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If the neighbors can see into your yard, the fastest fix isn’t a fence — it’s a row of fast-growing evergreens that shoot up feet per year. The best shrubs for privacy screen work depends on your patience and your zone: some of these picks grow 3–5 feet per year for a dense year-round wall, while others trade speed for showy blooms or easy care. This guide breaks down nine proven privacy plants by growth rate, mature size, and the real owner experiences behind them.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Find the right evergreen, willow, or flowering shrub for your yard with this honest look at the shrubs for privacy screen that actually earn their spot in the ground.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Shrubs For Privacy Screen
Picking a privacy shrub is about matching the plant’s natural habits to your yard’s reality — how fast you need coverage, how much sun the spot gets, and how cold your winters run. Start with these four filters and the right choice becomes obvious.
Growth Rate and Mature Height
The biggest difference between these picks is speed. Some evergreens like the Thuja Green Giant can add 3–5 feet per year once settled, which quickly turns a bare property line into a living wall. Willows grow even faster but need more water and care to get going. Meanwhile, shrubs like the Japanese Yew grow slowly to moderately, so they suit buyers who want a tidy, low-effort hedge rather than an instant screen.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous Foliage
For true year-round privacy, evergreen is the way to go — Thuja, Holly, Wax Myrtle, and Oleander all keep their leaves through winter. Some options are semi-evergreen, meaning they may drop foliage in harsh cold, which weakens the screen during the months you often need it most. Check whether the plant stays green in your zone before committing to a long row.
Spacing and Mature Width
How far apart you plant determines how quickly the row fills in and how healthy the shrubs stay. The 10 Thuja Green Giant pack recommends spacing 6–7 feet apart for a quick screen, letting each tree reach its full mature width. Cramming plants too close creates competition for water and light, so read the spacing guidance for each pack and plan your row length first.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Growth Rate | Mature Height | Pieces | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant (1 Gal)★ Best Overall | Classic evergreen privacy | 3–5 ft/year | 50 ft | 1 | Amazon |
| Hybrid Willow (18 pc)Fastest Fill-In | Fast visual & sound barrier | Very fast | 8–10 ft (3 yr) | 18 | Amazon |
| Jumbo Willow Cuttings (24 pc)Jumbo Root Stock | Thick-rooted instant start | Very fast | 10 ft | 24 | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant (10 pc) | Multi-pack evergreen value | 3 ft/year | 40 ft | 10 | Amazon |
| Red Oleander (6 pc) | Flowering warm-climate hedges | Fast | 8–15 ft | 6 | Amazon |
| Burfordi Holly (10 pc) | Glossy evergreen with berries | Fast | 6 ft | 10 | Amazon |
| Wax Myrtle (20 pc) | Drought-tolerant native screen | Fast | — | 20 | Amazon |
| Waxleaf Privet (20 pc) | Classic hedge with flowers | Fast | 8–10 ft | 20 | Amazon |
| Japanese Yew (3 pc) | Big established plants fast | Slow–moderate | — | 3 | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae (1 Gallon)
Our pick — over 4★ from 300+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The classic evergreen screen that gains 3–5 feet per year and smells like Christmas when you brush past it.
The Thuja Green Giant is the plant that shows up again and again when people want a real privacy wall, and this 1-gallon version lets you start that wall on a budget. It’s an evergreen with dense, dark green foliage that releases that classic Christmas-tree scent when the leaves are broken. In zones 5–9 it thrives across most of the country, and once established it needs little to no maintenance — the kind of plant you set and forget.
At full maturity it can reach up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide, though you can prune it to hold any size you want. That’s a big commitment of space, so plan your spacing carefully. Buyers report the health and quality of the plants are what win people over — the health of the arrival is the most-discussed positive by a wide margin. Buyers describe the plants arriving healthy even in summer heat, with some reporting plants around 16–18 inches tall that nearly doubled in height after five months in pots.
