When your backyard feels like a stage and every neighbor’s window seems aimed at your patio, the search for a living wall becomes urgent. Cedar trees offer the fastest, most natural route to reclaiming your private space, but choosing the wrong variety can mean years of regret.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I’ve spent countless hours digging through USDA hardiness data, growth rate comparisons, and aggregated owner feedback to separate the privacy screen champions from the duds.
This guide cuts through the nursery hype to help you find the perfect cedar trees for privacy that will transform your exposed yard into a secluded retreat.
How To Choose The Best Cedar Trees For Privacy
Not every evergreen conifer labeled “cedar” delivers the density and height you need for a true privacy screen. The key is matching the tree’s mature dimensions, growth rate, and zone tolerance to your specific landscape conditions. Making the wrong choice here can leave you with a sparse, leggy hedge that never quite blocks the view.
Growth Rate and Final Height
Fast-growing species like Thuja Green Giant can push 3 to 4 feet per year once established, reaching 40 to 60 feet at maturity. Slower options such as the Cedar of Lebanon may only add 12 to 18 inches annually but deliver a more formal, architectural presence. For privacy screening, prioritize varieties that hit at least 15 feet tall within five years.
Zone Hardiness and Soil Adaptability
Your USDA hardiness zone is non-negotiable. The Southern Red Cedar thrives in zones 8 through 10 but will perish in a zone 5 winter. Conversely, the Cold Hardy Cedar of Lebanon was specifically selected for surviving harsh Indiana winters. Check the listed zone range on every product before buying.
Plant Form: Seedlings, Liners, and Grafted Specimens
Cedar trees arrive as bare-root cuttings, potted seedlings, or grafted plants. Bare-root cuttings like the Willow Hybrids are cheap and fast to root but require immediate care. Potted liners (Thuja Green Giant 18-pack) offer a more established start. Grafted trees can have an unsightly union that matters for bonsai but is invisible in a privacy screen. For screening, healthy potted liners in bulk give the best value.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 18-Pack | Premium Liner Pack | Bulk privacy screen establishment | 60 ft mature height, 20 ft spread | Amazon |
| Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft 8-Pack | Premium Starter Kit | Immediate 2-foot head start | 2 ft tall at shipping | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant 40 Live Plants | Bulk Value Pack | Large property perimeter planting | 40 plants per order | Amazon |
| Southern Red Cedar 3 Live Plants | Native Species | Southern landscapes, drought tolerance | 40 ft mature height | Amazon |
| 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 | Mid-Range Bulk | Fast, budget-aware screening | 3 ft per year growth rate | Amazon |
| Cold Hardy Cedar of Lebanon | Unique Specimen | Architectural focal point in cold zones | USDA zone 5 tolerance | Amazon |
| Willow Hybrid Trees 25 Cuttings | Rapid Cuttings | Instant temporary screen, erosion control | 6 feet first year growth | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 18-Pack
The 18-pack of Thuja Green Giant liners from Perfect Plants is the most efficient way to establish a dense privacy screen for a standard suburban lot. Each liner arrives with a healthy root system, and the bulk quantity lets you space them perfectly without supplementing from different nursery batches. The green giant pyramidal shape and 60-foot mature height mean you get a wall, not a hedge.
Owners consistently praise the packaging and the fact that liners are over a foot tall on arrival with well-developed roots. The Christmas-tree scent when the foliage is crushed is a bonus that makes the planting feel special. Because these are True Liners (not bare-root cuttings), the transplant shock is minimal, and they take off quickly in full sun with regular watering.
The only constraint is that this pack cannot ship to California or Arizona due to agricultural regulations, so verify your state eligibility before ordering. Also, some units may arrive without bamboo stake supports, which can cause soil displacement during transit. Plan to pot them up or plant immediately upon arrival.
What works
- All 18 liners arrive in a single, well-packed order for consistent genetics and size
- Dense foliage and fast growth create an effective privacy wall within 3 to 4 years
- Thrives across zones 5-9 with minimal maintenance once established
What doesn’t
- Cannot be shipped to California or Arizona due to state agricultural restrictions
- Some liners may arrive without bamboo stakes, risking soil loss in transit
2. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft. Tall 8-Pack
The 2-foot-tall 8-pack of Thuja Green Giants is the ideal choice for the homeowner who wants a noticeable head start over seedling liners. These are already twice the size of the typical starter, meaning they will close the gap in your privacy screen one full year sooner. The dense, dark green foliage is healthy on arrival and ready to be planted into well-drained full-sun locations.
