Best Fast Growing Shrubs for Privacy: Quick Hedges for Your Yard
When selecting fast-growing privacy shrubs, American homeowners look for rapid height gain, year-round screening, and low maintenance. The following five shrubs were chosen for strong growth rates, adaptable hardiness, and reliable performance in typical home landscapes. Each product includes a direct Amazon link for easy ordering, plus notes on bloom, foliage, and care to help you plan a durable privacy screen or windbreak that suits your climate and yard design.
| Product | Brand | Size | Privacy Benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Viburnum Shrub, 3 Gal | PERFECT PLANTS | 3 Gallon | Fast-growing, fragrant flowering hedge | Heat & drought tolerant; blooms in spring; attracts pollinators |
| Chindo Viburnum, 3 Gal | Blooming & Beautiful | 3 Gallon | Tall evergreen privacy screen | Dense foliage; fragrant white flowers; red berries in summer |
| Wax Myrtle, 3 Live Pots | Florida Foliage | 3 pots (4 inch) | Evergreen privacy hedge | Low maintenance; good for native landscaping |
| Nellie Stevens Holly, 1 Gal | PERFECT PLANTS | 1 Gal | Dense privacy evergreen | Year-round foliage; white spring flowers; red fall berries |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae, 1 Gal | PERFECT PLANTS | 1 Gal | Natural privacy hedge | Cold hardy; tall, narrow form; evergreen |
Note: Shipping restrictions may apply for certain states on select plants. Always verify local planting rules and shipping limitations before ordering. The following sections detail each shrub’s standout traits to help you choose the right combination for your yard.
Sweet Viburnum Privacy Shrub, 3 Gal
The Sweet Viburnum Shrub is engineered for fast privacy in warm climates. It is heat and drought tolerant, thriving in Zones 8 through 10. The plant’s fast growth rate makes it an effective privacy screen in or near home exteriors, fences, and pool enclosures. Spring blooms deliver a sweet fragrance that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, adding life to your landscape while you establish your hedge. Homeowners should expect a robust, self-reinforcing screen as the shrub matures, reducing the need for frequent replanting.
In terms of care, provide full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Regular watering during establishment helps the hedge take hold quickly, after which it becomes relatively drought-tolerant. Pruning after blooming can keep growth dense and the hedge within desired bounds. The combination of fragrance, pollinator appeal, and rapid screening makes this Viburnum a strong pick for fast privacy in southern to mid-Atlantic landscapes.
Overall, this 3-gallon Viburnum offers a balanced mix of scent, beauty, and screening capability. It performs best as a stand-alone hedge or as part of a layered privacy screen with other evergreen shrubs for year-round coverage and texture variety.
Chindo Viburnum Privacy Hedge, 3 Gal
The Chindo Viburnum (Viburnum Awabuki ‘Chindo’) is a tall broadleaf evergreen with dense, lustrous dark green foliage, designed to form a robust privacy hedge. It is a fast-growing selection with an upright, pyramidal habit that supports a strong vertical screen, making it ideal for back or edge-of-yard borders where height is essential. In spring, the plant produces abundant clusters of small fragrant white flowers, followed by ornamental red berries in the summer, which adds seasonal interest and wildlife value.
Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. When mature, this Viburnum can reach about 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide, creating an impressive barrier that also serves as a windbreak. It performs well as a hedge or as part of a formal border, and its evergreen habit ensures privacy even in winter months. If you need a taller, more imposing screen quickly, this viburnum is a strong candidate.
Note that some shipments may be restricted to certain states, and local landscaping rules can vary. With careful pruning, it will keep a neat silhouette while delivering year-round screening and seasonal beauty.
Wax Myrtle Privacy Screen, 3 Pots
Wax Myrtle is a versatile evergreen shrub known for rapid growth and dense, aromatic foliage. When planted as a privacy screen, it creates an almost impenetrable hedge, especially in warmer climates. It’s also well-suited for native landscaping, offering year-round greenery and habitat value for local wildlife. This selection is especially appealing for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, fast-growing hedge that borders traditional privacy needs with a natural look.
