Unveil 9 hedges that promise rapid and lush privacy

Posted on 20/05/2025

Are you eager to create a tranquil, secluded outdoor oasis? Whether you wish to shield your backyard from prying eyes, reduce noise, or add an attractive green backdrop to your property, fast-growing privacy hedges are the answer. In this comprehensive guide, we highlight nine exceptional hedge varieties renowned for their speedy growth, thick foliage, and ability to deliver lush, natural privacy screens with minimal wait. Find the right option for your garden and enjoy a peaceful retreat in no time!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

Planting a privacy hedge offers far more than a living, eco-friendly barrier. Hedges for quick and lush privacy improve air quality, reduce wind, absorb noise, and provide habitats for beneficial wildlife. Compared to fencing, they offer seasonal beauty and year-round interest with dynamic foliage, flowers, or berries.

Opting for fast-growing hedge plants means you can achieve your seclusion goals rapidly--sometimes in as little as a couple of seasons. The varieties selected below thrive in diverse climates and settings, making it easy to find the perfect privacy plant for your region and needs.

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Factors to Consider Before Planting Privacy Hedges

Growth Rate: Choose species with a reputation for vigorous, rapid growth.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous: For year-round screening, prefer evergreens; deciduous species provide privacy mostly in spring and summer.
Mature Size: Consider both height and width to ensure adequate space for full growth.
Soil and Light: Some hedges require full sun; others tolerate partial shade. Ensure soil type matches plant requirements for best results.
Maintenance Level: Some hedges need regular pruning, while others grow well with minimal clipping.

With these points in mind, let's explore the top 9 hedges that promise rapid and lush privacy for your garden sanctuary.

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Often considered the ultimate fast-growing privacy hedge, the Leyland Cypress boasts a staggering growth rate of up to 3 feet per year. Its dense, feathery emerald foliage creates an impenetrable screen, ideal for tall, continuous hedges.

Growth rate: Up to 3 feet per year
Mature height: 30-50 feet (keeps well at 8-15 feet when trimmed)
Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Best for: Tall, formal screens and windbreaks
Hardy zones: 6-10

Note: Leyland Cypress needs regular pruning to avoid outgrowing its space.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')

Beloved for its resilience and easy care, Green Giant Arborvitae forms stylish, vertical hedges and rapidly matures with soft, fan-shaped evergreen foliage. It's virtually pest and disease-free, providing lush privacy without hassle.

Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year (one of the fastest hedges)
Mature height: 30-50 feet (trim back for smaller hedges)
Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Best for: Wide, tall living walls and wind barriers
Hardy zones: 5-8

Tip: Space at least 5-8 feet apart for lush, seamless growth.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

*Privet hedges* are classics for creating any formal or informal privacy hedge due to their dense growth and easy shaping. They quickly fill gaps, bear fragrant white flowers, and tolerate a variety of soils and climates.

Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
Mature height: 8-15 feet (keeps well at any height with pruning)
Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Best for: Fast formal/informal hedging
Hardy zones: 3-8 (species dependent)

Note: Privet can become invasive in some regions, so check local recommendations before planting.

4. Bamboo (Clumping varieties)

When it comes to instant privacy, nothing matches the tropical look and speedy screening of clumping bamboo. Unlike running bamboo, clumping forms are non-invasive and manageable.

Growth rate: Up to 5 feet in a single growing season
Mature height: 10-20 feet (varieties vary)
Sun requirements: Full sun to part shade
Best for: Modern, exotic, or urban gardens
Hardy zones: 5-9 (varies)

Tip: Always select clumping bamboo species such as Bambusa multiplex to avoid unwanted spreading.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

One of the most popular choices for rapid hedge privacy, Cherry Laurel offers glossy, broad evergreen leaves and a vigorous growth habit. Its white spring flowers and red berries (toxic if eaten) add seasonal beauty.

