Increase Privacy Elegantly with These 9 Quick-Growing Hedges

Posted on 29/09/2025

Increase Privacy Elegantly with These 9 Quick-Growing Hedges

Dreaming of a serene yard protected from prying eyes? Are you searching for ways to enhance your landscape's seclusion while boosting its beauty? Discover how to increase privacy elegantly with these quick-growing hedges. Fast-growing hedges offer a natural, eco-friendly solution to your privacy concerns--and transform outdoor spaces with lush greenery and charm.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

If your goal is to increase privacy in your garden, backyard, or property line, installing a living wall of hedges is one of the most elegant and attractive solutions. Unlike fences, fast-growing hedges bring:

• Natural beauty and year-round foliage
• Noise reduction from roads or neighbors
• Added value to your property
• Wildlife habitat
• Sustainable privacy that grows fuller over time

Choosing the right quick-growing hedges lets you achieve a secluded paradise sooner than you think. Read on to discover the best options and tips for growing your green privacy screen successfully.

1. Leyland Cypress -- The Speedy Evergreen Privacy Hero

Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is arguably the most popular hedge for those needing fast privacy. This elegant evergreen thrives in various soils and climates.

Features

• Growth Rate: Up to 3-4 feet per year!
• Mature Height: 30-50 feet (can be kept shorter with pruning)
• Foliage: Dense, feathery, and soft to the touch
• Sun Requirements: Full sun for best growth

For a quick-growing privacy fence, plant Leyland cypress 5-8 feet apart. Regular trimming keeps them at your desired height and maintains an attractive, formal hedge.

2. Privet (Ligustrum) -- Dense & Fast with Many Varieties

Privet hedges are beloved for their classic look and exceptional growth speed. Whether you choose European Privet, Japanese Privet, or California Privet, you'll find robust options to suit different climates.

Features

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: From 6 to 15 feet
• Foliage: Semi-evergreen to evergreen (depending on the variety and climate)
• Bonus: Fragrant white flowers in spring & summer

Privet is perfect for elegant privacy screens and can be shaped into formal or informal designs. It's prized for tolerance to pollution, making it ideal for urban gardens.

3. Thuja Green Giant -- Lush, Tall & Low Maintenance

The Thuja Green Giant (a hybrid Arborvitae) is one of the easiest and fastest options to increase privacy in your landscape. This elegant hedge stays green all year and withstands pests, deer, and drought.

Features

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-50 feet
• Foliage: Soft, dense, cheerful green
• Shade Tolerance: Tolerates partial shade

Plant Thuja Green Giants 5-6 feet apart for a quick, thick living wall. They require minimal pruning for a tidy appearance. With their rapid growth and low fuss, they're a top choice for fast privacy hedges.

4. Bamboo -- Instant Privacy with Exotic Appeal

If you desire instant height and lushness, consider clumping varieties of bamboo. Unlike running bamboos (which are invasive), clumping varieties are well-behaved and easy to maintain.

Features

• Growth Rate: 1-3 feet per year (but may shoot up to 10 feet in one growing season!)
• Mature Height: Varies from 10 to 30 feet
• Foliage: Evergreen, luxurious, tropical feel
• Best Choice: Bambusa multiplex (Hedge Bamboo), Bambusa textilis gracilis (Slender Weaver)

Bamboo makes a unique, elegant privacy hedge and is ideal for urban gardens, patios, or pool surrounds. Just be sure to choose clumping types and monitor growth for neatness.

5. Wax Myrtle -- Fragrant and Fast for Southern Gardens

Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) is a robust, native evergreen that's ideal for increasing privacy in warm coastal regions. Its fast, bushy growth and aromatic foliage make it a versatile hedge plant for low-maintenance landscapes.

Features

• Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• Foliage: Glossy, olive-green, with a spicy fragrance
• Tolerance: Thrives in sandy soils and salt spray

For a fast privacy screen with a lush texture, wax myrtle is hard to beat--especially in the South and coastal zones.

6. Photinia -- Brilliant Color with Privacy

Photinia offers eye-catching red foliage and fast, robust growth, making it a standout privacy hedge in mild climates. One of the most popular varieties, Red Tip Photinia, can transform plain boundaries into vibrant, private spaces.

Features

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: Up to 15 feet
• Foliage: Bright red new leaves that mature to deep green
• Flowering: White spring blossoms (sometimes followed by red berries)

Easily shaped and highly adaptable, Photinia hedges add elegance, privacy, and color to any yard--just be aware that humid regions may need to watch out for fungal diseases.

