9 Hedges that Quickly Flourish for Your Privacy
Posted on 26/06/2025
9 Hedges that Quickly Flourish for Your Privacy
Privacy is a high priority for many homeowners, especially as neighborhoods grow denser and outdoor living becomes more popular. Fortunately, you don't have to wait years for bushy hedges to shield your yard from prying eyes and to create a natural green barrier. If you want immediate impact, several fast-growing privacy hedge options are available. In this comprehensive guide, we will introduce 9 hedges that quickly flourish for your privacy--offering not just rapid growth but also lush foliage, year-round beauty, and practicality in a range of climates.
Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?
Fast-growing hedges provide a living privacy screen much quicker than their slow-growing counterparts. Besides instant gratification, they:
- Block unwanted views faster.
- Reduce noise pollution from streets or neighbors.
- Provide homes for wildlife and pollinators.
- Add structure and greenery to landscaping all year round.
- Serve as windbreaks and natural fences.
Let's dig into the best low-maintenance, rapid-growing hedge plants perfect for your garden or yard.
Top 9 Hedges That Quickly Flourish for Private Spaces
1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)
Leyland cypress is famed as one of the fastest growing privacy bushes. It can stretch up to 3-4 feet per year, forming a dense, evergreen wall in record time. With its fine, feathery foliage, it delivers excellent year-round privacy and sound reduction.
- Growth Rate: Extremely rapid
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Care Tips: Regular pruning keeps height manageable (ideal hedge height: 10-15 feet)
- Best For: Large properties, windbreaks, and tall privacy screens
2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Privet hedges have long been a classic for privacy, and their fast growth rate is a big part of their appeal. Renowned for their tidy appearance and adaptability, privets can thrive with regular shaping and tolerate heavy pruning.
- Growth Rate: Up to 2-3 feet per year
- Light: Sun or partial shade
- Care Tips: Prune for density; varieties include English privet, Japanese privet, and California privet.
- Best For: Formal or informal hedges, boundary lines
3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')
Among the best fast-growing evergreen hedges, the Green Giant arborvitae can reach heights of 30-40 feet if let to grow naturally. Most importantly, it's resistant to many pests and adapts well to different soils.
- Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Care Tips: Water regularly during establishment. Prune for shape and size control.
- Best For: Large privacy screens, low-maintenance hedges
4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel forms an attractive glossy-leafed hedge that grows robustly in various climates. With a little care, it can quickly block out unwanted sights and sounds.
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Light: Survives full shade, but grows best in sun or dappled light
- Care Tips: Known for drought-tolerance; trim after flowering to control growth.
- Best For: Foundation plantings, borders, and shaded boundaries
5. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Red-tipped photinia is famous for its striking red new foliage and dense, fast growth. This colorful privacy hedge plant remains evergreen in milder winters, adding seasonal interest and efficient screening.
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Light: Full sun preferred
- Care Tips: Needs well-drained soil; prune to encourage bushiness and prevent disease
- Best For: Ornamental privacy fence lines, large property boundaries
6. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp. and Bambusa spp.)
For instant vertical privacy, nothing beats bamboo. Clumping bamboo varieties are best for non-invasive hedges, quickly shooting up to a lush, tall screen in a few years.
- Growth Rate: Up to 5 feet per year (some more)
- Light: Sun to partial shade
- Care Tips: Choose clumping over running types for easy maintenance; contain roots with barriers.
- Best For: Asian-inspired gardens, contemporary landscapes, narrow spaces
7. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
A favorite for hundreds of years, boxwood creates crisp, evergreen hedges that can also grow surprisingly fast, especially certain cultivars. While not the absolute fastest, it's one of the best hedges for classic garden privacy.
- Growth Rate: 12-24 inches per year (cultivar dependent)
- Light: Sun or part shade
- Care Tips: Shape regularly for tidiness and renewal
- Best For: Formal hedges, knot gardens, smaller boundaries
8. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus, V. odoratissimum)
With both evergreen and semi-evergreen varieties, viburnums offer quick cover with fragrant spring blooms. Many varieties, such as Sweet Viburnum, quickly fill out into dense leafy hedges--a great match for colorful privacy screens.
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Care Tips: Prune after flowering for bushiness and shape maintenance
- Best For: Mixed privacy screens, flowering borders
9. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
The wax myrtle is a southern favorite prized for its aromatic foliage and rapid growth. It's salt and drought tolerant, making it an excellent choice for challenging sites where privacy is paramount.
- Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
- Light: Sun to part shade
- Care Tips: Trim to maintain a tidy hedge, especially in the first years of growth
- Best For: Coastal gardens, privacy along fences and driveways
How to Select the Best Fast-Growing Hedge for Privacy?
When picking a fast-flourishing privacy hedge, consider these important factors:
- Climate Adaptability: Select species that thrive in your growing zone.
- Sunlight Needs: Some hedges excel in shade while others need full sun.
- Soil Conditions: Check for drainage and fertility requirements.
- Height and Spread: Plan for the mature size to avoid overcrowding or constant pruning.
- Maintenance: Decide if you prefer low-care options or don't mind a bit of annual trimming.
Tips for Planting and Caring for Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges
- Prepare the soil well by loosening and enriching with compost.
- Space plants according to mature spread for even, healthy growth.
- Water deeply and regularly during the first 1-2 years.
- Mulch to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
- Shape and prune after the main flush of growth to encourage fullness.
- Feed with balanced fertilizer in spring for robust development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges
What is the fastest-growing hedge for privacy?
Leyland cypress and Green Giant arborvitae are generally considered the quickest privacy hedges, capable of adding 3-5 feet of height per year in ideal conditions.
Which hedges work well in small gardens?
Boxwood and certain compact varieties of privet or viburnum are excellent choices for smaller or urban gardens.
Are fast-growing hedges evergreen?
Many (like leyland cypress and cherry laurel) are evergreen, retaining leaves all year for consistent privacy. Some, like viburnum, may be semi-evergreen in colder climates.
How close should I plant privacy hedge shrubs?
Most fast-growing hedges for privacy should be spaced 2-3 feet apart for dense coverage, but always check the specific plant's mature spread.
Conclusion: Plant Your Path to Privacy
When you choose from these 9 fast-growing privacy hedges, you're well on your way to enjoying a secluded, green sanctuary in your own backyard. Whether you're aiming for a classic evergreen hedge, a flowery screen, or a modern, vertical look, there's a rapid-growing option ideal for every taste and climate. With proper care, you'll enjoy both beauty and privacy for years to come.
Start planting! Select the hedge that fits your home and climate, and soon you'll reap the rewards of a naturally private outdoor haven. For more expert landscaping tips and hedge ideas, explore our related articles and keep your garden thriving.
