12 fast growing shrubs that create privacy. Full article 👇 💬

Why fast‑growing shrubs for privacy are a smart move

When you want to create a living screen or hedge that gives seclusion, blocks views or buffers sound, fast‑growing shrubs are ideal. They:

• Fill in space quicker than many standard shrubs.

• Provide year‑round coverage (especially evergreens).

• Add natural beauty, texture and habitat rather than just a fence.

• When selected and placed well, can form a durable boundary without resorting to tall walls or opaque fences.

The trick: choose shrubs suited to your climate/zone, soil, light levels and the height you need—and maintain them so they don’t get out of control.

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The 12 Shrubs (with details)

Below are 12 recommended shrubs that grow rapidly and are great for privacy screens. After the list we’ll cover how to plant, space, care and maintain them. Note: check your own USDA hardiness zone or local equivalent to ensure suitability.

1. Thuja ‘Green Giant’ (Arborvitae)

• Growth rate: 3‑5 ft (~0.9‑1.5 m) per year under good conditions. gardenerswormwoodscrubs.org.uk+2بستنة ونباتات ومراجعات+2

• Mature height: 30‑50 ft (9‑15 m) typical, width ~12‑20 ft (3.7‑6 m). Gardeners Colney Hatch

• Evergreen, dense, upright columnar form.

• Ideal for tall, narrow screens along property lines.

• Recommended spacing: about 5‑6 ft apart for effective screen in few years. gardenerswormwoodscrubs.org.uk

2. Cupressocyparis × leylandii (Leyland Cypress)

• Growth rate: up to 3‑4 ft (~0.9‑1.2 m) per year. RASNetwork Gardening+1

• Mature height: 40‑60 ft (12‑18 m) or more if not pruned. RASNetwork Gardening

• Evergreen, good for dramatic height and immediate barrier.

• Needs good space and pruning if you want to manage width/height.

3. Myrica cerifera (Wax Myrtle / Southern Bayberry)

• Growth rate: ~2‑3‑5 ft (~0.6‑1.5 m) per year depending on conditions. RASNetwork Gardening+1

• Mature height: 10‑25 ft (3‑7.5 m), with spread 8‑10 ft (2.4‑3 m) often.

• Evergreen/semi‑evergreen depending on climate; aromatic leaves.

• Particularly good for southern or coastal climates.

• Wildlife friendly (berries for birds) and fairly tolerant of soils.

4. Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ (Schip Laurel)

• Growth rate: ~2 ft (~0.6 m) per year. A Garden Diary+1

• Mature height: 10‑15 ft (3‑4.5 m), width ~5‑7 ft (1.5‑2 m).

• Evergreen, dense glossy leaves, good in sun or part shade.

• Great for evergreen screen in moderate climates (USDA zones ~6‑9).

5. Ligustrum spp. (Privet)

• Growth rate: ~2‑3 ft (~0.6‑0.9 m) per year when young. GardenTabs.com+1

• Mature height: 10‑15 ft (3‑4.5 m) typical for shrubs (some taller if tree form).

• Evergreen (in mild climates) or semi‑evergreen/deciduous (in colder).

• Great for formal hedges that you can shear and keep neat.

• Note: some varieties are toxic to pets; check specifics. Southern Living

6. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ (Red‑tip Photinia)

• Growth rate: ~1‑2 ft (~0.3‑0.6 m) per year in some sources. gardenersrushgreen.org.uk

• Mature height: 10‑15 ft (3‑4.5 m) typical for hedge versions.

• Evergreen with striking red new growth—so privacy plus color.

• Best in sun for best foliage color; prune to keep shape.

7. Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ (Nellie R. Stevens Holly)

• Growth rate: up to ~2 ft (~0.6 m) per year. Real Simple

• Mature height: 15‑25 ft (4.5‑7.5 m), width ~8‑10 ft (2.4‑3 m) typical.

• Evergreen, spiny glossy leaves; great for security/privacy combo.

• Berries (if you plant male+female) add interest.

8. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel)

• Growth rate: ~1.5‑2 ft (~0.45‑0.6 m) per year. A Garden Diary

• Mature height: 10‑20 ft (3‑6 m), width similar.

• Evergreen, dense, tolerant of wind/urban conditions.

• Suited to warm/mild zones, good for side boundaries.

9. Cornus sericea (Red‑twig Dogwood)

• Growth rate: ~2 ft (~0.6 m) per year. The Spruce

• Mature height: ~8‑10 ft (2.4‑3 m) for shrubs; width similar.

• Deciduous but great for winter screening (bright red stems) and still provides barrier.

• Best in sun or part shade, moist soil benefits.

10. Spiraea spp. (Spirea)

• Growth rate: moderate‑fast; many add ~1‑2 ft (~0.3‑0.6 m) per year.

• Mature height: varies widely (3‑8 ft typical for many varieties).

• Deciduous; not full height privacy unless mixed with taller shrubs, but good for lower border buffer.

• Low‑maintenance and affordable; good “fill” shrub.

11. Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus Viburnum)

• Growth rate: ~1‑2 ft (~0.3‑0.6 m) per year. gardenersmotspurpark.org.uk

• Mature height: ~6‑12 ft (1.8‑3.7 m) typical for shrub versions.

• Evergreen in mild climates; dense dark green foliage and clusters of white/pink flowers winter‑spring.

