Get the Privacy Edge with 9 Fast-Growing Hedges

Posted on 20/05/2025

Are you searching for effective and attractive ways to increase privacy in your yard? Fast-growing hedges provide a natural and elegant solution that not only creates a living barrier but also enhances your property's visual appeal. Whether you want to screen out neighbors, block street noise, or simply create a green oasis in your outdoor space, selecting the right privacy hedge is key.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll highlight nine of the best fast-growing hedges for privacy, so you can achieve your seclusion goals quickly without sacrificing style. Read on to learn about these top-choice hedge plants, their unique features, care tips, and design inspiration for your own landscape!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

If you're eager to establish a lush and private boundary, fast-growing privacy hedges are the answer. Here's why they're so popular among homeowners and landscapers alike:

• Speed: Many privacy hedges can reach impressive heights and density within just a few seasons, creating a solid green screen more quickly than traditional fencing.
• Beauty: Unlike bland fences or walls, living hedges offer color, texture, and seasonal interest with flowers, berries, or evergreen foliage.
• Wildlife Habitat: Hedges provide shelter and food for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife.
• Environmental Benefits: They help reduce noise, block wind, absorb pollutants, and sequester carbon, contributing to a healthier environment.
• Value: A well-planted privacy hedge can increase property value and curb appeal.

Important Considerations When Choosing Your Privacy Hedge

• Climate: Make sure the hedge species is compatible with your local climate and soil conditions.
• Sunlight: Consider whether your hedge site is mostly sunny, shaded, or a mix.
• Maintenance: Some hedges require regular pruning; others are virtually maintenance-free.
• Desired Height: Choose a plant that will reach your preferred screening height.
• Growth Rate: Some hedges grow faster than others; we've focused on the quickest options here.

9 Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Let's dive into our curated list of nine exceptional fast-growing hedge plants that excel at providing privacy--each with their own character and advantages.

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Leyland Cypress is renowned for being one of the fastest-growing evergreen hedges available. This vigorous plant can add 3-4 feet of height per year, quickly forming a dense, lush green wall.

• Growth Rate: Extremely fast (up to 4 feet per year)
• Height: Up to 60 feet, easily maintained at 8-15 feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Features: Soft, feathery, blue-green foliage

Best for: Large properties, windbreaks, noise reduction, and instant privacy screens

Maintenance Tip: Prune regularly to maintain desired height and shape.

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

If you're seeking an evergreen hedge that is both hardy and low-maintenance, 'Green Giant' Arborvitae is a fantastic option. Its fast growth and disease resistance make it a favorite for living walls.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-40 feet (prune to maintain at 8-15 feet)
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Evergreen: Yes

Best for: Neat, formal privacy hedges that create a lush green backdrop

Maintenance Tip: Requires less pruning than Leyland Cypress but benefits from some shaping.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are classic choices for formal or informal property boundaries. Their rapid growth and adaptability make them ideal for fast privacy screens in a variety of climates.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Size: 6-15 feet high
• Sun: Sun to partial shade
• Features: Densely packed, glossy green leaves; fragrant white blooms in summer

Best for: Shaping into tidy, formal hedges or allowing to grow naturally for a softer look

Note: In some regions, privet can be invasive. Check local recommendations before planting.

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

Photinia, particularly the popular 'Red Robin' variety, provides a burst of color in addition to rapid growth. New growth emerges a striking red before maturing to deep green, making this a standout for any privacy garden.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet
• Sun: Best in full sun
• Evergreen: Yes (in most climates)

Best for: Colorful, eye-catching privacy hedges and mixed screens

Maintenance Tip: Prune lightly after new spring growth to encourage vibrant red shoots.

5. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)

For an ultra-fast-growing and contemporary privacy fence, try non-invasive, clumping bamboo. Unlike running bamboo, these types stay where you plant them and can form a thick, towering living screen in little time.

• Growth Rate: Up to 5 feet per year
• Height: 10-25 feet (variety dependent)
• Sun: Most do well in full sun; some tolerate partial shade
• Feature: Tall, upright canes with lush green foliage

Best for: Modern gardens, Asian-inspired landscapes, and narrow spaces where vertical screening is desired

Pro Tip: Be sure to choose clumping (not running) bamboo to prevent invasive spread!

6. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel is widely cherished for its broad, glossy, evergreen leaves and fast, dense growth. It's remarkably tough and adaptable to different soils and sites, making it a top choice for year-round privacy hedges.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 15-20 feet (commonly kept around 6-12 feet with pruning)
• Sun: Full sun to shade
• Evergreen: Yes

Best for: Shady or challenging sites and robust evergreen screens

Maintenance Tip: Can even be shaped into a dense, formal hedge with regular clipping.

7. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Boxwood is the classic evergreen for formal privacy hedges, especially when you want a neat, clipped look. While not the absolute fastest, it's reliable and long-lived.

• Growth Rate: 6-12 inches per year (faster than many realize with good care!)
• Height: Usually kept 2-6 feet high for typical hedges
• Sun: Light shade to full sun
• Evergreen: Yes

Best for: Low to medium formal hedges, garden borders, and topiary

Tip: Newer varieties are resistant to diseases and tolerate heat and drought better.

8. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus and other species)

Viburnum hedges are versatile, fast-growing, and deliver multi-season interest. Many evergreen varieties bloom with white flowers, followed by pretty berries loved by birds.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 6-12 feet or more
• Sun: Full sun to shade
• Evergreen: Many varieties are evergreen; check your species

Best for: Flowering privacy screens that also support wildlife

Note: Viburnum is an excellent choice for customizing hedge appearance with different leaf and flower types.

9. Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus x ebbingei)

Elaeagnus is a lesser-known but phenomenal fast-growing privacy shrub, valued for its silvery-green leaves, fragrant flowers, and incredible vigor.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet (can be kept lower)
• Sun: Full sun to light shade
• Evergreen: Yes

Best for: Dry, challenging spots and mixed privacy hedges

Benefit: Drought-tolerant and wind-resistant, ideal for coastal and exposed areas.

Designing and Planting Your Fast-Growing Living Privacy Fence

Now that you've discovered the best fast-growing hedge plants for privacy, here are tips to set your living screen up for success:

1. Plan Your Layout: Decide if you want a formal, straight hedge or a more natural, staggered effect. Measure your space to ensure plants have enough room to mature.
2. Soil Preparation: Prepare the soil by loosening and enriching it with compost or organic matter for strong root growth.
3. Spacing Matters: Follow recommended spacing--typically 2-4 feet apart, depending on variety--for quicker hedge fill-in.
4. Water & Mulch: Water deeply after planting and keep the hedge well-watered the first season. Apply mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
5. Pruning for Thickness: Start shaping your new hedge early. Light, regular trimming encourages bushy, dense growth rather than legginess.
6. Feeding: Fertilize in early spring for the best growth and vitality.

Pros and Cons of Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Pros	Cons
Quick coverage for privacy and noise reduction Attractive, living alternatives to fences Wildlife habitat and environmental benefits Seasonal color and year-round interest (evergreen hedges) Many are drought and wind-tolerant once established	Some hedges require regular pruning to control size Certain species can be invasive if not managed May take a year or two to reach full screening effect Pests and diseases can occasionally affect certain varieties

Frequently Asked Questions: Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy

How quickly can I expect a privacy hedge to grow?

With the fastest-growing species, such as Leyland Cypress, Green Giant Arborvitae, or clumping bamboo, you can see dramatic coverage in as little as 2-3 years with proper care. Slower options like boxwood may take several years but deliver a classic look.

Can I mix different hedge plants for a unique privacy screen?

Absolutely! Many gardeners combine evergreens with flowering shrubs (like viburnum or photinia) to enjoy both privacy and changing seasonal color. Mixing hedge types also reduces the risk of losses to disease or pests.

How much maintenance do fast-growing hedges require?

Most fast-growing privacy hedges need yearly shaping to stay tidy. Some, like privet or laurel, benefit from two or three trims a year if you want a formal look. Always research your chosen plant's needs.

Which privacy hedge is best for small gardens?

For narrow spaces, opt for upright growers like clumping bamboo, boxwood, or dwarf cultivars of laurel or viburnum.

Are privacy hedges pet- and child-safe?

Some hedge plants, such as yew and cherry laurel, have parts that are toxic if ingested. Always check plant safety if pets or children will frequent the area.

Conclusion: Grow Your Privacy with the Best Fast-Growing Hedges

Embracing a fast-growing living privacy fence rewards you with tranquility, natural beauty, and the satisfaction of a thriving landscape. Whether you desire a towering evergreen screen, a vibrant mixed border, or a tidy clipped hedge, there's a privacy plant perfect for your vision.

Transform your yard into a private paradise with these nine top hedge choices--and enjoy the privacy edge you've always wanted in record time! By selecting the right fast-growing hedge for privacy, and caring for it well, you'll not only enhance your home's security and value but also contribute positively to the local environment.

Ready to get started? Research local availability, choose your favorite hedge, and watch your landscape flourish--beautifully, quickly, and privately!