10 Plants for Privacy
Use these plants to soften the appearance of solid fences and barriers, or to create a self-sustaining green screen for your outdoor living space.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
A good choice for a four-season privacy planting, Emerald Green Arborvitae grow to be 12 to 15 feet tall.
Climbing Roses
These gorgeous flowers can be trained to climb over fences, walls, pergolas or gazebos. They come in a range of stunning colors, such as bright pink “Eden” or the breathtaking, multicolored “Joseph’s Coat”.
Clematis
In general, vines make great screens and Clematis is no exception. Featuring large, spring-blooming flowers that come in a range of colors, Clematis are slow to mature so if fast results are needed, be sure to purchase plants that are at least two years old.
Cherry Laurel
An evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, cherry laurel grows 15 to 36 feet tall and produces small clusters of creamy white flowers in early spring.
Ivy
Although a beautiful addition, use caution when adding ivy to landscaping. It grows quickly, aggressively and can be difficult to remove once planted. That being said, a fence covered in ivy provides a gorgeous privacy barrier to patios and backyards.
Boxwood
Easy to grow and maintain, boxwood is a lush shrub that tolerates heavy pruning and can be clipped into various shapes.
Privet
An extremely fast-growing plant, privet has dark green leaves which are semi-evergreen in Southern states and slightly deciduous in Northern states. It produces fragrant white flowers from May to early June that bees find very attractive. Careful pruning and training is important in the first year to establish a dense, sturdy hedge.
Japanese Holly
A dense evergreen that reaches 6 to 10 feet tall, Japanese holly grows slowly but can be invasive. It features black, berry-like fruit during the winter months.
Buckthorn
A deciduous shrub or small tree that grows 5 to 7 feet tall, buckthorn features fern-like foliage that turns yellow in the fall.
Fan Palm
Capable of growing up to 15 feet tall, European fan palms have fan-like leaves that spread to about 3 feet wide, creating the perfect screen. The suckers can be pruned or left alone to become shrub-like. It is perfect for zones 8 through 11.