Looking to block out nosy neighbors, hush street noise, or simply create a tranquil retreat in your own backyard? Fast-growing privacy shrubs are your secret weapon. These versatile plants don’t just grow quickly—they also add lush greenery, seasonal color, and year-round interest to your landscape. Whether you want a natural fence, a cozy corner, or a stylish screen, the right shrubs can make a huge difference—fast.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through 24 of the best fast-growing privacy shrubs, from classic evergreens to bold, flowering beauties. Each one offers something special, whether it’s rapid growth, minimal upkeep, or show-stopping visual appeal.
🌳 1. Privet Hedges – Classic and Quick to Fill In
Privet is one of the most reliable fast-growing privacy shrubs out there. Known for its dense foliage and upright growth, this classic hedge plant can quickly form a living wall of greenery. In just a couple of seasons, privet can reach impressive heights—making it ideal for blocking out views and creating instant boundaries.
Why Choose Privet?
- Growth Rate: Up to 2–3 feet per year
- Best Use: Formal hedging or structured privacy screens
- Bonus: Responds well to trimming, allowing you to shape it exactly how you like
If you’re after a clean, traditional look with fast results, privet is a timeless choice that won’t let you down.
🌲 2. Arborvitae – Elegant Evergreens with Impressive Speed
Arborvitae shrubs are a go-to favorite for gardeners seeking a fast, attractive way to create privacy. These evergreens boast a tidy, columnar shape that makes them ideal for tight spaces and fence lines. Their vibrant green foliage stays full year-round, giving your garden structure and seclusion in every season.
Why Arborvitae Stands Out:
- Growth Rate: 3–5 feet per year (especially Green Giant varieties)
- Best Use: Property borders, natural fencing, windbreaks
- Bonus: Low maintenance and resistant to most pests
From classic Emerald Green to the vigorous Green Giant, arborvitae varieties offer a polished, evergreen solution for fast-growing privacy that looks good in any garden style.
🌳 3. Leyland Cypress – The Ultimate Fast-Growing Green Wall
If you’re after near-instant privacy, Leyland Cypress is a powerhouse shrub that delivers results quickly. With its towering height and dense, feathery foliage, it forms a thick, elegant barrier that can block wind, sound, and unwanted views—all while adding rich, evergreen beauty to your landscape.
Why Gardeners Love It:
- Growth Rate: Up to 4 feet per year
- Best Use: Tall screens for large yards or along property lines
- Bonus: Tolerates a wide range of soil types and climates
With minimal pruning, Leyland Cypress can grow into a stunning natural fence—ideal for homeowners looking to establish privacy in record time.
🎍 4. Bamboo – A Stylish, Soothing Screen in No Time
Looking for a privacy solution that’s as beautiful as it is fast? Bamboo might be your perfect match. This elegant grass species grows at lightning speed, forming tall, dense clumps that act as a natural wall. Its graceful canes and fluttering leaves add a serene, spa-like vibe to any outdoor space.
Why Bamboo is a Standout Choice:
- Growth Rate: Some types grow up to 3 feet per day in peak season
- Best Use: Contemporary gardens, zen-inspired landscapes, noise reduction
- Bonus: Evergreen, low-maintenance, and visually striking
Opt for clumping bamboo (not running types) to avoid invasive spread while enjoying a fast-growing, eco-friendly privacy screen that’s both functional and fantastic to look at.
🌿 5. Boxwood – Timeless Charm and Year-Round Coverage
Boxwood is a garden classic that brings structure, style, and privacy all in one neat package. While it may not be the fastest grower on this list, it makes up for it with dense foliage, year-round greenery, and incredible versatility. Boxwoods can be shaped into formal hedges or left natural for a softer look—either way, they create a dependable, beautiful screen.
What Makes Boxwood a Great Pick:
- Growth Rate: About 6–12 inches per year
- Best Use: Low to medium-height hedges, foundation plantings
- Bonus: Evergreen, drought-tolerant, and responds well to pruning
Perfect for borders or sectioning off cozy corners of your yard, boxwood is a low-maintenance winner for elegant, enduring privacy.
🌱 6. Laurel – Lush Privacy with a Touch of Elegance
If you want fast-growing greenery that looks full and fabulous, laurel hedging is a top contender. With its large, glossy leaves and dense growth habit, laurel creates a thick, vibrant screen that brings instant seclusion and a polished aesthetic to any garden.
Why Laurel is a Garden Favorite:
- Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
- Best Use: Formal hedges, backyard enclosures, noise barriers
- Bonus: Tolerates shade, pruning, and a variety of soil types
Whether you’re going for a stately look or a lush natural wall, laurel makes it easy to achieve privacy without sacrificing beauty. It’s especially great for homeowners who want a hedge that looks great with minimal effort.
