12 fast growing evergreen trees that create privacy all year round.

 

🌲 1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)

• Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year

• Mature Height: 40 to 60 feet

• Spread: 15 to 20 feet

• USDA Zones: 6 to 10

Why it's great for privacy:
Leyland Cypress is one of the fastest-growing evergreens and forms a dense, uniform screen. It’s ideal for large properties and can be trimmed into a formal hedge or left to grow naturally.

Care Tips:

• Prefers full sun

• Tolerates a range of soils

• Requires good air circulation to avoid fungal diseases

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🌳 2. Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii × plicata)

• Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year

• Mature Height: 40 to 60 feet

• Spread: 12 to 20 feet

• USDA Zones: 5 to 9

Why it's great for privacy:
A hybrid of Western Redcedar and Japanese arborvitae, it offers fast growth, dense foliage, and excellent disease resistance.

Care Tips:

• Easy to maintain

• Needs full to partial sun

• Tolerates heat and humidity well

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🌿 3. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 50 to 80 feet

• Spread: 20 to 40 feet

• USDA Zones: 3 to 8

Why it's great for privacy:
Though technically not always dense, planting Eastern White Pines in staggered rows can create a beautiful natural privacy barrier.

Care Tips:

• Prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soils

• Grows best in full sun

• Tolerates cold climates

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🌴 4. Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 40 to 60 feet

• Spread: 4 to 5 feet

• USDA Zones: 7 to 11

Why it's great for privacy:
Ideal for tight spaces or elegant screens, the tall, narrow form of Italian Cypress makes it perfect along fences or property lines.

Care Tips:

• Loves full sun

• Drought-tolerant once established

• Needs well-drained soil

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🌲 5. Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’)

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

• Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet

• Spread: 4 to 5 feet

• USDA Zones: 5 to 9

Why it's great for privacy:
Compact and easy to shape, Spartan Juniper works well in smaller yards and requires minimal maintenance.

Care Tips:

• Grows in various soil types

• Tolerates drought and heat

• Minimal pruning required

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🌳 6. Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Ilex × ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 15 to 25 feet

• Spread: 10 to 12 feet

• USDA Zones: 6 to 9

Why it's great for privacy:
This holly forms a thick, spiny-leaved wall that deters intruders and remains vibrant year-round.

Care Tips:

• Full sun to partial shade

• Tolerates clay and acidic soils

• Low maintenance and drought-tolerant

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🌿 7. Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 10 to 20 feet

• Spread: 8 to 12 feet

• USDA Zones: 7 to 10

Why it's great for privacy:
A fast-growing native shrub/tree, Wax Myrtle is aromatic and versatile for hedging.

Care Tips:

• Prefers full sun to partial shade

• Thrives in sandy or loamy soil

• Good salt tolerance for coastal areas

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🌲 8. Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 30 to 50 feet

• Spread: 15 to 20 feet

• USDA Zones: 7 to 9

Why it's great for privacy:
Silvery-blue foliage and drought tolerance make it ideal for warm, dry climates.

Care Tips:

• Requires full sun

• Tolerates drought and heat

• Needs good drainage

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🌴 9. Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

• Mature Height: 50 to 70 feet

• Spread: 20 to 30 feet

• USDA Zones: 5 to 9

Why it's great for privacy:
It has dense, rich green foliage and thrives in humid climates, forming a thick screen with minimal trimming.

Care Tips:

• Thrives in rich, well-drained soil

• Prefers full sun

• Protect from strong winds in colder climates

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🌳 10. Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

• Mature Height: 10 to 30 feet

• Spread: 5 to 20 feet

• USDA Zones: 8 to 10

Why it's great for privacy:
An evergreen with culinary value! Its dense foliage works well in Mediterranean climates and formal gardens.

Care Tips:

• Prefers full sun

• Well-draining soil essential

• Can be pruned into a hedge

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🌿 11. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties like Bambusa multiplex)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year or more

• Mature Height: 10 to 30 feet (depending on species)

• USDA Zones: 8 to 11 (some hardy to Zone 7)

Why it's great for privacy:
Creates a fast, exotic green screen when clumping bamboo varieties are used (non-invasive).

Care Tips:

• Needs regular water but tolerates drought

• Choose clumping, not running, types

• Best in warm, humid climates

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🌲 12. Yew (Taxus spp.)

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

• Mature Height: 10 to 30 feet (depending on species)

• Spread: 5 to 15 feet

• USDA Zones: 4 to 7

Why it's great for privacy:
Dense, slow-growing, and long-lived — excellent for formal hedges in cooler climates.

Care Tips:

• Thrives in shade and sun

• Avoid poorly drained soils

• Tolerates heavy pruning

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🌿 Final Tips for Planting a Privacy Screen:

1. Stagger Planting
   Plant trees in a zigzag pattern instead of a straight line to create a denser screen faster.

2. Consider Growth Rate vs. Longevity
   Fast-growing trees often have shorter lifespans. Combine with slower-growing species for a long-term screen.

3. Know Your Soil & Climate
   Choose species suited to your soil type, rainfall, and sunlight exposure.

4. Pruning & Maintenance
   Regular trimming encourages dense growth and prolongs health.

5. Spacing Matters
   Overcrowding can lead to disease and stress. Research spacing recommendations for each species.