Rapidly Grow Your Privacy with These Top 9 Hedge Plants

Posted on 14/06/2025

Rapidly Grow Your Privacy with These Top 9 Hedge Plants

In today's fast-paced world, privacy in your backyard or garden is essential for relaxation and peace. If you're seeking easy and effective ways to shield your space from prying eyes or noisy streets, look no further than fast-growing hedge plants. These natural green barriers not only offer privacy but also enhance the curb appeal of your property, filter air pollution, and foster wildlife habitats. Let's explore the top 9 hedge plants that grow rapidly and can transform your property into a lush, secluded retreat.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

When it comes to enhancing your outdoor privacy, speed is often a priority. Fast-growing hedges allow you to quickly block unsightly views, dampen noise, and mark boundaries without the long wait associated with other landscaping solutions. Plus, these vigorous plants tend to fill out beautifully, creating dense living walls with proper care.

Benefits of Fast-Growing Hedge Plants for Privacy

• Quick results: Get your privacy barrier in a fraction of standard growing time.
• Aesthetic appeal: Enjoy attractive foliage, blooms, and year-round interest in your garden.
• Natural sound dampening: Lush greenery helps to absorb and diffuse noise pollution.
• Increased property value: Well-maintained hedges can boost curb appeal and resale value.
• Biodiversity: Provides habitat and food for local wildlife such as birds and beneficial insects.
• Environmental impact: Acts as a windbreak, reduces soil erosion, and improves air quality.

If you're ready to rapidly increase your privacy, consider planting one (or more) of the following robust varieties. Each offers unique features to suit different climates, garden styles, and privacy needs.

Top 9 Rapidly Growing Hedge Plants for Privacy

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

When it comes to fast-growing privacy trees, Leyland Cypress tops almost every list. This evergreen conifer can skyrocket at a rate of 3 to 4 feet per year under optimal conditions. Its dense, feathery foliage creates an impenetrable barrier, making it an excellent choice for instant privacy hedges.

• Growth rate: 3-4 ft per year
• Height/Spread: Up to 60-70 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide (can be trimmed)
• Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Adaptable to various soils, but prefers well-drained
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')

The 'Green Giant' is favored for its rapid growth, dense form, and resistance to many common pests. This arborvitae grows up to 3 feet per year and maintains a tidy, uniform appearance. It's a superb alternative to Leyland Cypress and particularly popular as a natural privacy screen for larger properties.

• Growth rate: 2-3 ft per year
• Height/Spread: Up to 50-60 ft tall, 12-20 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are a classic solution for rapidly growing privacy plants. With a possible annual growth of 2 feet or more, they quickly create formal or informal boundaries. Privet is easily shaped, responds well to pruning, and can be grown in various climates.

• Growth rate: 2-3 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 6-15 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Adaptable, prefers moist but well-drained soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

4. Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea and other clumping varieties)

Want fast privacy with a tropical flair? Bamboo is a top contender. Some clumping bamboo varieties grow 1-3 feet per year with canes quickly rising to create dense, vertical screens. *Choose clumping*, not running, varieties to avoid invasiveness and control the spread.

• Growth rate: 1-3 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 10-30+ ft tall, width varies by species
• Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile, keep moist for best growth
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 (varies by species)

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

For lush, evergreen coverage, Cherry Laurel is an outstanding option. This broadleaf shrub has glossy green leaves and grows up to 2 feet per year. It tolerates a wide range of conditions and is ideal for urban privacy hedges.

• Growth rate: 1-2 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 10-20 ft tall, 5-15 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to deep shade
• Soil: Adaptable, prefers well-drained
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

6. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')

*For a splash of color as well as privacy*, Photinia 'Red Robin' offers outstanding value. Its rapid growth rate, coupled with its striking red new leaves, makes it a favorite among gardeners seeking attractive fast hedging plants.

• Growth rate: 1-2 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 10-15 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9

7. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

Also known as Schip Laurel, this variety has narrower, denser foliage, perfect for slender privacy screens. It thrives in shade and poor soils, growing rapidly up to 2 feet per year.

• Growth rate: 1-2 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 10-16 ft tall, 5-7 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to deep shade
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerant of denser, clay soils
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

8. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Native to the Southeastern United States, Wax Myrtle is a robust evergreen with aromatic foliage. It can grow up to 2 feet per year and is remarkably tolerant of salt, drought, and poor soils -- making it perfect for coastal areas or challenging sites.

• Growth rate: 1-2 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 10-20 ft tall, 8-10 ft wide
• Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Tolerant of sandy, acidic soils
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11

9. Fast-Growing Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens hybrids)

While the traditional English boxwood is slow, newer hybrid varieties like 'Green Mountain' and 'Green Velvet' offer faster growth (up to 1 foot per year) with classic hedging style. Perfect for formal, low hedges and privacy around patios.

• Growth rate: Up to 1 ft per year
• Height/Spread: 2-5 ft tall, 2-4 ft wide (prune to maintain height)
• Light requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly alkaline
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9

How to Establish a Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge Successfully

To maximize privacy quickly and ensure your hedge thrives, keep these essential tips in mind:

• Spacing: Proper spacing according to the mature size of your chosen plants is key for rapid coverage. Overcrowding can lead to disease, while under-planting leaves gaps.
• Watering: Newly planted hedges need regular watering for healthy root development, especially during the first year.
• Feeding: A slow-release, balanced fertilizer each spring encourages robust growth and dense foliage.
• Pruning: Light, regular trimming stimulates bushier growth and helps the hedge fill in more quickly.
• Mulching: A 2-3" layer of mulch around the base preserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and stabilizes soil temperatures.

Best Practices: Caring for Rapid-Growing Hedge Plants

Planting Techniques

• Dig a trench or individual holes twice as wide as the root ball.
• Amend native soil with compost for best results.
• Water thoroughly at planting and frequently until established.
• Stake young trees or taller shrubs if needed for wind protection.

Maintaining Hedge Health

• Monitor for pests and diseases, especially in closely planted hedges.
• Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches as you see them.
• Train young plants to your desired shape using gentle, selective pruning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rapid Privacy Hedges

Which hedge plant grows the fastest?

The Leyland Cypress and 'Green Giant' Arborvitae are among the fastest-growing privacy trees, with rates up to 3-4 feet per year.

What is the best evergreen hedge for year-round privacy?

Both Arborvitae and Cherry Laurel offer dense, evergreen coverage that maintains your privacy throughout all seasons.

Can I plant a privacy hedge in the shade?

Yes, several options like Skip Laurel and Cherry Laurel tolerate deep shade and still provide substantial screening.

How often should I trim my privacy hedge?

For most fast-growing hedges, trim 2-3 times per growing season to stimulate dense, bushy growth and maintain your desired height and shape.

How close to my property line can I plant a hedge?

Always check with local zoning ordinances before planting. Typically, hedges should be set back at least 2-4 feet from property lines to allow for growth and maintenance.

Conclusion: Rapidly Grow Your Privacy with the Right Hedge Plant

Transform your property into an oasis of seclusion and beauty with rapidly growing privacy hedge plants. Whether you need a towering green wall or a compact, colorful screen, there's a fast-growing variety perfect for your landscape, soil, and sun conditions. By selecting from the nine outstanding options above, you can quickly cultivate the backyard privacy you've always wanted--naturally, beautifully, and sustainably.

Ready to get started? Visit your local nursery, consult with a landscape professional, or order online to begin your journey towards a more private, peaceful outdoor sanctuary today!