Find fast privacy solutions with these nine lush hedge plants

Posted on 22/08/2025

Find Fast Privacy Solutions with These Nine Lush Hedge Plants

Creating an immediate sense of privacy in your outdoor space is a top priority for many homeowners. Sometimes, a simple fence just doesn't provide the tranquil, secluded oasis you desire. That's where lush hedge plants come in - not only do they offer fast privacy solutions, but they also add lasting beauty, greenery, and even environmental benefits to your garden. If you want a green wall that grows quickly and keeps prying eyes away, read on for nine of the best hedge plants for rapid, dense coverage.

Why Choose Lush Hedge Plants for Privacy?

Hedge plants offer numerous advantages as privacy screens:

• Natural Beauty: Unlike solid fences, hedges create a living, breathing barrier filled with texture and seasonal interest.
• Noise Reduction: Dense hedges can help muffle street or neighborhood noise.
• Wildlife Habitat: Hedges provide shelter and food for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
• Eco-Friendly: Hedging reduces your carbon footprint by absorbing CO₂ and improving air quality.
• Wind Protection: Thick, fast-growing hedges act as natural windbreaks, protecting your garden oasis.

But not all hedges are created equal. For quick privacy solutions, you need fast-growing, dense, and attractive options. Here are nine lush hedge plants to consider for your garden retreat.

1. Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata)

Thuja Green Giant is a superstar among evergreen hedging plants, favored by landscape designers for its exceptional growth rate and classic conical shape.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3-5 feet per year under ideal conditions
• Maximum Height: 30-50 feet
• Sun Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Adaptable, but prefers moist, well-drained soils

These privacy trees are deer-resistant and require minimal pruning. Plant them 3-6 feet apart for a living wall that fills in rapidly. Thuja's soft, deep-green, fragrant foliage creates a lush backdrop for any yard.

Quick Tip: Water deeply during establishment to promote rapid growth.

2. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

The Leyland Cypress is beloved for its near-instant privacy and formal look. This hybrid cypress produces dense green sprays and grows remarkably fast.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Height: 40-60 feet (easily kept shorter with pruning)
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerates a variety of soils

For a fast privacy hedge, plant these cypresses six to eight feet apart. They're well-suited for large properties and provide solid, year-round coverage.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

If you want a classically manicured hedge that fills in quickly, you can't go wrong with privet. This semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub is reliable and versatile.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2-3 feet per year
• Maximum Height: 8-12 feet (often trimmed lower)
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Adaptable

Privet hedges respond beautifully to pruning and can be shaped into tight, formal green walls. Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) and common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) are both popular choices for privacy plants.

Did You Know? Privet blooms with white, fragrant flowers in spring, attracting pollinators.

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel, sometimes called English laurel, boasts glossy, broad leaves and a rapid growth rate. Its vigorous habit makes it one of the best fast privacy solutions for shady situations.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Maximum Height: 15-30 feet (pruned as needed)
• Light: Sun or shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, adaptable

Cherry laurel is prized for its tolerance of urban conditions and its ability to remain green all year. Large clusters of white spring flowers are a bonus!

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

For a privacy hedge that doubles as a showpiece, Photinia is hard to beat. Its new growth emerges in vibrant red shades before maturing to glossy green.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Maximum Height: 12-15 feet
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerates clay

With routine pruning, Photinia forms a dense, colorful, and striking privacy screen quickly - a perfect choice for urban gardens needing an explosion of color and seclusion.

6. Bamboo (Bambusa or Phyllostachys species)

If you crave fast results and a unique, exotic look, bamboo hedges are among the fastest privacy solutions available. Certain species form tight, tall screens in just a few growing seasons.

• Growth Rate: Many species can achieve 3-5 feet or more per year
• Height: Varies - clumping bamboos for small spaces, running types for large screens
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil

Tip: For most residential landscapes, choose clumping bamboo species (such as Bambusa multiplex) to avoid aggressive spreading. Plant closer together for a quicker privacy wall.

