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.
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- 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 |
 |
Schilling Holly 2(Ilex vomitoria ‘Schilling’s Dwarf’) |
4-7′ feet tall | 6-10′ feet wide | Slow |
 |
Edward Goucher Abelia 2(Abelia x grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’) |
4-6’feet tall | 4-6′ feet wide | Medium |
|
Boxwood 1-2(Buxus microphylla) |
5-6’feet tall | 5-6′ feet wide | Slow |
 |
Dwarf Burford Holly 2(Ilex cornuta ‘burfordii nana’) |
5-8′ feet tall | 5-8′ feet wide | Slow |
 |
Japanese Holly 2(Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’) |
8-10′ feet tall | 2-3′ feet wide | Slow |
 |
Oak Leaf Holly 2(Ilex x ‘Conaf’) |
10-15′ feet tall | 6-8′ feet wide | Slow |
|
Needlepoint Holly 2(Ilex cornuta ‘Needlepoint’) |
10-15′ feet tall | 5-10′ feet wide | Fast |
|
Ocala Anise 2(Illicium parvoflorum) |
10-15′ feet tall | 6-10′ feet wide | Medium |
 |
Walter Viburnum 1-2(Viburnum obovatum) |
10-15′ feet tall | 8-12′ feet wide | Medium |
 |
Zhuzhou Loropetalum 2(Loropetalum chinese rubrum ‘Zhuzhou’) |
10-15′ feet tall |
6-8′ feet wide | Medium |
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Emerald Green Arborvitae(Thuja occidentals ‘Emerald Green’) |
13-15′ feet tall | 3-4′ feet wide | Medium |
 |
Hicksii Yew(Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) |
15-20′ feet tall | 10-12′ feet wide | Slow |
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Tea Olive 1-2(Osmanthus fragrans) |
15-30′ feet tall | 10-20′ feet wide | Medium |
 |
Podocarpus 1-2(Podocarpus macrophyllus) |
20-35′ feet tall | 10-15′ feet wide | Slow |
|
Rocky Mountain Juniper 1(Juniperus scopulorum) |
20-40′ feet tall |
4-12′ feet wide | 6-12″/year |
|
Thuja Green Giant(Thuja standishii x plicata) |
20-40′ feet tall |
10-12′ feet wide | 3-5’/year |
|
Sweet Viburnum 1-2(Viburnum odoratissimum) |
25-30′ feet tall | 15-25′ feet wide | Fast |
|
Italian Cypress 1(Cupressus sempervirens) |
30-40′ feet tall |
3-5′ feet wide | 2-3’/year |
|
American Arborvitae 1(Thuja occidentalis) |
30-50′ feet tall | 10-15′ feet wide | Medium |
|
Colorado Spruce 1(Picea pungens) |
30 to 60 feet tall |
10-20′ feet wide | Medium |
|
English Yew 1(Taxus baccata) |
30-60′ feet tall | 15-20′ feet wide | Slow |
 |
Japanese Cedar 1(Cryptomeria japonica) |
30-60′ feet tall | 15-30′ feet wide | 2-3’/year |
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Eastern Red Cedar 1(Juniperus virginiana) |
40-50′ feet tall | 8-20′ feet wide | Medium |
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Arizona Cypress 1(Cupressus arizonica) |
40-50′ feet tall | 20-30′ feet wide | Medium |
|
White Spruce 1(Picea glauca) |
40-60′ feet tall | 15-20′ feet wide | Medium |
|
Canadian Hemlock 1(Tsuga canadensis) |
40-70′ feet tall | 25-35′ feet wide | Medium |
|
Dawn Redwood(Metasequoia glyptostropoides) |
50-80′ feet tall | 15-25′ feet wide | 3-4’/year |
|
Norway Spruce 1(Picea abies) |
50-80′ feet tall | 20-30′ feet wide | 2-3’/year |
|
Leyland Cypress 1(X Cupressocyparis leylandii) |
60-70′ feet tall | 15-20′ feet wide | 3-4’/year |
|
Giant Arborvitae 1(Thuja plicata) |
60-70′ feet tall | 20-35′ feet wide | Medium |
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Douglas Fir Tree 1(Pseudotsuga menziesii) |
60-150′ feet tall | 20-40′ feet wide | Medium |
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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