Privacy Trees: 35 Best Trees & Shrubs for Year-Round Screening
Block neighbors, traffic noise, and wind with the right privacy trees. 35 options from fast-growing arborvitae to flowering screening trees — with growth rates, zones, spacing guides, and cost comparisons for every backyard.
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🌲Evergreen Privacy Trees (Year-Round Screen)
Green Giant Arborvitae
The #1 privacy tree in America for good reason — fast (3–5 ft/year when established), dense, pest-resistant, adaptable. Grows 40–60 ft tall and 12–18 ft wide at maturity. Natural pyramidal form — never needs trimming. No deer browsing (unlike Emerald Green). Zone 5–8. Plant 5–6 ft apart for solid screen. Full sun to partial shade. The benchmark for fast privacy.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Smaller, denser form of Green Giant — grows 12–15 ft tall and only 3–4 ft wide. Tight pyramidal shape. Excellent for narrow planting strips between driveways, along fences, and small yards. Slower growth (1–2 ft/year) but very tidy. Zone 3–7. Plant 3–4 ft apart for privacy hedge. Deer browse this heavily in regions with deer pressure — use Green Giant instead.
Leyland Cypress
The fastest-growing privacy tree — 3–5 ft per year, easily reaching 40–60 ft. Dense, feathery, grey-green foliage. Outgrows everything. Problem: matures into a tree too wide (15–25 ft) and too tall for most yards. Also susceptible to Seiridium canker and bagworms. Best used in large properties with space for a genuine windbreak. Zone 6–10.
Skip Laurel
A large broadleaf evergreen shrub/small tree — grows 10–20 ft tall with glossy, dark green leaves. Dense branching creates excellent screening. Fragrant white flowers in spring attract pollinators. Grows 2–3 ft per year once established. Much less formal-looking than arborvitae — pairs beautifully with naturalistic gardens. Zone 6–9. Plant 5–6 ft apart for privacy. Heat-tolerant (better than arborvitae in the Southeast).
Nellie Stevens Holly
A large evergreen holly (female, produces red berries) that grows 15–25 ft and maintains dense screening down to the ground. Self-pollinating (doesn't need a male plant). Very deer-resistant. Classic deep green with slightly spiny leaves. Grows 2–3 ft/year. Zone 6–9. Plant 5–6 ft apart. Tolerates clay soil and partial shade. The holly berries attract birds in winter.
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
A native North American evergreen — tough, drought-tolerant, adaptable to nearly any soil. Grows 40–50 ft tall, dense columnar form. Provides red-orange berries for wildlife. Extremely low-maintenance once established. Some forms are columnar (Skyrocket, Taylor) for tight spaces. Zone 3–9. The 'tough as nails' native alternative to arborvitae, especially for dry climates.
Italian Cypress
The narrow, columnar Mediterranean classic — grows 40–70 ft tall and only 3–5 ft wide. Creates a formal, European boulevard or courtyard effect. Each tree is a narrow column — plant 4–5 ft apart for a solid screen at the top, with gaps at the base. Grows 2–3 ft/year. Zone 7–11. Drought-tolerant once established. Does not provide ground-level privacy — pair with lower hedging for full screening.
⚡Fast-Growing Privacy Trees
Thuja Green Giant (Same as Above — #1 Pick)
Repeated here because it's simply the best all-around privacy tree: fast (3–5 ft/year), drought-tolerant once established, no trimming needed, deer-resistant, and adaptable from full sun to light shade. If you're choosing one tree for a privacy hedge and don't have severe deer pressure, this is the answer. Available at garden centers nationwide from $40–$150 depending on size.
Wax Myrtle (Southern Bayberry)
Evergreen native shrub/tree — grows 8–20 ft, extremely fast (3–4 ft/year), adaptable to wet and dry soils, salt-tolerant (beach properties). Fine-textured, fragrant foliage. Won't survive hard freezes (Zone 7–11). The Southern equivalent of arborvitae — fast, dense, and tough. Excellent for coastal properties and the Southeast.
Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar)
An elegant pyramidal evergreen with soft, reddish-brown bark and feathery foliage. Grows 50–80 ft mature — one of the tallest evergreen privacy trees. Grows 2–3 ft/year. Zone 5–9. Excellent for Pacific Northwest (where it thrives) and Southeast. 'Yoshino' variety: fast, dense, great for privacy. Richer texture than arborvitae — a premium-looking screen.
Viburnum (Viburnum awabuki / Spring Bouquet)
An evergreen broadleaf with large, glossy corrugated leaves — grows 8–12 ft and creates a dense, lush screen. Fragrant white flowers in spring. Grows 2 ft/year. Zone 8–10 for evergreen varieties (deciduous in colder zones). Excellent for the Southeast. Creates a more tropical, lush aesthetic than arborvitae or cypress.
🌸Flowering Privacy Trees
Crape Myrtle (Multi-Trunk Privacy Screen)
Not typically thought of as a privacy tree, but a row of multi-trunk crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia) planted 6 ft apart creates a stunning privacy screen with 60+ days of summer blooms. Grows 15–25 ft. Deciduous — provides summer privacy when outdoor living is most active, and winter transparency. Zone 7–10. Southern staple for residential screening.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Row
Small native trees (15–25 ft) with stunning white spring flowers, edible berries, and brilliant orange-red fall color. A row makes an effective soft screen. Deciduous. Zone 4–9. Wildlife magnet (birds love the berries). Not the densest privacy screen but creates beautiful year-round interest while providing partial screening. Best for naturalistic gardens.
Ornamental Cherry Row
A row of Yoshino or Kwanzan cherry trees (Prunus) creates a spectacular spring bloom display plus effective summer screening when in full leaf. Grows 25–35 ft. Deciduous. Plant 15–20 ft apart (they spread). More ornamental than utility — the privacy effect is secondary to the seasonal show. Best for front yard screening where appearance matters most.
🌿Privacy Shrubs for Lower Screens
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Native evergreen tree growing 15–50 ft with classic holly leaves and red berries. Dense to the ground — excellent full-coverage privacy. Needs a male pollinator plant (plant 1 male per 3–5 females). Berries attract songbirds in winter. Zone 5–9. Slow to establish (1–2 ft/year) but very long-lived. The classic American native privacy screen.
Otto Luyken Laurel (Low Hedge)
A compact, spreading evergreen shrub (3–4 ft tall, 6–8 ft wide) with glossy leaves and fragrant white flower spikes in spring. Excellent for low privacy hedges, foundation screening, and under-window planting. Very shade-tolerant. Zone 6–9. Plant 3–4 ft apart. Requires minimal maintenance — prune once a year after spring bloom if needed.
Boxwood Privacy Hedge
Dense, slow-growing evergreen shrub available in sizes from 2 ft to 8 ft depending on species. English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) can reach 8–15 ft unpruned. Best for formal clipped hedges. Zone 5–9. Prone to boxwood blight in humid climates — use Inkberry holly as an alternative in the Southeast. The classic formal hedge for traditional and English garden styles.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Native Shrub)
Native deciduous shrub growing 8–15 ft with white flower clusters in spring, dark berries in fall (wildlife food), and brilliant red-orange fall color. Extremely adaptable — tolerates wet, dry, sun, and shade. Zone 3–8. Does not provide winter screening (deciduous) but creates a naturalistic privacy effect in summer. One of the most wildlife-friendly privacy options.
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
A native evergreen holly that grows 5–8 ft with glossy, dark green leaves and small black berries. No spines — safe around children. Excellent for wet sites and rain gardens (very tolerant of flooding). A boxwood alternative in the Southeast where boxwood blight is a problem. Zone 4–9. Gradually suckering (stays in a clump). Plant 4–5 ft apart for a solid screen.
