8 Fast-Growing Plants That Create Natural Privacy In Pennsylvania
Some yards feel a little too open for comfort. Maybe the patio is easy for neighbors to see, or the fence line still does not give you the privacy you want.
In Pennsylvania, where backyards get plenty of use from spring through fall, that can make outdoor spaces feel less relaxing than they should. The good news is you do not have to wait years for a landscape to fill in.
The right fast-growing plants can add privacy much sooner while making the yard look greener and more inviting at the same time.
That is why plant choice matters so much. You want options that grow quickly, fill out well, and can handle Pennsylvania’s changing conditions without becoming a constant chore.
A good privacy plant should do more than block views. It should also add texture, softness, and a natural feel that improves the whole space.
With the right picks, an exposed yard can start feeling more secluded, comfortable, and much more enjoyable to spend time in.
1. Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis)
Walk through almost any Pennsylvania neighborhood and you will likely spot a row of arborvitae standing tall like green sentinels along a property line.
This classic evergreen is one of the most popular privacy plants in the state, and for good reason. It grows fast, stays green all year, and forms a thick, solid wall of foliage.
Arborvitae can grow two to three feet per year under the right conditions. Once established, it can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet, making it ideal for blocking views from neighboring homes or busy roads.
The conical shape stays neat without much pruning, which is a big win for busy homeowners.
Plant arborvitae in full sun and well-drained soil for the best results. Space them about five to six feet apart if you want a tight, continuous screen. They handle Pennsylvania winters well and bounce back strong every spring.
One thing to keep in mind is that deer love to munch on arborvitae during winter months. Using deer repellent spray or fencing around young plants can protect them while they get established. Once they are tall and full, they become much harder for deer to damage significantly.
For Pennsylvania homeowners who want fast, low-maintenance privacy, arborvitae is hard to beat. It is reliable, affordable, and widely available at local nurseries across the state.
2. Eastern Red Cedar
Tough, tall, and totally at home in Pennsylvania, the Eastern Red Cedar is a native evergreen that has been growing across the state for centuries.
It is not actually a true cedar but a type of juniper, and it is one of the most adaptable trees you can plant for privacy. Poor soil, dry conditions, full sun — this tree handles it all without much fuss.
Eastern Red Cedar grows steadily at about one to two feet per year and can reach 40 to 50 feet at full maturity. Its dense, dark green to blue-green foliage creates a solid year-round screen that also acts as a powerful windbreak.
That makes it especially useful for properties on open land or hilltops where wind can be a real problem.
One fun bonus is that Eastern Red Cedar produces small blue-gray berries that birds absolutely love. Planting a row of these trees does not just give you privacy; it also brings cardinals, cedar waxwings, and other birds right to your backyard.
In Pennsylvania, this tree thrives in a wide range of soil types, including rocky or clay-heavy ground where other plants struggle.
It does best in full sun and needs very little watering once established. Minimal maintenance is required year after year.
If you want a native, wildlife-friendly privacy screen that can handle tough conditions, Eastern Red Cedar deserves a serious look for your Pennsylvania property.
3. Red Twig Dogwood
Most privacy shrubs do their best work in spring and summer, but Red Twig Dogwood puts on a show all year long. During the growing season, it fills in with lush green leaves and clusters of small white flowers.
Come winter, those leaves drop to reveal a stunning display of bright red stems that glow against snow and gray skies.
Red Twig Dogwood is a fast grower, adding up to two feet of height per year. It quickly forms a dense, multi-stemmed thicket that makes an excellent natural hedge.
Plant a row of these shrubs along a fence line or property border and they will fill in nicely within just a couple of growing seasons.
This shrub is incredibly adaptable and does well in Pennsylvania’s varied climate. It tolerates wet soil better than most privacy plants, making it a great choice for low-lying areas or spots near streams and ponds. Full sun to partial shade both work well for healthy growth.
Pruning Red Twig Dogwood every few years keeps the stem color vivid and the plant looking its best.
Cutting about one-third of the oldest stems down to the ground in early spring encourages fresh red growth. It sounds like a lot of work, but the whole process takes less than an hour.
For Pennsylvania gardeners who want beauty and privacy in one plant, Red Twig Dogwood delivers across every season without demanding much in return.
4. Ninebark
Ninebark is the kind of plant that makes you wonder why more people do not use it. It is a tough, native shrub that grows fast, looks beautiful, and asks for almost nothing in return.
If you have a spot in your Pennsylvania yard that needs a quick privacy screen, Ninebark is one of the most reliable options you can choose.
Growing five to eight feet tall with wide, arching branches, Ninebark forms a thick, rounded screen that fills in quickly. It can add two to three feet of growth in a single season under good conditions.
The dense branching structure makes it hard to see through, which is exactly what you want from a privacy plant.
One of the coolest things about Ninebark is its peeling bark, which adds visual interest even in winter when the leaves are gone. In spring, the shrub is covered in clusters of small white or pink flowers that attract pollinators.
Some varieties also have deep burgundy or golden foliage that adds bold color to the landscape.