With its evergreen leaves and tolerance for varied soil and light conditions, Wax Myrtle makes an adaptable option for coastal and inland landscapes alike. Regular pruning helps maintain a tidy screen and encourages denser growth. While growth rates vary with sun exposure and irrigation, the plant’s inherent vigor often leads to substantial privacy protection within a short period, making it a reliable choice for quickly establishing a hedge line along fences or property boundaries.
As with any plant shipment, verify state shipping allowances. In the right conditions, Wax Myrtle provides resilient, natural privacy with the added benefit of drought tolerance and wildlife-friendly foliage.
Nellie Stevens Holly Privacy Hedge, 1 Gal
Nellie Stevens Holly is a dense, fast-growing evergreen previously prized as a privacy screen. This holly maintains its deep green foliage year-round, providing reliable coverage even in winter. In spring, it bears small white flowers, and by fall its hard red berries add seasonal color. The plant’s growth habit supports a substantial privacy silhouette, and it can reach up to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide as it matures, making it suitable for tall screens along property lines or near structures seeking a natural green barrier.
Growing in a range of soils and sun conditions, Nellie Stevens Holly is relatively forgiving, though it benefits from regular pruning to encourage a denser hedge. It’s well-suited for yards where a classic evergreen look is desired, and its year-round presence delivers consistent privacy with a touch of ornamental fruit in fall. When planning, consider spacing and eventual height to ensure unobstructed lines of sight for maintenance access and desired views.
Emerald Green Arborvitae Privacy Hedge, 1 Gal
The Emerald Green Arborvitae is a classic fast-growing privacy tree known for its natural screening ability. It is cold hardy, thriving in hardiness zones 2 through 7, which makes it a versatile option for many parts of the United States. The plant maintains pristine green foliage throughout the year, even in winter, and grows with an upright habit to reach a mature height of about 14 feet and a width of around 4 feet. Its columnar form makes it an excellent choice for narrow spaces, driveways, or along fences where a uniform, evergreen hedge is desired.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Regular pruning can help keep the hedge at a preferred width while preserving the vertical screen. Emerald Green Arborvitae is a dependable, low-maintenance option for those seeking a long-lasting evergreen barrier that performs well in cooler climates and adapts to a range of landscape designs.
Buying Guide
When choosing fast-growing privacy shrubs, consider climate compatibility, space, and end goals. Here are key purchase considerations to help you compare options and design a hedge that meets privacy, aesthetics, and maintenance expectations.
- Climate and hardiness: Match each shrub to your USDA hardiness zone and summer heat. For example, heat-tolerant viburnums work well in southern zones, while cold-hardy arborvitae suits cooler regions.
- Mature size and spacing: Plan for the plant’s eventual height and width to avoid crowding structures or blocking views you prefer to keep. Arborvitae and holly can become tall screens; viburnums offer height plus seasonal color and fragrance.
- Evergreen versus deciduous: If year-round privacy is essential, prioritize evergreen selections like Nellie Stevens Holly, Emerald Green Arborvitae, or Chindo Viburnum. Viburnums often retain foliage but may shed in extreme conditions.
- Sun and soil requirements: Most of these shrubs prefer full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. Some tolerate drought better once established, while others require regular moisture during establishment.
- Maintenance and pruning: Consider how much shaping you want. Upright, pyramidal forms need less frequent trimming, whereas dense hedges may benefit from seasonal pruning to maintain shape and airflow.
- Wildlife and fragrance: Fragrant viburnums attract pollinators and add sensory appeal. Native options like wax myrtle support local ecosystems and can blend with native plantings.
- Cost and availability: Availability can vary by region and season. Be mindful of shipping restrictions on certain states for live plants and consult local nurseries as alternatives if shipping is limited.
For a balanced privacy hedge, consider combining two or more species to create layered screening, year-round cover, and seasonal interest. A Viburnum in front of an Arborvitae, for example, can deliver fragrance and color while the evergreen backdrop maintains continuous privacy. Always plan for eventual height and width to ensure maintenance access and to avoid over-shading surrounding garden beds.