🌳 7. Nellie Stevens Holly – Dense, Glossy, and Practically Impenetrable
When it comes to privacy with personality, Nellie Stevens Holly is a standout. This fast-growing hybrid holly forms a thick wall of rich green foliage accented by bright red berries in fall and winter. Its pyramidal shape and natural density make it perfect for blocking views and adding a pop of seasonal color.
Why It’s a Solid Choice:
- Growth Rate: 2–3 feet per year
- Best Use: Tall hedging, living fences, windbreaks
- Bonus: Deer-resistant and great for wildlife (birds love the berries!)
This holly variety is ideal for those who want privacy with a bit of flair. It’s low-maintenance, beautiful, and reliable—especially in warmer zones where it thrives with minimal fuss.
🌿 8. Skip Laurel – Sleek, Evergreen, and Easy to Grow
Skip Laurel (also known as Cherry Laurel or Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is a superb option for gardeners looking for low-maintenance privacy that still packs a visual punch. With its shiny, deep green leaves and upright growth habit, Skip Laurel forms a dense hedge that stays attractive all year long.
Why You’ll Love Skip Laurel:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Narrow hedge rows, shaded areas, layered screening
- Bonus: Tolerates partial shade and pruning like a champ
This is the perfect choice for tighter spaces where you still want thick coverage. It’s adaptable, easy to care for, and elegant—ideal for adding evergreen privacy with a clean, modern look.
🍃 9. Fast-Growing Holly – Woodland Beauty with a Bold Edge
Fast-growing holly varieties, like American Holly or Ilex aquifolium, deliver privacy with a touch of wild elegance. Their rich green leaves, spiky texture, and striking red berries make them a standout in any landscape—especially when used as a backdrop or woodland screen.
What Sets Fast-Growing Holly Apart:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Natural borders, woodland gardens, wildlife-friendly hedging
- Bonus: Attracts birds and pollinators; drought-tolerant once established
This type of holly is great for gardeners who want privacy and habitat in one. It’s tough, gorgeous, and thrives in a variety of conditions—making it a no-brainer for creating cozy, secluded corners.
🍂 10. Red-Twig Dogwood – Bold Winter Color and Year-Round Privacy
Want a privacy shrub that turns heads even in the dead of winter? Red-Twig Dogwood is your go-to. Known for its fiery red stems that shine against snow or dull winter backdrops, this fast-growing deciduous shrub brings seasonal drama and practical coverage to your garden.
Why Red-Twig Dogwood Rocks:
- Growth Rate: 2–3 feet per year
- Best Use: Mixed borders, privacy with visual interest, winter gardens
- Bonus: Tolerates wet soils and attracts birds with its berries
It’s not just about looks—this shrub offers reliable growth and lush foliage in warmer months, then transforms into a showstopper once the leaves drop. A perfect pick for four-season interest and functional beauty.
🌲 11. Green Giant Thuja – Towering Privacy at Turbo Speed
If you’re serious about creating privacy in a flash, Green Giant Thuja (Thuja standishii x plicata) is hard to beat. This hardy evergreen grows tall, thick, and fast—forming a natural wall of greenery that’s ideal for large properties, wind protection, or blocking out busy roads.
Why It’s Called the “Green Giant”:
- Growth Rate: Up to 3–5 feet per year
- Best Use: Tall hedging, windbreaks, large-scale privacy screens
- Bonus: Resistant to deer, drought, and most pests
With its soft, feathery foliage and uniform shape, this Thuja variety gives your landscape an instant upgrade—minus the long wait. It’s a reliable, low-fuss solution that delivers big on privacy and curb appeal.
🌼 12. Lemon Balm – Aromatic, Fast-Growing, and Full of Charm
Lemon Balm might not be the first plant that comes to mind for privacy, but this fast-growing herb can surprise you. With its bushy growth, cheerful green leaves, and refreshing citrus scent, it quickly fills in borders and softens the edges of your garden. Plus, it’s as functional as it is beautiful.
Why Lemon Balm Deserves a Spot:
- Growth Rate: Rapid—can spread widely in one season
- Best Use: Low hedges, filler between taller privacy plants, herb gardens with a twist
- Bonus: Repels mosquitoes, attracts pollinators, and smells amazing
While it won’t replace a full hedge, Lemon Balm is perfect for layering—offering visual interest and sensory delight as part of a multi-tiered privacy strategy.
