If your yard feels a little too exposed, these fast-growing trees might be just what you need. They’re not only quick to fill in the gaps, but they also bring serious style and serenity to your space.
Imagine sipping your morning coffee surrounded by green walls of calm—sounds dreamy, right? These trees work hard and grow even harder.
Let’s give your yard the private, peaceful feel it’s been missing.
1. Leyland Cypress
Looking for rapid results? These evergreen champions grow an impressive 3-4 feet yearly, reaching heights of 60-70 feet when mature. Their dense foliage creates a living wall that blocks unwanted views year-round.
Plant them 6-10 feet apart for the perfect privacy screen. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and adapt to most soil types, making them incredibly forgiving for beginners.
2. Thuja Green Giant
No wonder this arborvitae has ‘giant’ in its name! Growing 3-5 feet annually, these pyramidal beauties reach 40-60 feet tall while maintaining a relatively slim 12-20 foot width, perfect for smaller yards.
Their rich emerald foliage stays vibrant through winter, unlike many privacy options. Hardy in zones 5-9, they resist deer damage and disease while requiring minimal maintenance once established.
3. Lombardy Poplar
When you need privacy yesterday, consider these sky-reaching columns. They rocket upward at an astonishing rate of 5-8 feet yearly, potentially reaching 40-60 feet while staying just 10-15 feet wide.
Their distinctive columnar shape creates dramatic vertical interest in landscapes. While shorter-lived than some options (15-20 years), their rapid growth makes them ideal for temporary privacy while slower species mature.
4. Hybrid Willow
Few trees can match the lightning-fast growth of hybrid willows, which shoot up 6-10 feet annually in ideal conditions. Their graceful, weeping branches create a living curtain of privacy with a softer, more natural appearance.
These adaptable trees thrive near water but tolerate various conditions. Plant them 5-6 feet apart for a quick-forming dense screen that provides both privacy and a picturesque backdrop for your outdoor living space.
5. American Arborvitae
Classic for a reason, these native evergreens grow a steady 1-2 feet yearly until reaching 20-30 feet tall. Their naturally pyramidal shape requires minimal pruning to maintain a tidy appearance.
The dense, feathery foliage creates an effective visual barrier year-round. Extremely cold-hardy (surviving to zone 3), they’re perfect for northern gardens where other privacy options might struggle during harsh winters.
6. Italian Cypress
Channel Mediterranean vibes with these striking vertical accents. Growing 2-3 feet yearly, they reach impressive heights of 40-60 feet while maintaining a slender 4-5 foot width, making them perfect for tight spaces.
Their blue-green foliage and dramatic silhouette add architectural interest to any landscape. Heat and drought-tolerant once established, they’re ideal for warmer regions where water conservation is important.
7. Eastern Red Cedar
Native strength meets privacy needs with this adaptable evergreen. Growing 1-2 feet yearly, these pyramidal trees eventually reach 40-50 feet tall with a 10-20 foot spread.
Their dense, aromatic foliage deters pests naturally while providing year-round screening. Incredibly drought-tolerant once established, they thrive in poor soils where other trees struggle, making them perfect for challenging sites.
8. Dawn Redwood
For a truly spectacular living fence, consider this prehistoric wonder. Growing 3-4 feet annually, these giants can reach 70-100 feet with a graceful pyramidal shape that creates dappled shade beneath.
Unlike most privacy trees, dawn redwoods are deciduous, dropping feathery foliage in winter. Their rusty-orange fall color and distinctive winter silhouette provide multi-season interest while still growing quickly enough for privacy needs.
9. Cryptomeria
Japanese cedar brings exotic flair to privacy plantings. Growing 3-4 feet yearly when young, these evergreens reach 50-60 feet tall with soft, feathery foliage that changes from bright green to bronzy-red in winter.
Their naturally pyramidal shape requires minimal maintenance. Tolerant of urban pollution and resistant to most pests, they’re excellent choices for creating privacy in challenging city environments where other evergreens might struggle.
10. Serbian Spruce
Seeking elegance with your privacy? These graceful conifers grow a moderate 1-2 feet yearly, eventually reaching 50-60 feet with a slender 15-20 foot spread.