Each tree is shipped in its own container with moist soil, which dramatically reduces transplant shock compared to bare-root options. The pyramidal shape is already forming at this size, so you can see the future structure of your screen immediately. They also require very little pruning — just let them grow and they will naturally fill out into a wide-bottomed shape ideal for blocking ground-level sight lines.
Because each tree weighs about 3 pounds in its pot, shipping is more expensive than for bare-root cuttings. You also need to be ready with your planting holes and watering schedule the day they arrive, as these potted trees cannot sit in a box for days like cuttings can. Plan ahead and you will be rewarded with a faster screen.
What works
- Pre-grown to 2 feet tall, cutting at least one year off the waiting time for a privacy screen
- Each tree is potted with healthy root systems and moist soil to reduce transplant shock
- Naturally pyramidal growth habit requires almost no pruning for a full, dense screen
What doesn’t
- Heavier shipping weight makes these more expensive to deliver than bare-root liners
- Must be planted immediately upon arrival; cannot tolerate extended storage in the box
3. Thuja Green Giant 40 Live Plants
For property owners facing a long boundary line, the 40-plant pack of Thuja Green Giants from Florida Foliage is the ultimate bulk solution. At this price per plant, you can line an entire acre without breaking the bank. The variety is the same fast-growing hybrid (Thuja standishii x plicata) that has become the gold standard for privacy screens across America.
Each plant ships as a small but established liner, ready to be spaced 5 to 6 feet apart for a continuous wall. The feathery, vibrant green foliage is dense from the start, and the growth rate of 3 to 4 feet per year means the screen will be functional within three growing seasons. They tolerate full sun to partial shade and adapt to sandy or loamy soil with regular watering.
The main consideration is that 40 plants require serious prep work — you need a marked row, properly dug holes, and a reliable watering system for the first month. If you over-plant and the trees are too close, they will crowd each other as they mature. Plan your spacing carefully based on the 20-foot mature spread.
What works
- Extremely cost-effective for covering long property lines with a dense, fast-growing screen
- Thrives in a wide range of conditions from full sun to partial shade and sandy to loamy soil
- Low-maintenance once established; just provide consistent water for the first few months
What doesn’t
- Requires significant preparation and labor to plant 40 trees properly
- If spaced too tightly, mature trees will crowd and compete for resources
4. Southern Red Cedar 3 Live Plants
The Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana silicicola) is the native choice for landscapes from the Carolinas to Texas. Unlike the Thuja hybrid, this is a true Juniperus with aromatic wood and reddish-brown bark that adds ornamental value to its screening function. The naturally symmetrical form and dense evergreen foliage create a classic privacy hedge without the need for constant pruning.
One of the biggest advantages of this species is its drought tolerance once established. In southern climates with sandy soils and hot summers, this cedar will keep its color and density while other species brown out. It is also resistant to cedar apple rust, a disease that plagues many junipers, making it a low-frustration option for the native-plant enthusiast.
Buyers should expect that these plants arrive in a dormant state and may look half-dead initially. This is normal for bare-root or lightly potted evergreens and they will green up after 2 to 3 weeks of consistent watering. The 3-pack is perfect for a small property line or as a test run before committing to a larger order.
What works
- Highly drought-tolerant once rooted, ideal for sandy southern soils and low-water xeriscaping
- Naturally symmetrical form creates a formal privacy hedge with zero pruning required
- Aromatic wood and foliage provide natural pest resistance and a pleasant scent
What doesn’t
- Plants may appear dormant or dead on arrival; they need patience to green up over 2-3 weeks
- Not suitable for cold zones below 8; limited to warmer southern regions
5. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 Inches
The 10-pack of 7-to-10-inch Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae is the entry point into fast privacy screening without a huge upfront investment. These small but vigorous saplings are shipped in their soil and pots, and they have the genetic potential to grow 3 feet per year once established. Owners consistently report that with proper care, these saplings more than double in size during the first growing season.
Hardy from zones 5 through 9, these are some of the most versatile privacy trees available. A single row spaced 5 to 7 feet apart will form a continuous screen within 5 to 6 years. The saplings are very forgiving of partial shade and moderate watering, making them workable for less than perfect planting sites.
The challenge with smaller liners is that they are vulnerable to weeds, rabbit browsing, and inconsistent watering. Their smaller root systems mean they dry out faster than 2-foot transplants. If you can protect and hydrate them diligently for the first summer, the payoff is a thick, fast-growing wall at a fraction of the cost of larger nursery stock.