🌴 13. Ficus – Tropical Greenery That Grows Like a Dream
If you’re in a warm climate and want fast-growing privacy with a tropical twist, Ficus is your new best friend. Known for its vibrant, glossy leaves and dense growth, this plant makes a bold statement while forming an excellent natural screen. Just give it sun, warmth, and a little space—and watch it thrive.
What Makes Ficus Fabulous:
- Growth Rate: 2–4 feet per year (or more in ideal conditions)
- Best Use: Tropical landscapes, patio screens, warm-climate privacy hedges
- Bonus: Easy to shape, and doubles as a stunning indoor plant in cooler zones
Whether you’re creating a backyard oasis or a private green nook, Ficus adds instant volume, vivid color, and an upscale tropical vibe to your outdoor space.
🌲 14. Chamaecyparis – Soft Textures and Subtle Sophistication
Also known as False Cypress, Chamaecyparis is a graceful evergreen shrub that adds depth, texture, and privacy to any landscape. With its wispy, feathery foliage and soft, almost lacy appearance, it brings an elegant vibe while still delivering solid coverage for your yard.
Why Chamaecyparis Stands Out:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year (depending on the variety)
- Best Use: Accent hedging, layered privacy borders, softening hardscapes
- Bonus: Non-invasive roots, thrives in full sun to partial shade
Chamaecyparis is a top pick for gardeners who want privacy without the typical “wall of green.” It adds movement, charm, and structure—especially when paired with other shrubs in a mixed privacy hedge.
🍁 15. Photinia – Bold Color Meets Fast-Growing Function
Photinia is a privacy powerhouse with a twist—its new leaves emerge a brilliant red before maturing to glossy green, creating a dynamic look that changes with the seasons. This evergreen shrub grows quickly and thickly, making it perfect for those who want both privacy and a pop of color.
Why Photinia is a Fan Favorite:
- Growth Rate: Up to 2–3 feet per year
- Best Use: Decorative hedges, property lines, colorful screens
- Bonus: Easy to shape, drought-tolerant, and attracts birds
Photinia shines in formal or informal gardens alike. With regular pruning, it forms a dense hedge that not only screens your space but also adds serious curb appeal—especially in spring when those fiery red leaves steal the show.
🌿 16. Pyracantha – Thorny, Colorful, and Incredibly Tough
Looking for a privacy shrub that doubles as a natural security system? Pyracantha, also known as Firethorn, brings dense, thorny branches and vibrant clusters of red, orange, or yellow berries that last well into winter. It’s an excellent deterrent for intruders—both human and animal—while adding serious ornamental value to your landscape.
Why Pyracantha Packs a Punch:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Security hedging, privacy screens with color, wildlife gardens
- Bonus: Low-maintenance, attracts birds, and thrives in tough conditions
Whether planted as a freestanding hedge or trained along a fence or wall, Pyracantha provides an unbeatable combo of beauty, privacy, and protection.
🌸 17. Osmanthus – Sweet Fragrance and Evergreen Privacy
If you’re after a shrub that offers privacy and perfume, Osmanthus is a top-tier choice. With its lush, glossy green leaves and small, creamy-white flowers that release a deliciously sweet scent, this evergreen is both practical and delightful. It’s like having a living privacy screen and a natural air freshener in your yard.
Why Gardeners Love Osmanthus:
- Growth Rate: Around 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Fragrant hedging, elegant property dividers, garden backdrops
- Bonus: Deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and evergreen
Osmanthus works beautifully as a standalone hedge or in combination with other privacy plants. Its subtle charm and seasonal fragrance make it a soothing, stylish addition to any outdoor space.
🌼 18. Viburnum – A Burst of Blooms and Fast-Growing Privacy
Viburnum is the multitasker of privacy shrubs—offering fast growth, vibrant flowers, colorful berries, and a variety of leaf shapes and textures. Whether you want a flowering screen, a pollinator-friendly hedge, or a bold background, Viburnum delivers year-round interest and fast results.
Why Viburnum is a Garden MVP:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year (some varieties faster)
- Best Use: Mixed privacy hedges, flowering borders, wildlife-friendly gardens
- Bonus: Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies; some varieties are evergreen
With so many species to choose from—like Viburnum tinus, Viburnum opulus, and Viburnum pragense—you can easily find one that suits your climate, soil, and garden vibe. It’s a privacy plant that brings beauty and biodiversity.
🌞 19. Forsythia – Golden Blooms for Seasonal Privacy
Forsythia is one of the first shrubs to wake up in spring, bursting into vibrant yellow flowers even before the leaves appear. While it’s deciduous, its quick growth and cheerful blooms make it an excellent choice for seasonal privacy or as a dynamic layer in a mixed hedge.
