Categories: Outdoor

The 11 Best Fast Growing Plants for Privacy from Neighbors

Published by
James marcus

Last updated on September 30th, 2023 at 04:13 am

Privacy in your yard, made possible by fast-growing plants, allows you to enjoy outdoor living fully. Establishing a green barrier with these plants can shield you from prying eyes in a world increasingly void of personal space. Explore our best fast growing plants for privacy from neighbors.

What is the fastest growing plant for a privacy screen?

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant for privacy screens, specifically the clumping Bamboo. It swiftly creates a dense, lush, exotic privacy barrier sporting large, green leaves. Clumping Bamboo can soar in height with optimal conditions.

It thrives best in full sunlight and requires regular watering due to its high water needs, making it ideal for an instant and aesthetic privacy screen.

11 Best Fast Growing Plants for Privacy from Neighbors

11 Best Fast Growing Plants for Privacy from Neighbors

If you’re seeking a more natural solution to maintain privacy from your neighbors, here are eleven fast-growing plants that make excellent natural screens and add beauty and charm to your outdoor space.

  1. Boxwood
  2. Arborvitae
  3. Skip Laurel
  4. Bougainvillea
  5. Holly
  6. Lilac
  7. Bigleaf hydrangea
  8. Leyland cypress
  9. North privet
  10. Euonymus
  11. Clumping Bamboo

Boxwood [Buxus spp.]

Boxwood [Buxus spp.] is a favourable choice for those seeking privacy from neighbours due to its easy pruning, robust growth, and dense green foliage.

Boxwood is a hardy and long-lived plant. Some varieties can live for hundreds of years if properly cared for.

Adaptable to heavy pruning, boxwoods can be shaped into numerous designs, providing beauty and privacy.

Additionally, it thrives with low maintenance, making it a favorite for homeowners wanting to balance privacy with minimal garden effort.

Boxwood growing guide

Arborvitae [Thuja occidentalis]

Arborvitae, scientifically known as Thuja occidentalis, is a popular and fast-growing plant, perfect for creating privacy from nosy neighbors. Its rapid growth rate is up to 1-2 feet per year.

The dense foliage of Thuja occidentalis provides excellent shelter and nesting sites for various bird species.

Depending on the variant, an impressive mature size ranging from 12 to 60 feet tall makes it an excellent choice for a living fence. Another fascinating characteristic is its dense and lush evergreen foliage, delivering year-round privacy plus beauty.

Enjoy your harmonious and private outdoor space, unbothered by prying eyes, thanks to the splendid Arborvitae hedge!

Arborvitae growing guide

Skip Laurel [Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’]

Skip Laurel, scientifically known as Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’, boasts a moderate growth rate of up to two feet per year and can reach 10-18 feet in height and 5-7 feet in width.

Skip Laurel is highly cold-hardy and can withstand freezing temperatures, making it suitable for various climates.

With their dense evergreen foliage and tolerance to sunlight variation, they serve as resilient and fast-growing privacy plants from pesky neighbors. What makes it even more compelling is its ability to withstand dry climates and pollution while being deer-proof!

This versatile laurel thrives with proper care, flourishing across USDA zones 5 to 10, a testament to its adaptability.

Skip Laurel growing guide

Bougainvillea [Bougainvillea spp.]

The Bougainvillea, often called the “Burgundy Queen,” is a vibrant and swiftly growing plant perfect for creating your private little oasis. Its vigorous nature allows it to reach up to 30 feet, effortlessly weaving through trellises and fences or standing out in large patio pots.

While the bracts are showy and attention-grabbing, Bougainvillea’s small white flowers are the actual reproductive structures that attract bees and other pollinators.

The plant’s foliage boasts stunning deep wine-red leaves and spectacular burgundy hues in flower-like bracts, thus providing a visual and physical privacy barrier from nosy neighbors.

Enjoy the double delight of privacy and dramatic aesthetics with this power-packed nature masterpiece.

Bougainvillea growing guide

Holly [Ilex]

Holly trees, particularly the popular Nellie Stevens Holly, are gaining increased traction among homeowners for their swift growth rate and dense foliage, offering an instant natural barrier for privacy from neighbors.

Holly trees and shrubs are known for their distinctive foliage and red or black fruits, which persist into winter and are popular Christmas decorations.

Furthermore, their capacity to flourish in growing zones 6-9, requiring minimal maintenance and tolerance to drought, makes them a stellar choice. The added cherry-on-top is their appeal to bird enthusiasts, as these trees are a hot spot for these feathered friends.