Ninebark thrives in Pennsylvania’s climate and adapts well to a range of soil types, including clay and rocky ground. It handles both full sun and partial shade without skipping a beat.
Drought tolerance also makes it a smart pick for areas that do not get regular watering. Low-maintenance, fast-growing, and native to the region — Ninebark checks every box for homeowners looking to build a natural privacy screen across Pennsylvania.
5. Serviceberry
Serviceberry might be the most underrated privacy plant in Pennsylvania. It grows as either a large shrub or a small multi-stem tree, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall, and it brings something special to the yard in every single season.
Spring brings a burst of white flowers, summer offers sweet blueberry-like fruit, fall delivers stunning orange and red foliage, and winter reveals attractive gray bark.
Growth rate is moderate to fast, typically adding one to two feet per year. While it may not grow as rapidly as arborvitae, Serviceberry fills in beautifully and creates a layered, natural look that feels more like a woodland edge than a planted hedge.
That style works really well in Pennsylvania landscapes that border natural areas or wooded lots.
Birds go absolutely wild for Serviceberry fruit. If you plant a row of these trees, expect to see robins, cedar waxwings, and thrushes feasting happily every summer.
It is a great way to support local wildlife while also enjoying your own private outdoor space.
Serviceberry grows well in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions found across Pennsylvania. It is also quite resistant to most common pests and diseases, which means less time troubleshooting and more time enjoying your yard.
For a privacy planting that adds beauty, wildlife value, and seasonal interest all at once, Serviceberry is a genuinely rewarding choice for Pennsylvania homeowners who want more than just a green wall.
6. American Holly
There is something timeless about American Holly. With its glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of bright red berries, it is one of the most recognizable native evergreens in Pennsylvania.
It grows into a dense, pyramidal tree that provides solid year-round privacy while also looking absolutely stunning during the winter holidays.
American Holly grows at a moderate pace, adding about one foot per year. It may not be the fastest grower on this list, but its dense branching habit means that even a young tree starts providing meaningful coverage relatively quickly.
Over time, it can reach 15 to 30 feet tall, creating a tall, full screen that is hard to see through.
One important thing to know is that you need both a male and a female plant to get those famous red berries. Plant at least one male holly within 50 feet of your female plants and nature will handle the rest.
The berries are a favorite winter food source for birds like mockingbirds and bluebirds across Pennsylvania.
American Holly thrives in partial shade, which makes it a great choice for yards that do not get full sun all day. It also adapts well to clay soil, which is common in many parts of Pennsylvania.
Regular watering during the first year or two helps it get established faster. Choosing American Holly means investing in a privacy plant that will look beautiful and stay green through every Pennsylvania winter for decades to come.
7. Viburnum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
Arrowwood Viburnum is a hardworking native shrub that does a lot more than just block the view.
It grows quickly into a full, rounded hedge, produces beautiful clusters of white flowers in late spring, and then sets bunches of blue-black berries that wildlife cannot resist. If you want a privacy screen that also pulls its weight as a habitat plant, this is your shrub.
Growth is fast, often reaching six to ten feet tall within a few years of planting. The dense, upright branching fills in well without much help, creating a natural-looking screen that suits Pennsylvania yards of all sizes.
It works great as a standalone hedge or mixed into a layered planting with taller trees behind it.
Arrowwood Viburnum is named for the straight, strong stems that Native Americans historically used to make arrow shafts.
That same sturdy structure is part of what makes it such a reliable privacy plant. The branches hold their shape well and do not flop over the way some softer shrubs do.
This shrub thrives across Pennsylvania in full sun to partial shade and handles a range of soil types without complaint.
It is also notably resistant to most pests and diseases, which keeps maintenance simple. A light trim after flowering each year is all it really needs to stay looking sharp.
For Pennsylvania homeowners who want fast privacy and a yard full of birds and pollinators, Arrowwood Viburnum is an easy, rewarding choice that delivers season after season.
8. Switchgrass
Not every privacy solution needs to be a tree or a shrub. Switchgrass proves that native ornamental grasses can hold their own as fast, beautiful, and surprisingly effective privacy plants.
In just one growing season, a row of Switchgrass can shoot up to five or six feet tall, creating a soft, airy screen that sways gently in the breeze and adds real movement to the landscape.
Pennsylvania’s climate suits Switchgrass perfectly. It is native to the region, which means it has evolved to handle the state’s hot summers, cold winters, and everything in between.
It grows in wet soils, dry soils, clay, and sandy ground. Few plants are as flexible or as forgiving as this one.
Switchgrass is especially useful along fence lines, property borders, or the edges of patios and decks where you want a quick visual buffer without planting something that will eventually grow into a 40-foot tree.
The feathery seed heads that appear in late summer add a beautiful, wispy texture that looks great well into fall and winter.
Cut the clumps back to about six inches from the ground in late winter or early spring and they will return with fresh, vigorous growth once temperatures warm up. That simple annual chop is about all the care Switchgrass ever really needs.
For Pennsylvania gardeners who want fast, low-effort privacy with a natural, meadow-inspired feel, Switchgrass is one of the most satisfying plants you can add to your yard.
