Boost Privacy Instantly with 9 Fast-Growing Hedge Picks

Posted on 28/09/2025

Boost Privacy Instantly with 9 Fast-Growing Hedge Picks

Creating your private sanctuary doesn't have to be a years-long endeavor. With the right fast-growing hedges, you can enhance privacy, reduce noise, and even increase curb appeal in just a single season. But how do you choose the best privacy plants for your landscape?

Why Fast-Growing Hedges are the Best Privacy Plants

For homeowners, apartment dwellers, and even business owners, outdoor privacy is a top priority. Whether you want to block unsightly views, create a green fence, or simply enjoy peace and solitude in your backyard, privacy hedges are an excellent solution.

• Instant screening: Some hedges can add 2 feet or more in height each year.
• Low maintenance: Many fast-growing species require minimal care once established.
• Noise reduction: Dense foliage helps dampen sounds from traffic or neighbors.
• Wildlife habitat: Hedges offer food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
• Attractive appearance: Year-round greenery boosts curb appeal and home value.

If you're ready to boost privacy instantly, let's dive into nine of the fastest-growing, easy-care hedges that will thrive in a range of climates and settings.

1. Leyland Cypress: The Classic Fast-Growing Privacy Screen

Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii) is one of the most popular choices for privacy hedges and with good reason. This evergreen tree is known for rapid growth--up to 3 to 5 feet per year under ideal conditions! Its dense, feathery foliage forms a solid green wall, perfect for blocking unwanted views.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 60-70 feet (can be kept smaller with pruning)
• USDA Zones: 6-10
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Key advantage: Leyland Cypress grows quickly even in poor soils and requires little care beyond regular watering during its first few years. Trim annually to maintain desired height and shape.

Pro Tip:

Space trees 6-8 feet apart for a dense, seamless hedge within two years.

2. American Arborvitae: Elegant, Cold-Hardy Privacy Hedge

If you live in a colder region, American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a top pick for instant privacy. Its soft, scale-like leaves stay lush and green year-round, forming a classic conical shape that needs little trimming.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 40-60 feet
• USDA Zones: 2-7
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Fun Fact: Also called "Northern White Cedar," arborvitae is deer-resistant and highly adaptable to different soils.

3. Green Giant Arborvitae: The Ultimate Live Privacy Fence

Green Giant Arborvitae is a special hybrid that's famous for vigorous growth and pest resistance. Bred for landscape performance, it quickly forms a lush, towering living wall--ideal for large spaces or instant privacy needs.

• Growth Rate: 3-4 feet per year
• Mature Height: 40-50 feet
• USDA Zones: 5-8
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Did you know? Green Giant's dense growth also offers superior windbreak capabilities--excellent for exposed rural or suburban properties.

4. Privet: Flexible, Fast-Growing Plant for Hedges

Classic Privet (Ligustrum) hedges have been used in gardens across the world for centuries. This versatile, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub can be sheared into crisp geometric shapes or allowed to grow more loosely for a softer look.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 4-15 feet (varies by species)
• USDA Zones: 3-8
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Tip: Privet is tolerant of pruning, making it perfect for formal topiary or well-defined property lines.

5. Bamboo: Exotic, Ultra-Fast Privacy Wall

For those who crave a contemporary, tropical vibe, Bamboo delivers unrivaled speed and height. Some species can shoot up several feet in weeks! Opt for clumping bamboo varieties (not running types) to prevent unwanted spreading.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year, up to 30 feet possible
• Mature Height: 10-40 feet (depending on species)
• USDA Zones: 6-10 for most clumping types
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Landscape designer's favorite: Bamboo creates instant height, knock-out sound insulation, and it sways beautifully in the breeze. Plant these at least 4 feet from fences or foundations.

6. Wax Myrtle: Aromatic Privacy Native to the USA

Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) is a unique North American native, prized for its rapid growth, glossy foliage, and spicy fragrance. Adaptable to wet or sandy soils, it's ideal for coastal, marshy, or drought-prone sites.

• Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-20 feet
• USDA Zones: 7-11
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Why choose Wax Myrtle? Besides instant privacy, its berries feed native birds and the leaves repel insects--a double win for wildlife lovers!

7. Skip Laurel: Dense Evergreen, Privacy Even in Shade

Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis') excels where other fast-growing hedges struggle: deep shade. Its glossy, broad leaves and rapid, upright growth make it a favorite for urban settings.

• Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• USDA Zones: 6-9
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to full shade

Skip Laurel is also deer-resistant and tolerates pollution, so it's often found in city gardens and suburban lots.

8. Photinia: Colorful Privacy Screen that Makes a Statement

Crave a hedge that offers eye-popping color and fast coverage? Photinia (Photinia x fraseri) delivers with bronzy-red new growth that matures to deep green. Clusters of white flowers in spring attract pollinators.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• USDA Zones: 7-9
• Sun Requirements: Full sun for best color

Note: Photinia is low-maintenance but does best with good air circulation to prevent leaf spot issues.

9. Red-Tipped Pittosporum: Bright, Bushy, and Incredibly Fast

Also known as Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen' or Pittosporum tobira, this robust hedge selection is stealing the spotlight for suburban privacy. Its vibrant red-tinted shoots and small, rounded leaves create a luminous effect.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-12 feet
• USDA Zones: 8-10
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Red-Tipped Pittosporum forms tight, bushy screens even in small spaces and is drought-resistant once established.

How to Choose the Best Fast-Growing Hedge for Your Privacy Needs

With so many fast-growing hedging plants on the market, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. Consider the following to find your perfect match:

• Climate: Check your USDA hardiness zone and choose species proven in your region.
• Sun Exposure: Some hedges need full sun for fastest growth, while others tolerate shade.
• Space Available: Consider mature height and width before planting.
• Maintenance Level: Do you want a formal, clipped look or a more natural barrier?
• Soil & Water: Match hedges with your site's soil type and irrigation capacity.
• Pest & Disease Resistance: Look for varieties less prone to common issues in your area.

Remember: With any live privacy screen, initial spacing and regular care will pay off with a healthy, long-lived hedge that transforms your outdoor space.

Planting and Caring for Fast-Growing Hedges

Want instant privacy? Start right by following these simple steps:

1. Prepare the soil. Enrich with compost for better drainage and nutrients.
2. Set your spacing. Consult tag recommendations; too close causes crowding, too wide creates gaps.
3. Plant at the right depth. Root ball should be flush with (not below) ground level.
4. Mulch and water deeply. Mulch retains moisture; deep watering helps roots establish.
5. Prune for density. Light annual trimming encourages bushy, full growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Privacy Hedges

How fast can I expect these privacy hedges to grow?

Most of the hedges listed here will add 2-5 feet per year--meaning you could have a lush, full screen in just 2-3 growing seasons!

Can I plant fast-growing hedges in containers?

Some species such as skip laurel and privet adapt well to large pots. However, most fast-growing privacy screens perform best when planted in the ground where roots can spread out.

Are fast-growing hedges a good replacement for a fence?

Live privacy hedges not only replace fences aesthetically but also provide wildlife habitat, seasonal interest, and superior sound & wind screening. However, they do need time to fill in and annual maintenance to stay dense and neat.

Conclusion: Experience Instant Privacy with These Top Hedge Plant Picks

Ready to boost your backyard privacy instantly? With these nine fast-growing hedges, you can enjoy natural screening, reduce noise, and add value to your landscape--all in just a few years or less. From the stately Leyland Cypress to dazzling Photinia and bulletproof Green Giant Arborvitae, there's a privacy hedge to suit every taste and region.

Invest in your peace of mind and beautiful surroundings. Choose the best fast-growing privacy plants for your property--and enjoy a green, private oasis year-round!

• Boost privacy instantly with the right hedge selections.
• Enjoy faster results with proper planning and care.
• Create a living, breathing fence to last for decades.

For more tips on planting, pruning, and nurturing your fastest-growing privacy hedge, subscribe to our gardening newsletter!