Their blue-green needles with silvery undersides create a flickering effect in the breeze. More heat and drought tolerant than many other spruces, they maintain their lower branches longer than most conifers, ensuring privacy remains intact all the way to ground level.
11. River Birch
For a privacy screen with character, consider these native beauties. Growing 1.5-2 feet yearly, they reach 40-70 feet tall with spectacular peeling bark in cinnamon, cream, and salmon hues.
Their graceful, somewhat weeping habit creates a natural-looking barrier. Heat-tolerant and resistant to birch borer (unlike other birches), they thrive in moist areas where many privacy trees would struggle, making them perfect near water features.
12. Eastern White Pine
Native majesty meets privacy needs with these graceful giants. Growing 1-3 feet annually, they reach impressive heights of 50-80 feet with soft, blue-green needles that create a feathery texture.
Their horizontal branching pattern creates effective screening while allowing filtered light through. The long, soft needles produce a soothing rustling sound in the breeze, adding a calming audio element to your outdoor sanctuary.
13. Holly
For year-round privacy with seasonal flair, hollies are unmatched. Growing 1-2 feet yearly, varieties like ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ reach 15-25 feet tall with glossy evergreen leaves and bright red winter berries.
Their dense growth habit creates an impenetrable living wall. Female plants produce iconic red berries when male pollinators are nearby, adding winter interest and attracting birds to your private sanctuary.
14. Bamboo
Technically a grass, bamboo earns its place among privacy trees through unmatched growth speed. Clumping varieties reach full height in just 3-5 years, growing 1-3 feet yearly until reaching 10-20 feet tall.
The dense, tropical foliage creates a lush screen with a distinctive modern aesthetic. Choose non-invasive clumping varieties like Fargesia to avoid the spreading headaches associated with running bamboo types.
15. Eucalyptus
For aromatic privacy with silvery-blue flair, eucalyptus varieties like E. gunnii grow an impressive 4-6 feet yearly. Their distinctive round juvenile leaves mature into elegant sickle-shaped adult foliage.
The peeling bark adds multi-season interest to your privacy screen. Cold-hardy varieties survive to zone 7, though they may require protection in harsh winters. Their refreshing scent creates an aromatherapy bonus for your outdoor retreat.
16. Arizona Cypress
Drought-tolerant privacy comes with style in these southwestern natives. Growing 1-2 feet yearly, they reach 40-50 feet tall with distinctive blue-gray foliage that stands out dramatically in landscapes.
Their dense, pyramidal form requires minimal pruning to maintain shape. Extremely heat and drought resistant once established, they’re perfect for creating privacy in hot, dry regions where many other evergreens would struggle to survive.
17. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Perfect for smaller spaces, these compact evergreens grow 6-9 inches yearly until reaching a manageable 12-14 feet tall with a narrow 3-4 foot width. Their bright emerald foliage maintains color throughout winter.
Their naturally columnar shape requires minimal pruning to stay tidy. More cold-hardy than Leyland cypress and more heat-tolerant than many other arborvitae, they’re versatile privacy solutions for a wide range of climate zones.
18. Norway Spruce
Classic Christmas tree looks meet privacy needs with these hardy conifers. Growing 1-2 feet yearly when young, they reach 40-60 feet tall with sweeping branches that create effective screening.
Their distinctive drooping branchlets add character to your living fence. Extremely cold-hardy and adaptable to various soil types, they withstand harsh winter conditions that would damage less robust privacy options.
19. Privet
Versatile and vigorous, privet grows 2-3 feet yearly until reaching 10-15 feet tall. The small, glossy leaves create a dense screen that can be shaped formally or left more natural.
Semi-evergreen in warmer zones, they hold leaves longer than deciduous options. While the small white flowers produce a distinctive honey-like fragrance, they’re easily pruned away if allergies are a concern.
20. Wax Myrtle
Native to southeastern states, these versatile evergreens grow 3-5 feet yearly until reaching 10-15 feet tall. Their aromatic olive-green leaves release a pleasant fragrance when brushed against or after rain.
Female plants produce blue-gray berries that attract birds to your sanctuary. Salt-tolerant and happy in poor soils, they’re excellent privacy solutions for coastal properties where many other privacy trees would struggle.