So, put on that gardening cap, roll up those sleeves, and get ready to enjoy the natural beauty and unparalleled privacy that the fast-growing Holly tree brings to your home.

Holly growing guide

Lilac [Syringa spp.]

The Common Lilac, or Syringa vulgaris, is a remarkable and swiftly growing shrub with privacy perks and enchanting charm. The plant’s height (8-15 feet) and width (6-12 feet) make it an excellent natural fence.

Lilacs come in seven colors, but most people are familiar with the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, which blooms in the northern states for two weeks in late May.

Its moderate growth rate can reach 2 feet annually, providing a substantial barrier against neighbors quickly. Aside from privacy, the lilac’s lovely and fragrant blooms serve as delightful bonuses, enhancing springs with a burst of purples.

Lilac growing guide

Bigleaf hydrangea [Hydrangea macrophylla]

Bigleaf hydrangea, native to Japan, are ideal fast-growing plants for privacy against nosy neighbors due to their size and dense foliage. It can grow up to 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall as a hydrangea, and its large leaves can act as a natural screen.

Hydrangeas are often associated with gratitude, grace, and abundance.

The plant offers further ornamental value with its stunning bouquet-like inflorescences that bloom from summer to winter, adding a pop of color to your privacy fence.

Bigleaf Hydrangea growing guide

Leyland cypress [Cupressus x leylandii]

The Leyland cypress, or Cupressus x leylandii, is an A-list favorite for creating effective fast growing plants for a privacy screen for neighbors due to its robust growth rate of three to five feet per year.

Leyland Cypress is a popular plant for use as a screen or windbreaker because it forms a dense barrier and can grow well in a variety of soil and climate conditions

This tree’s popularity soars across the United States, promising an attractive soft, feathery evergreen screen that matures uniformly and symmetrically.

Immensely accommodating, they thrive regardless of soil type, provided you can offer them ample sun. As a bonus, these lovely trees also serve as an excellent windbreak.

Leyland cypress

North privet [Ligustrum x ibolium]

North privet, or Ligustrum x ibolium, is a beloved shrub ideal for creating private spaces, given its rapid growth rate – up to one meter per year – and dense branches when sheared frequently.

Ligustrum x ibolium, like other privet species, can be invasive and easily escape cultivation when birds disperse its seeds.

It’s a remarkably fast-growing plant that forms a dense, leafy wall ideal for shielding view from neighbors. Plus, its attractive inflorescences bring a dash of bloom to any space during the spring.

With its dense foliage and fast growth, North Privet is an excellent choice for quick privacy. Just remember to keep up the occasional pruning to maintain your desired hedge height and density!

North privet growing guide

Euonymus [Euonymus spp.]

Euonymus is a favorably fast-growing privacy plant with its many species and varieties. Its richly colored foliage, resilience against a range of weather conditions, and adaptability to different types of soils contribute to its quick growth.

Some common names of Euonymus include spindle (or spindle tree), burning-bush, strawberry-bush, wahoo, wintercreeper, or simply euonymus

This allows it to effectively function as a privacy hedge from neighbors. It’s not only about utility – Euonymus also adds beauty to the garden with its small, endearing flowers.

Euonymus growing guide

Clumping Bamboo [Bambusa spp.]

The Clumping Bamboo, scientifically known as Bambusa spp., offers an effective, eco-friendly, and graceful solution for privacy from neighbors due to its rapid growth rate.

Clumping bamboo is a non-invasive type of bamboo that forms clumps or tight clusters of canes.

It forms dense clusters, reaching heights of ten to fifteen feet, effectively shielding your property without invading surrounding spaces.

This mesmerizing plant thrives in smaller spaces and containers, adding a touch of elegance to patios while increasing privacy. It truly is a pleasant blend of style and utility!

Clumping Bamboo growing guide

Factors to Consider When Choosing Plants for Privacy

When considering growing privacy plants in your outdoor space against neighbors. Understanding your exact requirements, the growing conditions in your zone, and the specific care instructions for each plant are crucial for a healthy, thriving green screen; let’s delve deeper into these factors.

  • Height and Density
  • Growth Rate
  • Evergreen vs. Deciduous
  • Maintenance Requirements
  • Soil and Light Conditions
  • Climate Adaptability
  • Aesthetic Appeal
  • Allergies and Toxicity
  • Local Regulations

Height and Density

Height and density are integral when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy as they directly influence the level of coverage and privacy achieved.

Higher plants like Holly or Arborvitae can provide full coverage, effectively blocking visibility into your property.

Conversely, dense shrubs, often of moderate height, offer a substantial visual barrier and block out wind and noise, enhancing seclusion and tranquility.

