The 32 Best Fast Growing Privacy Trees For Yards & Homes

If the old saying of "fences makes good neighbors" then Privacy Trees make even better ones! They are more visually appealing, better for the environment, and even add value to your home.

Of course, a fence can be erected in day and trees take time to grow. So, if you're need privacy trees for your yard and need to grow fast, this guide is for you!

Let's take a look at our picks for the fastest growing privacy trees for yards and homes.

Fast Growing Privacy Trees: Quick Picks

 

What To Consider Before Planting Fast Growing Privacy Trees?

A row of fast growing evergreen trees for privacy or fast growing privacy shrubs can become a living privacy fence that blocks noise, reduces air pollution, slows the wind, and, most noteworthy, hides an unwanted view

First of all, decide how tall your privacy screen needs to be. You may be able to get by with a 6-8 foot hedge, or you may need a taller living wall of majestic conifers for privacy that measure up to 30 feet, 40 feet, or 50 feet.

Think about your planting site and what your privacy tree requirements are. What types of soil conditions are present? Is it well drained soil or moist soil?

Our favorite tall privacy trees are cone-bearing evergreens — such as cedars, cypress, junipers, and pines. Evergreen conifers tend to grow fast and have very low maintenance requirements, therefore needing less pruning.

Shop Now: Buy Privacy Trees Online

  • For lower screens: a dense hedge of broadleaf fastest growing evergreen trees just 6-8 feet high might be all you need. Evergreen shrubs spaced 2-4 feet apart will fill the bill nicely. Sky Pencil Holly also makes a great option for a vertical appeal!
  • For low, hedge-like screens, we recommend Walter viburnum, Boxwood, Podocarpus or any of the evergreen hollies such as Perfect Plant’s Oak Leaf Holly trees or the American Holly. They can get up to 12 feet tall at mature height. Perfect for hedging privacy trees to plant or as a living fence. They also produce gorgeous red berries that attract birds and other wildlife to your landscape.
  • To create a classic, formal screen of trees for fast growing privacy — It is common to plant a single species, evenly spaced, in a straight line. However, planting a mixture of different kinds of fast growing privacy plants adds diversity and architectural interest to your landscape. Also, a mixture of species could minimize the spread of pests or diseases should they rear up. When considering the aesthetics, try planting privacy trees in clusters rather than a simple straight line. The diversity amongst the bright green foliage will complement each other.

The Fastest Growing Trees For Privacy

Cultivar Mature Height Mature Width Growth Rate USDA Zone

Spring Bouquet Viburnum 2

(Viburnum tinus ‘Compactum’)

4-6′ feet tall 4-6′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Schilling Holly 2

(Ilex vomitoria ‘Schilling’s Dwarf’)

4-7′ feet tall 6-10′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Edward Goucher Abelia 2

(Abelia x grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’)

4-6’feet tall 4-6′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Boxwood 1-2

(Buxus microphylla)

5-6’feet tall 5-6′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Dwarf Burford Holly 2

(Ilex cornuta ‘burfordii nana’)

5-8′ feet tall 5-8′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Japanese Holly 2

(Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’)

8-10′ feet tall 2-3′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Oak Leaf Holly 2

(Ilex x ‘Conaf’)

10-15′ feet tall 6-8′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Needlepoint Holly 2

(Ilex cornuta ‘Needlepoint’)

10-15′ feet tall 5-10′ feet wide Fast
zone map - privacy

Ocala Anise 2

(Illicium parvoflorum)

10-15′ feet tall 6-10′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Walter Viburnum 1-2

(Viburnum obovatum)

10-15′ feet tall 8-12′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Zhuzhou Loropetalum 2

(Loropetalum chinese rubrum ‘Zhuzhou’)

10-15′

feet tall

6-8′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Emerald Green Arborvitae

(Thuja occidentals ‘Emerald Green’)

13-15′ feet tall 3-4′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Hicksii Yew

(Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)

15-20′ feet tall 10-12′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Tea Olive 1-2

(Osmanthus fragrans)

15-30′ feet tall 10-20′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Podocarpus 1-2

(Podocarpus macrophyllus)

20-35′ feet tall 10-15′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Rocky Mountain Juniper 1

(Juniperus scopulorum)

20-40′

feet tall

4-12′ feet wide 6-12″/year
zone map - privacy

Thuja Green Giant

(Thuja standishii x plicata)

20-40′

feet tall

10-12′ feet wide 3-5’/year
zone map - privacy

Sweet Viburnum 1-2

(Viburnum odoratissimum)

25-30′ feet tall 15-25′ feet wide Fast
zone map - privacy

Italian Cypress 1

(Cupressus sempervirens)

30-40′

feet tall

3-5′ feet wide 2-3’/year
zone map - privacy

American Arborvitae 1

(Thuja occidentalis)

30-50′ feet tall 10-15′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Colorado Spruce 1

(Picea pungens)

30 to 60 feet tall

10-20′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

English Yew 1

(Taxus baccata)

30-60′ feet tall 15-20′ feet wide Slow
zone map - privacy

Japanese Cedar 1

(Cryptomeria japonica)

30-60′ feet tall 15-30′ feet wide 2-3’/year
zone map - privacy

Eastern Red Cedar 1

(Juniperus virginiana)

40-50′ feet tall 8-20′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Arizona Cypress 1

(Cupressus arizonica)

40-50′ feet tall 20-30′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

White Spruce 1

(Picea glauca)

40-60′ feet tall 15-20′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Canadian Hemlock 1

(Tsuga canadensis)

40-70′ feet tall 25-35′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Dawn Redwood

(Metasequoia glyptostropoides)

50-80′ feet tall 15-25′ feet wide 3-4’/year
zone map - privacy

Norway Spruce 1

(Picea abies)

50-80′ feet tall 20-30′ feet wide 2-3’/year
zone map - privacy

Leyland Cypress 1

(X Cupressocyparis leylandii)

60-70′ feet tall 15-20′ feet wide 3-4’/year
zone map - privacy

Giant Arborvitae 1

(Thuja plicata)

60-70′ feet tall 20-35′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Douglas Fir Tree 1

(Pseudotsuga menziesii)

60-150′ feet tall 20-40′ feet wide Medium
zone map - privacy

Planting A Fast Growing Privacy Tree

When planting trees for a privacy screen you should position the trees growing at least twelve feet away from your home or foundation. You will also want to stay at least six feet away from patios, fences, and other structures. If planting under a power line you will want to use trees or fast growing shrubs that will not get too tall. Alternatively, you can perform regular pruning if you would like a larger specimen in a smaller spot. Just dont sacrifice the natural shape of the privacy tree or shrub.

Also, pay attention to their height and width at maturity and space your new plants as far apart as their mature width.

You might want to take into consideration if it is a deciduous tree – meaning it will lose its leaves over the winter and flush out in the spring with all new green leaves. In contrast, the best evergreen trees will stay green all year round and do not lose their leaves. Also, shade trees are an option if you want some nice land underneath to sit and relax under.


1 – Cultivars are available with smaller dimensions and/or narrower shapes;  2 – Broad-leaved evergreen trees