7. Cherry Laurel -- Dense & Versatile Evergreen Privacy

The classic cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is favored for its dense structure, shiny evergreen leaves, and speed of growth. It tolerates a variety of light and soil conditions, adapting beautifully to urban and suburban settings alike.

Features

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-20 feet (responds well to pruning)
• Foliage: Large, lustrous, dark green leaves
• Bonus: Spring white blooms; black berries for wildlife

Cherry laurel hedges are suitable for rapid, elegant privacy along boundaries, driveways, or as foundation screens. Their adaptability and beauty make them a favorite choice for modern landscapes.

8. Hornbeam -- Deciduous Privacy with Lasting Cover

For those in cooler climates or looking for a hedge with year-round body, hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a highly attractive candidate. While technically deciduous, hornbeam retains its coppery leaves through most of the winter, offering privacy nearly all year long.

Features

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 20-30 feet if left untrimmed; responds well to shaping
• Foliage: Rich green, turning golden bronze in fall
• Durability: Handles wind, shade, and air pollution well

Plant hornbeam hedges for elegant, robust privacy and a distinctive, formal look--ideal for classical or cottage-style landscapes.

9. Italian Cypress -- Tall, Slender, and Majestic

When dramatic, vertical privacy is desired, Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is an unmatched choice. Its signature columnar shape increases privacy for upper-story windows and tight spaces, adding Mediterranean flair to your garden.

Features

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-70 feet (narrow spread 5-10 feet)
• Foliage: Dense, rich green, aromatic
• Resistance: Deer and drought tolerant

Italian cypress is ideal for classic privacy with a grand statement. Use singly, in pairs, or in tight rows for a curtain of green in record time.

How to Plant and Care for Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Successful privacy hedging requires smart planning and care. Here's how to maximize growth, coverage, and elegance:

1. Choose the Right Hedge for Your Site

• Consider climate, soil, and space available
• Decide on evergreen, deciduous, or semi-evergreen
• Factor in maintenance needs and pest resistance

2. Plant Properly for Best Results

• Space plants according to mature width for dense coverage
• Prepare the soil well with compost or well-rotted manure
• Plant during the dormant season (fall or early spring)

3. Encourage Quick, Healthy Growth

• Water regularly, especially the first year
• Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
• Feed with balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring
• Prune lightly at first to encourage bushiness

4. Maintain for Beauty and Privacy

• Prune 1-2 times per year to maintain shape and promote fullness
• Remove dead or diseased branches promptly
• Inspect for pests or diseases, especially in humid climates

Tips for Designing Elegant Natural Privacy Screens

• Mix species with contrasting textures or colors for year-round interest
• Combine hedges with flowering shrubs or ornamental grasses for layered privacy
• Use curves or geometric lines to match your landscape style
• Add garden lighting to highlight your living barriers at night
• Leave space for wildlife-friendly plantings like berry bushes and pollinator flowers

Frequently Asked Questions About Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

How fast do privacy hedges grow?

Most quick-growing hedges mentioned above can gain 2-5 feet per year under ideal conditions. Exact rates depend on species, climate, soil quality, and care.

Which is the fastest-growing privacy hedge?

Leyland cypress and Thuja Green Giant are among the fastest, with annual growth rates up to 4-5 feet.

How much space should I leave between hedge plants?

Spacing varies by species--generally, 3-8 feet apart is recommended to ensure quick, dense privacy.

Are fast-growing hedges high maintenance?

Most modern hedges are relatively low-maintenance. Evergreens such as Thuja and cypress require only 1-2 trims per year once established, while deciduous and flowering varieties may need more frequent shaping.

Increase Privacy with Style: Conclusion

A well-chosen quick-growing hedge is a timeless, eco-friendly way to increase privacy elegantly in any setting. Whether you prefer the classic lines of leyland cypress, the vivid color of photinia, or the tropical feel of bamboo, these living walls transform gardens, driveways, and property lines into secluded retreats.

By selecting the right hedge, planting it thoughtfully, and tending it with care, you'll enjoy natural beauty and enhanced privacy in just a few growing seasons. Start planning your new green sanctuary today, and enjoy peaceful, stylish seclusion for years to come!

• Remember: The right hedge delivers both beauty and function--choose wisely and enjoy the rewards!
• Need help? Consult local nurseries or landscape professionals for the best varieties for your area.

Increase privacy with fast-growing hedges--and create your own elegant natural haven today!