One buyer reports that after 5 months in pots, the tree “nearly doubled in height, filling out; kept for winter before final planting at cabin.” The dark green color and sturdy leaders (the main upward branches) impressed people enough to buy again. If you want a proven, fast evergreen without gambling on an unfamiliar species, this is your pick.
What wins people over
- Health and quality of arriving plants earn the most praise
- Fast growth of 3–5 feet per year once established
- Dense foliage provides a true visual screen year-round
- Hardy in zones 5–9 across most of the US
What to plan around
- Mature size reaches up to 60 ft tall and 20 ft wide
- Sent as a single plant, so a full row needs multiple orders
- Needs regular watering while young
Pick this if: you want the most proven fast-growing evergreen for a serious year-round screen and don’t mind waiting a season for it to settle in.
Think twice if: you need instant coverage — this arrives as a young 1-gallon plant, not a mature tree.
2. CZ Grain 18 Hybrid Willow Trees
A 18-pack of willows that can root in under a week and grow into a road-noise barrier by year three.
If speed is your only priority, the Aussie Hybrid Willow is about as fast as a privacy screen gets. These cuttings grow roots and foliage in less than one week, according to multiple buyers, and the growing speed is the most-discussed positive by far. They’re also seedless and cotton-free, which means less mess than some other fast growers, and they’re deer resistant — a real plus if your yard is a buffet for local wildlife.
Owners describe them as easy to grow, with one buying them specifically to block road noise along the front of the property. After three years, that buyer’s trees reached 8–10 feet tall with trunks thickening and bark forming. The company sends detailed written instructions plus links to YouTube tutorial videos, so even a first-time willow grower has a clear path.
The honest catch is consistency: while many owners rave about the growth rate, some report that most of their cuttings died despite following instructions exactly. A few arrived already dead. That split experience means this is a low-cost gamble that pays off spectacularly when it works, but you should order extra and be ready to replace failures. It also helps with erosion control and drying out boggy areas, per the maker.
Blazing start: roots and foliage in under a week, with one owner reporting an “amazing growth rate” reaching 8–10 feet tall by year three.
The gamble: some buyers lost most of their cuttings despite following instructions, so buy extra and plant them the moment they arrive.
Reach for this if: you want the fastest possible green barrier on a tight budget and are willing to accept some losses among the 18 cuttings.
Look elsewhere if: you need reliable survival rates — the willow’s rooting success varies too much from order to order.
3. 24 Jumbo Hybrid Willow Tree Cuttings
Thicker, bigger cuttings — about 10 inches tall with 5/8 to 1+ inch root stock — for a stronger first-year start.
This is the beefed-up version of the willow idea, built around a simple logic: start with bigger root stock to boost year-one growth. Each cutting measures roughly 10 inches tall with root stock 5/8 to 1+ inch thick, which is noticeably sturdier than thin starter cuttings. The growing speed is what owners praise most, with many reporting roots forming within 5 days of arrival.
One buyer in Southern Alabama got such good results they purchased 50 more. Their cuttings bloomed within 1 week even without sitting in water first — a sign of how eager these are to take off. Another buyer reported their jumbo cuttings reached 10 feet tall in two years, which is the kind of payoff that makes the higher upfront cost worth it. The company backs it with a grain guarantee and detailed instructions for growing success.
The trade-off mirrors the smaller willow pack: cutting performance is genuinely mixed. Some owners lost their first batch entirely, with cuttings turning brown instead of rooting, though the company was responsive with replacements. This works best when you can water diligently through the first year — one successful owner kept theirs on a drip line for 20 minutes once a week after establishment.
The strong start
- Jumbo 5/8 to 1+ inch thick root stock for sturdy growth
- Roots successfully within 5 days for many buyers
- One owner reports 10 feet tall in two years
- Blooms within 1 week even without water staging
The variance
- Cutting performance is mixed — some batches fail to root
- Needs consistent watering through the first year
- More expensive per piece than the standard willow pack
Choose this if: you want the best odds of a fast willow screen thanks to thicker, stronger cuttings that root quickly.
skip it if: you can’t commit to watering — the first year decides whether these thrive or fail.
4. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae (7–10 Inches)
A ten-pack of the same proven evergreen, letting you start an entire hedge row in a single order.
This is the multi-plant route to the same classic screen as our top pick, and for many buyers it’s the smarter buy because ten trees arrive ready to become a row. These are hardy evergreens for zones 5–9, shipped as potted plants in their own soil and container. They grow fast at about 3 feet per year, and the spacing guidance is built in: plant them 6–7 feet apart for a quick screen.
The health of the arriving plants is the dominant theme in owner feedback, with the healthiness aspect drawing the most mentions by a wide margin. One buyer planted ten saplings 16 months ago and watched the full-sun trees grow from 8 inches to 3.5 feet tall. Another reported their trees survived a Missouri winter and doubled in size within a year when watered properly. Mature height runs to about 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide, so this is a long-term screen with serious presence.
Size is the honest variable here. Some owners say the plants arrived larger than promised, while others found them much smaller than advertised. A few noted slightly brown tips on arrival that improved after planting. Given the strong overall satisfaction and the sheer number of trees per order, most buyers consider the value excellent compared to buying mature trees from a nursery.
Row-ready: ten potted evergreens that grow about 3 feet per year, with one owner watching theirs climb from 8 inches to 3.5 feet in 16 months.
Size lottery: arrival height varies — some plants are bigger than promised, some noticeably smaller, so set expectations accordingly.
Best if: you’re planting a full hedge row and want the proven Green Giant genetics in one economical multi-pack.
Not for: anyone needing uniform height on day one — expect natural variation across the ten plants.
5. 6 Nerium Red Oleander Starter Plants
A privacy hedge that doubles as a flower show, throwing clusters of crimson-red trumpet blooms all summer.
Most privacy screens are pure green — this one adds a bold splash of red. The Nerium Oleander ‘Jannoch’ is a red-flowering evergreen shrub that can mature to 8–15 feet tall and 6–12 feet wide, making it a serious screen in warm climates. It’s hardy for USDA zones 8–11, which means it’s built for the South, Southwest, and coastal areas rather than cold northern winters.
What sets this apart is the combination of dense evergreen foliage and vivid flowers that bloom from late spring through fall. It’s heat-loving, drought-tolerant once established, and resistant to deer and salt, which makes it a standout for coastal properties or anyone tired of deer browsing their hedge. The six starter plants arrive fully rooted in 2.5-inch nursery cubes, ready to transplant.
Buyers consistently describe the plants as healthy and thriving, with one in southern Nevada reporting all of them growing well in extreme heat. Another noted the plants arrived well-packed and hydrated, with care instructions included. One important caveat printed right in the listing: this plant is toxic if consumed, so it’s not the right choice for yards where kids or pets might nibble. There’s also a 30-day replacement guarantee if plants arrive damaged.
Why it stands out
- Crimson-red flowers bloom late spring through fall
- Drought-tolerant and deer resistant once established
- Resistant to salt — great for coastal yards
- Can mature to 8–15 ft tall for real privacy
Who should pass
- Toxic if consumed — risky around kids and pets
- Only hardy in zones 8–11, not for cold winters
- Starter plants are small and need time to size up
Grab it if: you live in a warm zone and want a flowering, deer-resistant screen that blooms all summer long.
Avoid if: children or pets could reach it — the plant is toxic if eaten, per the listing.
6. Burfordi Holly (10 Live Plants)
An evergreen hedge with glossy dark leaves that adds bright red berries in winter for year-round interest.
The Burfordi Holly pairs privacy with a seasonal bonus: glossy, dark green leaves that stay put all year, plus bright red berries that appear in winter and attract birds to your yard. It can reach about 6 feet tall, which makes it a solid mid-height screen or border rather than a towering wall. If your goal is to block a ground-level view or define a property line, that’s often exactly the height you need.