Benefits of Bamboo Hedges

• Evergreen year-round coverage
• Rustling sound for a relaxing atmosphere
• Excellent wind and noise protection

7. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Hornbeam forms a traditional European-style hedge that is both lush and fast-growing. Its pleated foliage forms a thick, dense screen that's attractive in any landscape design.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Maximum Height: Up to 30 feet (often maintained at 5-15 feet)
• Light: Sun or partial shade
• Soil: Prefers clay or loam but adaptable

One unique feature of hornbeam hedges is that their shriveled leaves often remain on the branches through winter, providing ongoing privacy even when other deciduous hedges have dropped their leaves.

8. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)

Looking for a hedging plant that offers both fast privacy and vibrant blooms? Escallonia is your answer. These evergreen shrubs have glossy, aromatic foliage and clusters of pink or white flowers throughout summer.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Maximum Height: 6-12 feet
• Light: Prefers full sun
• Soil: Well-drained and salt-tolerant, ideal for coastal gardens

Escallonia is easy to maintain, responds well to pruning, and is perfect for those who want an attractive flowering hedge that doubles as a privacy barrier.

9. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Rounding out our list, Portuguese laurel grows dense, elegant hedges with rich dark-green foliage and red stems. It offers a slightly slower rate of growth than English laurel but easily outpaces many other hedge plants.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Maximum Height: Up to 20 feet (easily kept at 6-12 feet)
• Light: Sun or partial shade
• Soil: Adapts to clay, chalk, and sand

This laurel variety is highly drought-tolerant once established and ideal for low-maintenance fast privacy screens. Small white flowers in summer and tiny dark berries that attract birds add to its charm.

How to Choose the Right Hedge Plant for Fast Privacy?

Consider these important factors when selecting the best hedging plant for your privacy needs:

• Growth Rate: If speed is a priority, choose the fastest-growing varieties, such as Leyland cypress, Green Giant arborvitae, or bamboo.
• Height and Width: Determine your ideal screen size--do you need a tall living wall or a low green barrier?
• Sun and Shade: Match your hedge plant with the light conditions of your planting area.
• Maintenance Level: Some species, like privet or hornbeam, require regular pruning; evergreens may need only light trimming.
• Evergreen vs. Deciduous: For year-round seclusion, go for evergreen selections. If seasonal coverage is enough, incorporate deciduous fast-growers.

Tips for Planting and Caring for Your Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge

Establishing your hedge quickly and keeping it lush requires attention to planting technique and ongoing care:

1. Soil Preparation: Enrich your soil with organic compost before planting to encourage rapid root development.
2. Spacing: For the fastest results, plant your hedge closer together within the recommended range.
3. Watering: Deep, regular watering is crucial in the first year, especially for evergreens in hot or windy locations.
4. Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring for vigorous new growth.
5. Mulching: Use bark, straw, or leaf mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
6. Pruning: Start shaping your hedge early, even as plants establish, to encourage bushy growth from the ground up.

FAQ: Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Q: What is the fastest-growing hedge for privacy?

Thuja Green Giant and Leyland Cypress are among the speediest, with growth rates up to 3-5 feet per year under optimum conditions.

Q: How quickly can I expect a privacy screen?

With proper care and favorable conditions, many of these fast-growing hedge plants will provide significant screening in just 2-3 years.

Q: Which hedge plants are best for small spaces?

Choose compact varieties like Portuguese laurel or non-invasive clumping bamboo for narrow gardens.

Q: Are there flowering hedges for privacy?

Absolutely! Photinia and Escallonia both offer seasonal bloom alongside dense foliage.

Conclusion: Create Your Private Paradise with Lush, Fast-Growing Hedges

Transforming your yard into a private paradise doesn't have to be a waiting game. By choosing the right lush hedge plants for privacy, you'll enjoy a beautiful, secluded space far faster than you might think. Whether you opt for the stately Thuja Green Giant, the colorful Photinia, or the whispering canes of bamboo, these nine hedge plants can turn your landscape into an instant sanctuary.

Ready to find your fast privacy solution? Visit your local garden center with this guide, and let the transformation begin. For even more comprehensive advice on living screens, landscaping, and garden privacy strategies, explore additional resources and connect with expert landscapers in your area.

With the right hedging choice, you'll gain peaceful seclusion, gorgeous greenery, and the pleasure of a thriving garden retreat--all in record time!