If you’re looking for fast-growing privacy in North Carolina and South Carolina, trees can be your best friend. I love how the right trees not only block unwanted views but also bring shade, greenery, and a touch of beauty to the yard.
From evergreens to flowering varieties, there are plenty of options that grow quickly and thrive in this region. Choosing the right mix can turn your outdoor space into a private, peaceful retreat.
1. Leyland Cypress
Want privacy yesterday? These evergreen pyramids grow a remarkable 3-4 feet yearly in both North and South Carolina gardens. Their feathery foliage creates a dense wall that blocks views and muffles sound.
Planted 6-8 feet apart, they quickly form a seamless barrier reaching 40-60 feet tall if left untrimmed. Most Carolina homeowners maintain them at a manageable 15-20 feet.
2. Thuja Green Giant
Fast-growing champions that add 3-5 feet yearly, these arborvitae create stunning privacy walls across both Carolinas. Their rich green color stays vibrant year-round, never browning in winter like some evergreens.
Drought-tolerant once established, they need minimal care beyond occasional watering during South Carolina’s hottest months. Their natural cone shape requires little pruning while reaching impressive 20-40 foot heights.
3. Eastern Red Cedar
Native to both Carolinas, these rugged evergreens thrive in poor soils where other trees struggle. Their dense branches create effective screens while providing winter shelter for birds and wildlife.
Growing 1-2 feet annually, they’re slightly slower than some options but compensate with extreme drought tolerance once established. North Carolina gardeners especially appreciate their resistance to deer browsing.
4. Nellie Stevens Holly
These glossy-leaved beauties offer year-round screening plus winter drama when bright red berries appear. Growing 2-3 feet yearly in both Carolina states, they quickly form elegant privacy barriers.
Female trees produce the showiest berries, especially popular in South Carolina landscapes. Their naturally dense, pyramidal shape needs minimal pruning while reaching 15-25 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide.
5. Wax Myrtle
Native to coastal areas, these versatile evergreens thrive in both Carolinas’ varied conditions. Their aromatic leaves release a pleasant fragrance when brushed against, adding sensory appeal to privacy screens.
Reaching 10-15 feet tall with similar spread, they grow moderately fast at 1-2 feet yearly. South Carolina gardeners particularly value their salt tolerance for beachfront properties.
6. Italian Cypress
Dramatic vertical accents that create privacy without taking much ground space. Their slender silhouettes grow 2-3 feet yearly in both Carolinas, eventually reaching 30-40 feet tall while staying just 3-5 feet wide.
South Carolina gardeners find they thrive in the state’s warmer areas. Their distinctive columnar shape creates elegant living walls, perfect for Mediterranean-inspired landscapes or narrow spaces.
7. Carolina Cherry Laurel
This native evergreen grows quickly, creating dense privacy screens with glossy, dark green leaves. The fragrant spring flowers fill North Carolina gardens with a sweet almond scent that attracts beneficial pollinators.
Adaptable to both sun and partial shade, they’re excellent problem-solvers for tricky spots. South Carolina gardeners appreciate their drought tolerance once established and their steady growth of 1-2 feet yearly.
8. Cryptomeria
Also called Japanese cedar, these graceful conifers create stunning privacy screens with soft, feathery foliage that shifts to bronze-tinged in winter. Growing 2-3 feet yearly in North Carolina’s climate, they quickly reach impressive heights.
Their pyramidal shape requires minimal maintenance while providing year-round screening. South Carolina gardeners in cooler upstate regions find they perform particularly well there, reaching 30-40 feet tall with 15-20 foot spreads.
9. American Holly
Native to both Carolinas, these iconic evergreens combine privacy with year-round beauty. Their distinctive spiny leaves and winter berries create screens that double as wildlife habitat for birds.
Growing moderately at 1-2 feet yearly, they’re worth the slightly longer wait. North Carolina gardeners appreciate their adaptability to various soil types and their impressive mature height of 15-30 feet.
10. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Perfect for smaller Carolina properties, these compact evergreens create privacy without overwhelming your space. Their bright green foliage stays colorful year-round, unlike some conifers that brown in winter.
Growing 6-9 inches yearly, they’re slower than some options but maintain their neat shape with minimal pruning. South Carolina gardeners should provide afternoon shade and regular watering during establishment.
11. Hybrid Willow
For record-breaking privacy, nothing beats these ultra-fast growers that can add an astonishing 6-10 feet yearly in both Carolinas. Their graceful, weeping branches create soft, flowing screens unlike stiffer conifers.
They thrive in moist areas where other trees might struggle. North Carolina homeowners with problem drainage spots often find they solve two issues at once – excess water and privacy needs.
12. Southern Magnolia
Iconic symbols of Southern charm, these magnificent evergreens create privacy with dramatic flair. Their massive glossy leaves and fragrant summer blooms make privacy beautiful in both Carolina states.
Growing moderately at 1-2 feet yearly, they’re worth the wait. South Carolina landscapes showcase their full potential, with mature specimens reaching 60-80 feet tall with magnificent 30-40 foot spreads.
13. Foster Holly
These adaptable hollies create excellent privacy screens while producing abundant red berries that brighten winter landscapes. Their naturally dense growth habit requires minimal pruning to maintain an effective visual barrier.
Growing 1-2 feet yearly in both Carolinas, they reach 15-25 feet tall with 8-12 foot spreads. North Carolina gardeners particularly value their cold hardiness compared to other holly varieties.
14. Bamboo
For ultra-fast privacy, certain bamboo varieties can grow an astonishing 3-5 feet in just one season throughout both Carolinas. Their exotic, tropical appearance creates distinctive screens unlike traditional privacy trees.
Choose clumping varieties to avoid invasive spreading. South Carolina’s warmer climate supports even tropical bamboo species, while North Carolina gardeners should select cold-hardy options for reliable performance.
15. Skip Laurel
These versatile broadleaf evergreens create dense privacy screens in both sun and shade, making them problem-solvers for difficult spots. Their glossy leaves maintain year-round screening while spring brings fragrant white flower clusters.
Growing 1-2 feet yearly in both Carolinas, they reach 10-18 feet tall with similar spread. North Carolina gardeners particularly appreciate their cold hardiness and deer resistance.
16. Autumn Olive
These tough, adaptable shrubs create privacy screens in challenging spots where other plants struggle. Their silvery-green foliage offers a different aesthetic than typical evergreens, with fragrant spring flowers and red berries in fall.
Growing 2-3 feet yearly in both Carolinas, they quickly reach 12-15 feet tall. South Carolina gardeners should monitor their spreading tendency, as they can naturalize in favorable conditions.
17. Eastern White Pine
Native to North Carolina mountains, these majestic evergreens create soft, flowing privacy screens with blue-green needles. Their graceful, horizontal branching pattern offers a different aesthetic than more formal privacy options.
Growing 1-3 feet yearly, they quickly become statement trees. South Carolina gardeners in cooler upstate regions find they perform best there, potentially reaching impressive 50-80 foot heights with age.
18. Hybrid Poplar
When privacy can’t wait, these record-breakers grow an astonishing 5-8 feet yearly in both Carolina states. Their broad, leafy canopies create effective seasonal screens from spring through fall.
Not evergreen, but their rapid growth compensates for winter transparency. South Carolina gardeners find they perform exceptionally well in the state’s long growing season, quickly reaching 40-50 feet tall with 20-30 foot spreads.