Owners describe the plants arriving alive and thriving after planting, with one buyer purchasing 20 for a privacy hedge and noting they came in far cheaper than the -per-gallon Burford Holly at local nurseries. Another reported healthy growth after a month, with blooms and berries already present. The dense growth habit provides privacy and wind protection, and it adapts to a range of soil types, keeping maintenance low.
It thrives in full sun to partial shade, so you have flexibility on where to plant. The main thing to know is that these arrive as small starter plants — one buyer described them as about 6 inches tall on arrival — so this is a grow-your-own hedge rather than an instant screen. It’s also a dependable choice for gardeners of any experience level, adapting easily to different soil conditions.
Two-season payoff: glossy evergreen privacy in summer, bright red berries and visiting birds in winter.
Patience required: starter plants arrive small at roughly 6 inches tall, so this is a long-game hedge.
Best suited to: gardeners who want a mid-height, low-maintenance evergreen hedge that also feeds the birds in winter.
Not for: anyone expecting instant tall coverage — these small starters need growing time.
7. Wax Myrtle (20 Live Plants)
A fast-growing, drought-tolerant native that handles both coastal salt and inland heat with aromatic foliage.
The Wax Myrtle is the workhorse option of this list, chosen for resilience over show. It’s a fast-growing shrub with aromatic evergreen foliage that provides year-round privacy, and it adapts to both coastal and inland environments. That versatility makes it a smart choice for tricky spots where other shrubs struggle — sandy soil, salty air, or inconsistent watering. The plant health is what owners praise most, with many reporting healthy seedlings that doubled in size within three months of planting.
It’s also drought tolerant and low maintenance once established, fitting the “plant it and move on” style many homeowners prefer. One buyer used them for a privacy screen, planted them 5 feet from the fence, and reported great value for a green screen with a desired mature height. Another described the native plant as soil-healing and perfect for privacy. You get 20 plants in the pack, which is enough to start a substantial row.
The honest trade-off is size on arrival, which is the most-discussed negative in the feedback. Several owners found the plants much smaller than expected, and a few received dried, half-dead cuttings that lost most leaves. Packaging has also drawn some criticism, with one buyer having to cut the box apart to reach the plants. For the price and the plant count, most owners still consider it worthwhile — but go in knowing the size is a gamble.
The resilience
- Drought tolerant and low maintenance once established
- Adapts to coastal, salty, and inland conditions
- Aromatic evergreen foliage for year-round privacy
- 20 plants per pack for a full row
The pitfall
- Plants often arrive much smaller than expected
- Some cuttings arrive dried or losing leaves
- Packaging can be difficult to open
Pick it for: tough, dry, or coastal spots where a resilient native shrub beats a fussier evergreen.
Caution if: you need big plants on arrival — size varies and some orders come in small.
8. Ligustrum Waxleaf Privet (20 Live Plants)
The traditional hedge shrub with glossy leaves, creamy-white summer flowers, and dense bushy growth to 8–10 feet.
The Waxleaf Privet is the plant your grandparents’ hedge was probably made of, and for good reason. It’s a fast grower that reaches 8–10 feet high with dense, bushy characteristics that make it ideal for privacy screens, wind screens, and formal hedging. The glossy dark green and bright green foliage has larger leaves than some related privets, and it produces creamy-white fragrant flowers in summer followed by round blue-black fruit.
Owners describe the 20 starter plants arriving healthy and well-packaged, with several noting the plants came even taller than expected. One buyer transplanted all 20 into larger pots immediately and reported them still looking good a month later. The versatility is a real selling point: it suits both formal and informal garden styles, tolerates sun and partial shade, and adapts to various soil types with minimal maintenance.
The honest caveat is growth consistency. While the listing calls it a fast grower, some owners found their plants very slow to put on size, and the grow time is one of the few mixed aspects in the feedback. A few buyers received plants with brown spots or nearly bare stems, though the seller generally responded to complaints. This is a dependable classic worth planting if you’re patient, but don’t expect the explosive speed of a willow.