Growth rate: 2 feet or more per year
Mature height: 10-15 feet (controls easily with pruning)
Sun requirements: Tolerates full sun to deep shade
Best for: Coastal gardens, slopes, or low-maintenance screens
Hardy zones: 6-9

Note: All parts of Cherry Laurel are toxic if ingested, so avoid planting within reach of pets or children.

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

For those craving a vivid, colorful hedge, Photinia 'Red Robin' stuns with red-bronze new shoots that mature to glossy green. Thriving in diverse soils, it makes a contemporary, fast-growing privacy screen.

Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
Mature height: 8-15 feet
Sun requirements: Best in full sun (tolerates light shade)
Best for: Decorative privacy with color impact
Hardy zones: 7-9

Tip: Clip back after flushes of red growth to encourage bushiness and increase privacy density.

7. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

The Wax Myrtle is a tough, adaptable native shrub that quickly forms semi-evergreen screens in warmer climates. Its aromatic foliage and tolerance of tough sites make it perfect for challenging privacy projects.

Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
Mature height: 10-20 feet (prune for size control)
Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Best for: Wet soils, coastal regions, wildlife gardens
Hardy zones: 7-11

Did you know? Wax Myrtle is drought-tolerant and salt-spray resistant, perfect for difficult landscapes.

8. Escallonia

If you're searching for a flowering fast privacy hedge, Escallonia is an outstanding evergreen choice. Its glossy, leathery leaves remain vibrant year-round, while its pink, red, or white tubular flowers attract pollinators from spring through summer.

Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
Mature height: 5-10 feet
Sun requirements: Full sun for best flowering (tolerates part shade)
Best for: Medium-height privacy with blooms
Hardy zones: 8-10

Tip: Escallonia thrives in coastal climates and can be pruned after flowering for bushiness.

9. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

The Skip Laurel, or Schip Laurel, is prized for its upright growth habit, lush evergreen foliage, and dense privacy even in shadier spots. With a moderate to fast rate of growth, it adapts well to tight spaces, making it a perfect contender for narrow hedging needs.

Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
Mature height: 8-10 feet (excellent for small gardens)
Sun requirements: Full sun to deep shade
Best for: Dense, upright screens, shaded property lines
Hardy zones: 6-9

Fun fact: Skip Laurel requires less pruning thanks to its naturally columnar growth.

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Bonus: Tips for Ensuring Lush, Rapid Hedge Growth

Proper Spacing: Don't overcrowd. Give each plant room to thrive, which leads to thicker privacy hedges faster.
Initial Care: Mulch after planting to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water well during dry spells.
Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with balanced, slow-release fertilizer to fuel rapid growth.
Regular Pruning: Shear in late winter or after growth flushes to encourage denser, more private screening.
Monitor for Pests: Address insect and disease problems early to keep growth uninterrupted.

Choosing the Best Fast-Growing Hedge for Your Landscape

Not every hedge plant suits every setting. Here's how to pick amongst these rapid-growing privacy shrubs:

If you need a tall, formal living wall: Go for Leyland Cypress or Green Giant Arborvitae.
For shade or narrow spots: Choose Skip Laurel or Cherry Laurel.
For instant, modern privacy: Clumping Bamboo is unbeatable.
If you want flowers: Try Photinia or Escallonia.
For wildlife or tough sites: Wax Myrtle is highly adaptable.
Looking for traditional style? Privet delivers the classic look.

Final Thoughts on Rapid and Lush Privacy Hedges

Ditch the drab fences and opt for hedge plants that not only deliver rapid and lush privacy but also add enduring beauty and value to your property. Whether you want year-round seclusion, seasonal interest, or a thriving wildlife haven, there's a hedge on this list ready to meet your needs.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Unveil these 9 fast-growing, lush privacy hedges and start creating your green, tranquil retreat today!

Explore more gardening tips, design ideas, and expert advice in our other articles. Privacy has never looked so good--or grown so fast!