Growth Rate

The growth rate of plants is a critical factor to consider when choosing plants for privacy, as it directly impacts how quickly you can achieve your desired level of seclusion.

Faster-growing varieties offer privacy in less time, which is particularly beneficial in overlooked gardens or open yards. However, it’s essential to remember that several environmental conditions, like water supply, temperature, and exposure to sunlight or shade, can influence the growth rate.

Evergreen vs. Deciduous

Considering Evergreen versus Deciduous plants when choosing fast-growing privacy plants is critical because of their growth rate and dense foliage.

Evergreen plants, while fast-growing, offer year-round seclusion owing to their persistent leaves, efficiently blocking wind, noise, and unwanted views.

On the other hand, Deciduous plants, although providing plush coverage in growing seasons, can expose your privacy during the fall and winter when they drop their leaves.

Maintenance Requirements

When selecting fast-growing plants for privacy, considering maintenance requirements is paramount. The upkeep of these plants could involve regular trimming and pruning depending on their growth rate and species.

Neglecting maintenance can impede growth and compromise the plant’s health, thus risking your privacy coverage.

Soil and Light Conditions

Considering soil and light conditions when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy is crucial to ensure optimal growth and health of the plant.

These conditions impact the plant’s ability to efficiently process nutrients, water and photosynthesize, directly affecting its growth rate and vigor.

Climate Adaptability

Considering climate adaptability when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy is crucial as it determines their ability to thrive and increase.

Plants poorly adapted to your local climate may struggle to survive, hinder growth and fail to provide the desired privacy.

Therefore, understanding your climate ensures you select suitable plants to flourish, forming a natural, resilient screen for your outdoor space.

Aesthetic Appeal

Aesthetic appeal is vital when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy because it dramatically influences your garden’s overall style and feel, enhancing its visual interest.

It enables you to create a private, serene oasis that can hide unattractive features while also defining different areas in your garden, thus bringing harmony and visual coherence.

Furthermore, through smart positioning and pairing, visually appealing plants provide a valuable opportunity to create a stimulating, larger, and comfortably private space that seamlessly blends with your overall garden landscape.

Allergies and Toxicity

Considering allergies and toxicity when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy is crucial for the health and safety of those who live in or frequent the property.

Not accounting for these factors may yield undesirable allergic reactions or pose a risk for pets and children who unknowingly ingest toxic plants. Therefore, it is a key step to ensure people’s well-being and to maintain a safe, enjoyable environment within one’s backyard or garden.

Local Regulations

Considering local regulations when choosing fast-growing plants for privacy is fundamental. They often stipulate the types of plants and the heights they can achieve in designated areas, preventing adverse impacts on neighbors or the local ecosystem.

Disregarding these regulations can result in penalties, invasive species proliferation, and damaging biodiversity. Therefore, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with and adhere to these rules to maintain good neighborhood relations and contribute to environmental conservation.

FAQ’s

Listed below are the common questions about fast growing plants for privacy from neighbors:

What is the fastest growing plant for a fence?

The fastest-growing plant for a fence is Bamboo. Known as one of the speediest growers, it can increase over a foot daily and establishes a dense, natural screen. Ivy is another fast-growing vine ideal for fences, though it’s hard to remove once planted.

What is the fastest growing screening?

The fastest-growing screening plant is Bamboo. Able to grow over a foot per day, it establishes a dense, natural wall quickly. Consider the non-invasive, clumping variety for better control.

What is the fastest spreading plant?

The fastest spreading plant known is the Bamboo, the Clumping Bamboo variety. This plant can grow over a foot daily, providing a quick, low-maintenance, and exotic privacy screen.

What is the tallest shrub for privacy?

The tallest shrub for privacy is the Emerald Green Arborvitae. It is dense and grows slowly, requiring infrequent pruning. It’s an effective privacy hedge due to its remarkable height and density.

What is the best climbing plant for a fence?

The best climbing plant for a fence is the climbing rose. Its varieties, such as the ‘Eden’ and ‘Joseph’s Coat,’ are popular for their stunning multicolor patterns. It’s ideal for covering walls, fences, pergolas, and gazebos.

Final Thoughts

Everyone has a right to privacy from nosy neighbors, and with fast-growing plants like Boxwood or Leyland cypress, you can achieve that charmingly and naturally. These plants offer countless design opportunities, from lining them along your fences to creating canopies for overhead privacy. Their vibrant foliage and captivating flowers are an aesthetic bonus that will make your private garden a tranquil retreat.

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

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Published by
James marcus

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