What works
- Very affordable per-plant price for establishing a large privacy screen on a budget
- Genetic potential for 3 feet of annual growth once established in full sun
- Adaptable to zones 5-9 and tolerates partial shade well for a fast grower
What doesn’t
- Small liners are very susceptible to rabbit and weed damage in the first season
- Requires vigilant watering as root systems are small and dry out quickly
6. Cold Hardy Cedar of Lebanon 1-Year Live Plant
The Cold Hardy Cedar of Lebanon ‘Eugene’ is a very different beast from the typical privacy screen cedar. This cultivar was selected from a trial group that survived harsh winters in central Indiana, making it one of the few true cedars that can handle zone 5 conditions (-20 to -10°F). It will eventually become a massive tree with the classic horizontally layered branching seen in the opening sequence of Downton Abbey.
Owners appreciate the biblical heritage and architectural beauty of this tree, but it is slow-growing compared to Thuja hybrids. You are not buying instant privacy — you are buying a legacy tree that will take decades to reach its full 50-foot stature. The cones are upright and ornamental, and the timber-quality wood has been prized for thousands of years.
The critical drawback reported by buyers is that this plant is grafted — the listing does not prominently disclose this. The graft union can be unsightly, especially for bonsai enthusiasts, and the rootstock may eventually overtake the scion. For a formal privacy screen, this is a risk; for a specimen tree in a cold region, it may still work.
What works
- Cold-hardy down to zone 5, surviving winters that kill most true cedar species
- Grows into a magnificent architectural specimen with iconic layered branching
- Produces high-quality timber and ornamental upright cones
What doesn’t
- Grafted plant with an unsightly graft union that may be problematic for some uses
- Slow-growing — takes many years to reach privacy-screen size
- At just 8-10 inches tall on arrival, it is very small for the price
7. Willow Hybrid Trees 25 Cuttings
The Willow Hybrid (also known as Austree or Aussie Willow) is the absolute fastest-growing tree on the planet, claiming growth rates of 6 feet in the first year and 10 feet annually after that. For a homeowner desperate for instant visual coverage, these 9-inch cuttings root easily in just a bucket of water and then rocket upward once planted in the ground. Stagger two rows spaced 2 feet apart, and you will have a solid living wall in 18 months.
However, there are major trade-offs. These trees are notorious for aggressive root systems that seek out water lines and septic fields. They are also relatively short-lived compared to true cedars, often declining after 15 to 20 years. And because they are deciduous — not evergreen — they will drop all their leaves in winter, leaving you fully exposed to neighbors during the coldest months when you actually want shelter.
The cuttings themselves are bare-root and require immediate attention: soak them in water for a few hours, then plant them 6 inches deep in a prepared bed with mulch. Owners who watered every other day or used drip irrigation reported the best results. Use these as a fast temporary screen while slower evergreens like Thuja mature behind them.
What works
- Unmatched growth speed — can block a view within 18 months with proper care
- Extremely easy to root from cuttings; just soak in water before planting
- Excellent temporary solution while slower evergreen cedars fill in behind them
What doesn’t
- Deciduous — leaves drop in winter, completely exposing your property
- Aggressive roots can damage water lines and septic systems if planted nearby
- Short lifespan of 15-20 years compared to century-long evergreen cedars
Hardware & Specs Guide
Mature Height and Spread
The single most important spec for privacy screening is the tree’s mature dimensions. Thuja Green Giant reaches 50 to 60 feet tall with a 15-to-20-foot spread, making it ideal for a tall, wide barrier. The Southern Red Cedar tops out around 40 feet with a narrower 15-foot spread. Always check the mature spread — planting too close to a structure leads to constant pruning headaches.
USDA Hardiness Zone Range
Every cedar listing must include a zone range. The Cold Hardy Cedar of Lebanon ‘Eugene’ is rated for zones 5-8, while the Southern Red Cedar is suitable for zones 8-10. If you try to grow a zone-8 tree in a zone-5 winter, it will die. Conversely, a zone-5 tree in zone 9 may suffer heat stress. Match your zone exactly.
FAQ
How far apart should I plant cedar trees for a privacy screen?
Which cedar tree grows fastest for privacy?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the cedar trees for privacy winner is the Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 18-Pack because it offers the perfect balance of growth speed, mature height, bulk value, and year-round dense foliage. If you want a head start with larger trees, grab the Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft 8-Pack. And for native southern landscapes that need drought tolerance, nothing beats the Southern Red Cedar 3-pack.