gradually turns green as the season progresses. This evergreen is highly popular throughout the southern United States and works well as a privacy hedge when planted in a row and regularly pruned.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• USDA Zones: 7-9
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Best For: Colorful, attractive privacy hedging

8. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

The Timeless, Formal Hedge

No list of quick privacy hedges would be complete without the classic boxwood. While slower than some on this list, many newer varieties like 'Winter Gem' and 'Green Velvet' are noticeably robust. Boxwoods tolerate heavy pruning and can form dense, elegant barriers in urban and suburban spaces.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year (fastest varieties)
• Mature Height: 2-8 feet (depends on the variety; easily trimmed)
• USDA Zones: 4-9
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to shade
• Best For: Shapely, formal garden hedges

9. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)

Flowering Hedges for Four-Season Appeal

Many Viburnum species--such as Viburnum tinus, Viburnum odoratissimum, and Viburnum opulus--grow rapidly and produce beautiful clusters of white or pink flowers followed by ornamental berries. Viburnum can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species, and delivers a lush privacy screen with bonus wildlife value.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year (some types faster)
• Mature Height: 6-15 feet (species dependent)
• USDA Zones: 2-9 (varieties available for most climates)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Best For: Flowering hedges with year-round interest

Tips for Planting Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How to Get the Best Results

• Select the Right Plant: Always consider your USDA zone, soil type, and sunlight conditions before choosing a hedge.
• Spacing is Key: Plant hedges close enough to fill in quickly, but not so close that they crowd each other. A general rule is spacing plants at about two-thirds their mature width.
• Soil Preparation: Improve soil with compost or organic matter to encourage fast, healthy growth.
• Regular Watering: Young hedges need consistent watering, especially during the first couple of years.
• Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds around the base of new plants.
• Fertilizing: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring for best results.
• Pruning: Formative pruning encourages bushy, dense growth and helps maintain the desired shape.
• Pest and Disease Control: Monitor your hedges and act promptly if you spot signs of stress.

Pro Tip: If you need instant privacy, combine fast-growing hedges with temporary fence or screening panels while your plants establish themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions - Fast-Growing Hedges and Privacy Screens

Are fast-growing hedges high-maintenance?

Some hedges, like Arborvitae and Holly, are surprisingly low-maintenance. Others, such as privet or photinia, may require regular pruning to keep them neat and dense. With proper selection and planning, you can achieve privacy without endless upkeep.

How quickly can I expect a living privacy wall?

If you start with young plants of any hedge for privacy on our list, you can expect a defined screen in 2-4 years; some, like Leyland Cypress or bamboo, may reach full height even sooner. Planting larger, container-grown specimens may speed up the process.

Which privacy hedge is best for small gardens?

Boxwood, holly, and smaller variety viburnums are superb choices for compact spaces, as they respond well to pruning and have modest mature sizes.

Can I mix hedge varieties for privacy?

Absolutely! Mixing various fast-growing hedges and evergreens can provide visual interest, seasonal color, and increased biodiversity. Just ensure their sun and water needs align.

The Benefits of Choosing Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy

Installing a hedge for privacy goes far beyond simply screening out unwanted views. Here are a few bonus perks to consider:

• Wildlife Haven: Hedges provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
• Environmental Impact: Plants capture carbon dioxide, lower temperatures, and reduce stormwater runoff.
• Natural Sound Barrier: Live hedges absorb and block traffic and neighborhood noise.
• Boost Curb Appeal: A well-maintained green wall adds significant value and beauty to your property.
• Air Purification: Dense hedges filter airborne particles, dust, and pollutants.

Conclusion: Create Your Living Privacy Retreat

There's no need to settle for chain-link fences or plastic barriers when nature provides better solutions! By choosing the right fast-growing privacy hedges for your climate and garden style, you'll quickly establish a verdant, inviting sanctuary all your own. From the robust Leyland Cypress to the flowering charm of Viburnum, these nine fast-growing hedges deliver beauty, privacy, and so much more. Start planning your living screen today--your backyard paradise awaits!

Find the perfect hedge for privacy and enjoy the multiple rewards that a natural barrier offers, year after year.