Privacy Tree Comparison
| Tree | Growth Rate | Mature Height | Zone | Evergreen | Deer | Cost Each |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Giant Arborvitae | 3–5 ft/yr | 40–60 ft | 5–8 | Yes | Resistant | $50–$150 |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae | 1–2 ft/yr | 12–15 ft | 3–7 | Yes | Browsed | $30–$80 |
| Leyland Cypress | 3–5 ft/yr | 40–60 ft | 6–10 | Yes | Resistant | $40–$100 |
| Skip Laurel | 2–3 ft/yr | 10–20 ft | 6–9 | Yes | Moderate | $40–$90 |
| Nellie Stevens Holly | 2–3 ft/yr | 15–25 ft | 6–9 | Yes | Resistant | $50–$120 |
| Wax Myrtle | 3–4 ft/yr | 8–20 ft | 7–11 | Yes | Resistant | $30–$70 |
| Italian Cypress | 2–3 ft/yr | 40–70 ft | 7–11 | Yes | Resistant | $50–$120 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest-growing privacy tree?
Green Giant Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress are neck and neck at 3–5 feet per year once established. For warm climates (Zone 7+), Wax Myrtle (Southern Bayberry) grows 3–4 ft/year and is extremely adaptable. If speed is the priority, plant larger specimens (5–6 ft transplants) — they slow down initially but reach privacy height faster than small 1-gallon plants. Fertilize in spring and fall and water regularly the first 2 years.
How far apart should I plant privacy trees?
Green Giant Arborvitae: 5–6 ft apart for a solid screen. Emerald Green Arborvitae: 3–4 ft apart. Skip Laurel: 5–6 ft apart. Leyland Cypress: 6–8 ft apart. Nellie Stevens Holly: 5–6 ft apart. Italian Cypress: 3–5 ft apart. For a staggered double row (more density faster): offset two rows 4–5 ft apart, stagger plants in each row. Double row creates a solid screen faster than a single row with the same number of trees.
How much do privacy trees cost?
Bare-root trees (mail order, spring only): $15–$40 each. 1-gallon container (small, slow start): $15–$30 each. 3-gallon container (medium, 2–3 ft tall): $30–$60 each. 5–7 gallon (privacy in 3–4 years): $50–$120 each. 15-gallon (privacy in 1–2 years): $100–$250 each. Installed by landscape contractor: add $50–$150 per tree for labor. For a 50-linear-foot privacy hedge with 5-gallon plants 5 ft apart = 10 plants × $80 average = $800 in plants + $500–$1,500 installation.
What's the best privacy tree for deer pressure?
If deer are heavy in your area, choose: Green Giant Arborvitae (deer-resistant — they don't like it), Leyland Cypress (rarely browsed), Nellie Stevens Holly (spiny — deer avoid it), Eastern Red Cedar (native, deer browse but recover), Wax Myrtle (fragrant foliage deer avoid). Avoid: Emerald Green Arborvitae (deer eat heavily), most deciduous shrubs. You can also protect young plants with tree tubes or deer netting for the first 2–3 years until established.
Can I plant privacy trees close to my fence or property line?
Check local codes first — many municipalities require trees to be 3–10 ft from property lines. Green Giant arborvitae is commonly planted 3–4 ft from the property line. At maturity, roots and canopy will extend beyond the planting spot. Consider mature width: Italian Cypress stays narrow (3–5 ft wide). Green Giant spreads 12–18 ft. Leyland Cypress spreads 15–25 ft. Neighbors can legally cut branches that cross their property line, so plant accordingly.
What are the best privacy trees for a small yard?
For small yards (narrow strips or limited space): Emerald Green Arborvitae (only 3–4 ft wide at maturity), Italian Cypress (3–5 ft wide), Sky Pencil Holly (2 ft wide, 8–10 ft tall), Columnar English Oak (6 ft wide, 60 ft tall), 'Degroot's Spire' Arborvitae (2–3 ft wide). For a really tight space under 3 ft wide: bamboo in a root barrier (Phyllostachys in a containment trench) or Skip Laurel trained as a narrow hedge.
Related Privacy & Landscaping Ideas
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