Traditional form: glossy foliage, fragrant summer blooms, and dense growth to 8–10 feet make this a proper hedge plant.
Mixed pace: some owners see fast growth, others report slow starters — treat it as a patient hedge, not an instant screen.
Reach for it if: you want a classic flowering hedge that can be shaped into a formal or informal screen.
Look elsewhere if: you demand uniform fast growth — some batches size up slowly.
9. Podocarpus Japanese Yew (3 Extra Large Plants)
Three big 3-gallon plants for buyers who want a head start on a tall, tidy evergreen screen.
Most of the plants on this list arrive as small starters, but this Podocarpus Japanese Yew flips that script with three extra-large trade 3-gallon plants. If you want a more established start — plants with real root systems and height on day one — this is the premium route. It’s a versatile evergreen shrub that thrives in both full sun and partial shade, making it adaptable to different corners of your yard.
Owners mention the plants arriving healthy and continuing to put on new growth, with the growth being the most-praised aspect. One buyer used them to separate tracks on a garden railway and was delighted with the healthy specimens. Another noted the packaging was excellent, even keeping the dirt inside the pots during shipping. The lush, dark green foliage provides year-round visual interest, and the slow to moderate growth rate means less pruning for busy gardeners.
The trade-off for that bigger start is a slower long-term growth rate — this is not a fence-in-a-season plant. It’s also the premium pick here, so you’re paying for size and low maintenance rather than speed. A couple of owners found their plants smaller than expected, though the majority were satisfied with the health and packaging. For a tidy, drought-tolerant screen that won’t run wild, this is the refined choice.
The head start
- Arrives as 3 extra-large 3-gallon plants
- Thrives in full sun or partial shade
- Low maintenance with slow to moderate growth
- Drought tolerant once established
The pace
- Slow to moderate growth — no instant screen here
- Premium investment for just 3 plants
- Some buyers felt plants were smaller than expected
Choose this if: you want the most established, low-fuss evergreen start and value tidy growth over raw speed.
Pass it by if: you’re covering a long fence line on a budget — three plants go a short distance.
Understanding the Specs
Growth Rate Per Year
This is the single most important number for a privacy screen. A Thuja Green Giant that adds 3–5 feet per year will close a view gap in one or two seasons, while a slow-growing yew might take five. If speed matters, prioritize the fast growers; if you want a low-maintenance hedge you shape over years, slower is fine.
Mature Height and Width
Mature size tells you how tall your screen will eventually be and how much horizontal space each plant claims. A Green Giant reaching 50 feet will tower over a 6-foot holly, and a 20-foot-wide giant needs far more spacing than a slim column. Match the mature dimensions to the space you’re filling so you don’t plant a forest where you wanted a hedge.
Zone Hardiness
Every plant has a range of climates it can survive, shown as USDA zones. The Thuja thrives in zones 5–9, which covers most of the US, while the Oleander needs zones 8–11 and won’t survive a hard freeze. Always confirm your zone before buying so you don’t invest in plants that winter will kill.
Spacing Guidance
How far apart you plant decides how quickly the row fills in. The 10-pack of Thuja recommends 6–7 feet apart for a quick screen, letting each tree reach full width without crowding. Tighter spacing fills faster but stresses the roots, so follow the pack’s guidance rather than guessing.
FAQ
How fast do privacy shrubs actually grow?
How far apart should I plant shrubs for a privacy screen?
What is the best evergreen shrub for year-round privacy?
Will these shrubs survive my local winter?
Are these privacy shrubs deer resistant?
How big will a Thuja Green Giant get at maturity?
Is a willow or an evergreen better for blocking noise?
What is the difference between the two willow packs?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the shrubs for privacy screen winner is the Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant because it combines proven fast growth of 3–5 feet per year with dense evergreen foliage that works across zones 5–9. If you want the absolute fastest fill-in on a budget, grab the 18 Hybrid Willow Trees and accept some losses. And for a flowering, deer-resistant screen in a warm climate, the Red Oleander is the one to reach for — just keep it away from kids and pets.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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