• Good for medium privacy, especially where full tall screen isn’t needed.

12. Forsythia × intermedia (Forsythia)

• Growth rate: ~2 ft (~0.6 m) per year in many cases. Plantisima

• Mature height: ~6‑10 ft (1.8‑3 m) typically.

• Deciduous, vivid yellow early spring flowers; good for fast seasonal screen though not year‑round evergreen.

• Works well if you pair with evergreens behind it or if “summer privacy” is your goal.

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How to “cook” your privacy screen – Planting & care method

Now that you’ve chosen your shrubs, here’s how to get them to fill in quickly and well.

Step 1: Design & spacing

• Measure your boundary and decide how tall you need the screen to be (e.g., 6 ft, 10 ft, 15 ft).

• Choose shrub height accordingly (see mature height above) and leave margin for future pruning.

• Spacing: for fast coverage, plant shrubs at spacing roughly equal to half their mature width for quicker fill‑in. For example, Arborvitae at ~5‑6 ft spacing.

• Consider row/offset planting (two staggered rows) for denser screens where desired.

• Match the shrubs to the light & soil: full sun, part shade, evergreen vs deciduous, wet vs dry soil.

• Mark locations and dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball but just as deep.

Step 2: Planting

• Dig hole, loosen surrounding soil, mix some compost (if soil is poor).

• Remove plant from container, tease out roots lightly if pot‑bound.

• Place shrub so top of root ball is slightly above ground level (to avoid settling).

• Back‑fill with existing soil, firm gently, water thoroughly.

• Apply mulch (2‑3 in/5‑8 cm thick) around base (but not touching trunk) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Step 3: Watering & fertilising

• During first year, water regularly so the root zone stays moist but not soggy (especially for evergreens).

• After establishment, many of these shrubs tolerate normal rainfall, though fast growth still means good fertility.

• Fertilise in early spring with a balanced shrub/evergreen fertiliser (or light organic compost).

• Avoid excessive fertiliser late in season (for evergreens) because new growth late in freeze‑prone areas can be damaged.

Step 4: Pruning & shaping

• Fast‑growing shrubs often need annual pruning to keep shape, maintain density and avoid legginess.

• For formal hedges (e.g., privet, laurel), shear top and sides after growth flush (late spring/early summer).

• For informal screens, prune bare bottoms (if growth up top leaves bare stems lower) and cut back any straggly stems.

• For evergreens like Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress, you may need to thin lightly to maintain air flow and health.

Step 5: Maintenance and fill‑in

• Monitor growth rate: if some shrubs lag behind, you may need to replace or move them.

• Keep mulch replenished and weed‑free.

• Check for pests/disease periodically (e.g., arborvitae can suffer from bagworms in some zones).

• Consider underplanting with lower shrubs (e.g., viburnum, spirea) for layered privacy and year‑round interest.

• After a few years you should have an established screen—then maintenance becomes less about growth and more about upkeep and shape.

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Care tips & pitfalls to avoid

• Don’t plant too close to structures or fences without allowing room for growth—plants will get crowded, look unhealthy or damage fences.

• Know your mature size—many fast‑growing shrubs can become huge; if you only need ~8 ft tall screen, choose a variety sized accordingly rather than letting shrubs grow to 20 ft+.

• Sunlight and soil matter—even fast‑growers can slow down in heavy shade or poor soil. Choose species that suit your conditions.

• Drainage—many evergreens dislike “wet feet”. If soil is soggy, improve drainage or select tolerant species like wax myrtle which handle wetter soils.

• Prune appropriately—don’t shear evergreens too late in the season (in cold climates) or new growth may be damaged.

• Invasive potential—some fast growers (like bamboo) may spread aggressively; choose non‑invasive shrubs or barrier them. (Bamboo was mentioned in many posts for speed but has risks) gardenerswormwoodscrubs.org.uk+1

• Neighbours & height—very tall hedges can cause shade on neighbour’s property, disputes, or may be subject to local regulations. Make sure you’re aware.

• Winter interest—if you rely on deciduous shrubs (forsythia, red‑twig dogwood), you’ll lose leaves in winter; combine with evergreens if year‑round privacy is desired.

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Sample planting “recipe” (for a 50‑ft (~15 m) boundary)

• Choose 10 shrubs of arborvitae spaced 5 ft (1.5 m) apart = ~50 ft coverage.

• Plant as described above.

• First year: fertilise lightly in spring, water monthly after establishment.

• Second year: prune any wayward growth after first flush; anticipate ~3‑4 ft growth so you’ll be ~6‑8 ft tall screen.

• Third year onward: minimal maintenance, prune once/yr to maintain shape; you’ll have ~12‑15 ft tall screen and pretty solid privacy.

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Final thoughts

When you want privacy fast, choosing the right shrubs and installing them well is key. The 12 shrubs listed above offer a variety of options—from towering evergreens like Green Giant Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress, to dense laurels and fast deciduous names like Forsythia and Red‑twig Dogwood.
By following the planting and care method, you’ll set up your garden for success and reduce the “waiting time” for your living wall.

With thoughtful choice, good spacing, proper care and maintenance, you’ll have a lush, natural, fast‑developing hedge that gives you peace, seclusion and aesthetic appeal.

If you like, I can pull together a printable cheat‑sheet with these 12 shrubs (growth rates, zones, spacing) customised for your region (just tell me your zone or country).