Why Forsythia Deserves a Spot:
- Growth Rate: 2–4 feet per year
- Best Use: Seasonal screening, flowering borders, early spring interest
- Bonus: Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant
Perfect for informal hedges or planting in clusters, Forsythia brings a burst of color just when your garden needs it most. After blooming, its lush green foliage carries on the task of providing privacy through the growing season.
🌲 20. Emerald Green Arborvitae – Slim, Stylish, and Super Private
Don’t have a ton of room but still want full coverage? Emerald Green Arborvitae is the solution. This narrow, columnar evergreen grows tall without spreading too wide, making it perfect for side yards, fence lines, or city gardens where space is at a premium.
Why Emerald Green Works Wonders:
- Growth Rate: About 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Privacy in small spaces, formal garden borders, narrow hedging
- Bonus: Low-maintenance, stays green all year, and naturally pest-resistant
It forms a neat, uniform hedge that looks polished without constant pruning. If you’re short on space but big on privacy goals, Emerald Green Arborvitae delivers both style and substance.
🌸 21. Spirea – Colorful Blooms and Low-Maintenance Privacy
Spirea is a dream for anyone who wants a beautiful, fast-growing shrub without the upkeep. With its arching branches, soft green foliage, and clusters of pink, white, or red flowers, Spirea adds color, texture, and light screening to your garden with very little effort.
Why Spirea is So Loved:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Informal hedges, flowering borders, low-privacy screens
- Bonus: Attracts pollinators, drought-tolerant, and incredibly low-maintenance
While not the tallest shrub on this list, Spirea makes an excellent mid-layer hedge or companion plant in a privacy border. It’s the perfect blend of beauty and simplicity—ideal for beginner gardeners or anyone wanting low-fuss charm.
🌸 22. Lilac – Fragrant Privacy with a Touch of Romance
Lilacs are beloved for their showy purple, pink, or white blooms and unforgettable scent—but they’re also fantastic privacy plants! These fast-growing deciduous shrubs offer dense coverage during the growing season and put on a floral show that signals spring has truly arrived.
Why Lilacs Make a Lovely Barrier:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Seasonal screens, scented hedgerows, cottage-style gardens
- Bonus: Attracts pollinators, long-lived, and low-maintenance
While they lose their leaves in winter, lilacs make up for it with an incredible burst of color and fragrance in spring. Plant them along fences, patios, or pathways where their perfume can be fully appreciated.
🌺 23. Camellia – Southern Elegance with Lush, Flowering Privacy
Camellias are a stunning addition to any privacy plan, especially in warmer regions. These evergreen shrubs bloom with big, beautiful flowers in shades of pink, white, or red—often in late fall or early spring, when few other plants are flowering. Plus, their dense foliage makes them ideal for screening.
Why Camellia Shines:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Flowering hedges, southern gardens, privacy with seasonal interest
- Bonus: Evergreen leaves, long bloom season, and shade-tolerant
Camellias are perfect for layering beauty and function. Whether you plant them as a formal hedge or a more relaxed border, they bring year-round greenery and bursts of floral charm that elevate any outdoor space.
🌸 24. Sasanqua Camellia – Evergreen Privacy with a Softer Touch
A cousin of the traditional Camellia, the Sasanqua Camellia is known for its smaller, daintier blooms and more versatile growth habit. It’s faster-growing, more sun-tolerant, and perfect for creating a refined, flowering privacy screen that’s beautiful all year long.
Why Sasanqua Camellia Is a Standout:
- Growth Rate: 1–2 feet per year
- Best Use: Evergreen hedges, flowering screens, part-sun borders
- Bonus: Blooms in fall and early winter, stays green year-round, and adapts well to pruning
Whether you’re framing a garden path or lining your backyard fence, Sasanqua Camellia adds elegance, structure, and subtle fragrance—making it one of the best choices for evergreen privacy with a soft, seasonal glow.
🌿 Final Thoughts: Create Privacy and Beauty with the Right Shrubs
Fast-growing privacy shrubs are more than just practical—they’re an opportunity to transform your outdoor space into a peaceful, beautiful retreat. Whether you prefer lush evergreens, colorful blooms, or fragrant foliage, there’s a shrub on this list to match your style, space, and maintenance level.
From towering Green Giant Thuja to charming Lilacs and fragrant Osmanthus, these plants offer a natural way to reclaim your space and enjoy more tranquility—without waiting years for results. Mix and match varieties for layered texture and year-round interest, or go bold with a single type for a uniform, elegant hedge.
Whatever your garden goals, privacy is just a few plants away.