Privacy Solutions: 9 Hedges That Grow Quickly

Posted on 23/05/2025

Privacy Solutions: 9 Hedges That Grow Quickly

Are nosy neighbors, crowded streets, or an open backyard making you crave more seclusion at home? If you're looking for natural, fast-growing hedge options to boost your outdoor privacy, you've landed in the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore nine of the best quick-growing privacy hedges that not only shield your space but also add lush greenery, color, and even value to your property.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Living privacy fences offer multiple benefits over traditional fences or walls. Fast-growing privacy hedges create a dynamic, attractive barrier in less time than slow-growing species or man-made solutions. As natural options, they're eco-friendly, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce noise, and can even improve your air quality.

If you don't want to wait several years for traditional hedge plants to mature, opting for rapid-growth hedges is a smart privacy solution. These hedging plants can shoot up by over 2 feet per year under the right conditions!

How to Choose the Right Hedge for Your Needs

Selecting the perfect fast-growing privacy hedge isn't just about speed. Consider the following factors to ensure your living screen thrives:

• Climate compatibility: Choose plant species suitable for your USDA hardiness zone.
• Sunlight: Some hedges love full sun; others tolerate shade.
• Maintenance: Consider how much pruning and watering you're willing to handle.
• Evergreen or deciduous? Evergreen hedges offer year-round privacy. Deciduous hedges may lose leaves in winter but can be beautiful and fast-growing too.
• Soil type and moisture: Certain hedges prefer clay, while others love sandy or loamy soil.

Now, let's dive into the best fast-growing hedges for privacy. Each plant on this list is known for its quick growth, lush coverage, and suitability for various climates and conditions.

Privacy Solutions: 9 Hedges That Grow Quickly

1. Privet (Ligustrum)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Semi-evergreen to deciduous (depends on climate and variety)
• Best for: Dense, formal hedges

Privet is a classic hedge plant beloved for its adaptability, fast growth, and dense foliage. It tolerates heavy pruning and can create a neat, formal look or a wilder, informal barrier. Ligustrum ovalifolium and L. vulgare are especially popular for privacy screens along property lines and driveways.

Privet thrives in a variety of soils and will do well in full sun to partial shade. Note: In some regions, privet can be invasive, so always check with your local extension office before planting.

2. Leyland Cypress (x Cuprocyparis leylandii)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3-4 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Tall, fast privacy screens

If you want a towering green wall in just a few years, Leyland cypress is one of your fastest-growing hedges for privacy. Its feathery, blue-green foliage forms a solid barrier year-round. Easy to trim and sculpt, Leyland cypress can reach impressive heights but may require space--plant them at least 4-6 feet apart for a thick hedge.

Keep in mind that Leylands prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Regular pruning is recommended to prevent the loss of lower branches and maintain a bushy appearance.

3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja 'Green Giant')

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Large gardens, windbreaks, tall privacy

For a low-maintenance, pest-resistant solution, look no further than Green Giant Arborvitae. This hybrid is virtually hassle-free and quickly grows into a dense, emerald-green screen up to 40 feet tall when mature. It's resistant to deer and drought, and it tolerates a variety of soils and climates.

Perfect for those seeking year-round privacy hedges that mature quickly and stay lush without much effort.

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Shady spots, dense coverage

Cherry laurel boasts glossy, deep green leaves and fragrant white blooms in spring. One of the best privacy hedges for shade, it forms an effective barrier even in challenging spots where other evergreens may not thrive. It handles pruning well and can be shaped, making it a versatile and attractive privacy solution.

Note: Cherry laurel berries and leaves are toxic if ingested.

5. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3+ feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Modern or tropical-style landscapes, non-traditional hedges

Bamboo is the ultimate fast and tall privacy screen. Opt for clumping bamboo species (such as Bambusa or Fargesia), which are non-invasive and easy to control. Their slender canes and fluffy leaves offer instant shade, noise reduction, and unique style.

Bamboo hedges require regular watering as they establish, but once mature, they're drought-tolerant and need only occasional maintenance. Avoid running bamboo unless you want to spend years controlling its spread!

6. Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Coastal areas, sandy soils

Perfect for the southeast and Gulf Coast, wax myrtle is a tough native that thrives in sandy, salty, or drought-prone soils. Its aromatic evergreen foliage provides reliable screening even in challenging environments.

The waxy blue berries feed birds, while the fast growth makes it a top choice for privacy solutions in difficult locations. Minimal pruning keeps it looking tidy.

7. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)

• Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Deciduous
• Best for: Bright spring color, loose informal screens

If you want something show-stopping, forsynthia is an explosive harbinger of spring. While it loses its leaves in winter, its vibrant yellow blooms set gardens ablaze each March or April--followed by rapid leafy growth for most of the year. Loose, graceful form makes for a less formal privacy barrier with seasonal interest.

Forsythia tolerates a wide range of soils and can be pruned hard after flowering to control size and shape.

8. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Tip')

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Evergreen
• Best for: Colorful privacy hedges, southern gardens

Photinia, particularly the 'Red Tip' variety, is famous for its glossy foliage--new leaves emerge in brilliant red before maturing to deep green. This privacy hedge plant grows rapidly in warm climates and rewards you with seasonal color as well as year-round coverage.

Plant photinia in full sun for best color. It thrives with some pruning but be aware that certain regions report susceptibility to leaf spot diseases, so choose disease-resistant varieties when possible.

9. California Lilac (Ceanothus)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Evergreen/Deciduous: Mostly evergreen (varies by species)
• Best for: Dry gardens, pollinator-friendly privacy

The lovely California lilac, or Ceanothus, produces masses of blue or white blooms in spring and summer. Hardy, drought-tolerant, and supportive of pollinators, it's a standout for privacy in arid or Mediterranean-style gardens.

Ceanothus likes full sun and well-draining soil. Once established, it requires little water--a boon for sustainable landscaping.

Tips for Successfully Growing Fast Privacy Hedges

Getting your rapid-growing privacy hedge off to a strong start is just as important as choosing the right species. Follow these essential tips for lush, healthy results:

• Prepare your soil: Amend with compost to improve fertility and drainage if needed.
• Proper spacing: Give each plant room to reach mature size for a dense, healthy hedge.
• Regular watering: Especially important for the first year or two as plants get established.
• Mulch: A layer of mulch reduces weeds, locks in moisture, and prevents soil temperature extremes.
• Prune as needed: Early pruning encourages bushy growth and a fuller screen.
• Fertilize: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring for vigorous growth.
• Watch for pests and disease: Inspect regularly and act quickly if you spot problems.

FAQ: Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Which hedge grows fastest for privacy?

Leyland cypress and Green Giant Arborvitae are two of the fastest privacy hedges available, growing up to 3-5 feet per year in optimal conditions.

What is the best low-maintenance hedge for privacy?

Green Giant Arborvitae is renowned for requiring minimal pruning and maintenance, retaining its neat shape naturally.

Are there fast-growing privacy hedges for shade?

Yes! Cherry laurel and some privet varieties tolerate and even thrive in partial shade, making them great options for shady spots.

Can I get privacy within a single season?

While no hedge plant will reach full maturity in a few months, bamboo and certain clumping bamboos can provide significant cover within a single growing season. You can also plant advanced container-grown specimens for an "instant hedge" effect.

What about privacy but with seasonal interest?

Forsythia and many flowering hedges provide both screening and colorful blooms for added visual interest.

Conclusion: Create Private Spaces Fast with Quick-Growing Hedges

Nothing beats the natural beauty, environmental benefits, and seasonal interest of a living privacy screen. From the formal allure of privet to the rugged reliability of arborvitae, the options above cover a wide range of styles, climates, and garden sizes. By choosing the right fast-growing hedge for your needs, you can transform your outdoor space into a secluded, tranquil retreat in just a few seasons.

Whether you want an evergreen hedge for year-round privacy or a shade-loving, wildlife-friendly border, there's a fast-growing hedge that fits your situation perfectly. For a lasting effect, remember to match the plant to your site conditions and care for it well in the crucial establishment phase. Here's to many years enjoying your new, private paradise!

Ready to start your privacy project? Share this list and let us know your favorite quick-growing hedge!