Waiting five years for a hedge to block your neighbor’s view feels like an eternity. The right shrubs can create a visual and sound barrier in two seasons, not a decade. This guide cuts through the nursery hype to deliver five proven privacy plants that actually deliver dense foliage fast.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I compare growth rates, cold-hardiness zones, and pruning requirements against real-world owner experiences to help you choose plants that won’t leave bare gaps in your hedge.
Whether you need a living fence along a property line or a windbreak near a patio, picking the right fast growing shrubs for privacy starts with matching each plant’s mature size and sunlight needs to your specific yard conditions.
How To Choose The Best Fast Growing Shrubs For Privacy
Not every fast-growing shrub holds up as a dense screen. Some grow leggy, lose lower branches, or die back after a harsh winter. The best privacy plants balance vertical speed with compact branching, zone tolerance, and low maintenance.
Growth Rate vs. Mature Size
Fast growth often means larger mature dimensions, but many shrubs stall under 10 feet. Willow and arborvitae regularly push 3 to 5 feet per season, while spirea and smaller rose of Sharon stay under 8 feet. Measure your target screen height and choose accordingly — planting a 4-foot shrub when you need a 15-foot wall wastes a season of growth.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous
Thuja arborvitae holds foliage all winter, providing year-round cover. Deciduous options like rose of Sharon and willow drop leaves in autumn but grow faster and cost less per plant. If seasonal privacy is acceptable, deciduous shrubs offer the quickest density. For bedroom windows or pools that need cover in every season, choose evergreen stock.
Spacing and Root Competition
Willow roots spread aggressively, competing with lawn and nearby plants. Arborvitae and spirea have more compact root systems that coexist better with grass or flower beds. Tight spacing accelerates canopy closure but increases maintenance costs for watering and pruning. Standard spacing for a solid screen is 4 to 6 feet between plants, but willow can be placed 5 feet apart and still close the gap in two years.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae | Evergreen | Year-round privacy screen | 3 ft per year growth rate | Amazon |
| Jumbo Hybrid Willow Cuttings | Deciduous | Quickest possible screen | 10 in tall root stock, 5/8 in thick | Amazon |
| 18 Hybrid Willow Trees | Deciduous | Budget windbreak bundle | No seeds or cotton | Amazon |
| Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon | Deciduous | Flowering summer hedge | Mature height 8-12 ft | Amazon |
| Double Play Doozie Spirea | Deciduous | Low hedge, borders | Mature height 24-36 in | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja Green Giant consistently outperforms other evergreens in height accumulation — expect 3 feet of upward growth per season with proper sun. The 10-pack ships as potted plants in soil and containers, giving each tree a head start that bare-root stock cannot match. Mature height reaches 40 feet and a spread of 15 feet, making it the clear choice for tall permanent screens.
Hardiness covers zones 5 through 9, which encompasses most of the continental US. Spacing at 6 to 7 feet apart still produces a closed canopy within three growing seasons. The foliage stays dense from top to bottom if you provide moderate watering and partial shade tolerance, though full sun yields faster vertical gains.
Winter blooms are minimal, but that is not why you buy this plant. The real value lies in the year-round wall of green that blocks wind and sight lines without the bare branches of deciduous trees. Lower initial cost per plant versus willow after factoring in replacement rates makes this the most reliable long-term privacy investment.
What works
- Fast consistent vertical growth without leggy gaps
- Evergreen foliage keeps privacy year-round
What doesn’t
- Slower first-year establishment compared to willow cuttings
- Requires more precise spacing planning to avoid overcrowding at maturity
2. 24 Jumbo Hybrid Willow Tree Cuttings
Jumbo cuttings measure approximately 10 inches tall with root stock thickness between 5/8 inch and 1+ inch, giving them a significant size advantage over standard willow whips. The thicker base means faster root development and shoot production in the first season — a critical factor when you want a privacy barrier by year two.
These Austree hybrid willows are deciduous, so you lose leaves in winter, but the growth rate compensates by delivering a dense summer screen faster than any evergreen. They also excel at erosion control along ditches and slopes, adding utility beyond privacy. Full sun and moderate watering produce the best results.
The 24-pack covers a longer property line in a single purchase, and CZ Grain provides detailed instructions along with a growing tutorial video link. GMO-free and deer-resistant, these cuttings establish reliably when planted in sandy or well-drained soil. Expect some winter dieback if you are in zone 4 or colder, but the root system usually survives.
What works
- Thick root stock produces faster first-year growth than standard cuttings
- Deer-resistant and excellent for erosion control
What doesn’t
- Deciduous — leaves drop in fall, reducing winter privacy
- Aggressive roots may compete with nearby lawn or underground pipes
3. 18 Hybrid Willow Trees Bundle
The 18-pack of Aussie Hybrid Willows offers the lowest per-plant cost in this lineup while retaining the same fast growth genetics as the jumbo cuttings. Each tree ships as a bare-root cutting ready to go into the ground during the summer planting period. They produce no seeds or cotton fluff, keeping your yard clean.
Smaller root stock means slightly slower first-season establishment compared to the jumbo version, but the sheer number of plants lets you create a dense screen quickly by spacing them 4 to 5 feet apart. The included growing tutorial video and detailed instructions help beginners avoid common planting mistakes that kill early root development.
Erosion control and air filtration are bonus features — these willows thrive in sandy soil and full sun. Deer resistance holds up well in suburban neighborhoods where browsing pressure is moderate. The trade-off is that the thinner cuttings require more careful watering in the first month to prevent drying out before roots establish.
What works
- Lowest cost per plant for covering large areas
- Includes detailed instructions and YouTube video support
What doesn’t
- Thinner root stock needs extra watering vigilance in first month
- Ships as bare-root cuttings which can dry out before planting
4. Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus)
Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon reaches 8 to 12 feet tall with a nearly equal spread, making it one of the largest flowering privacy shrubs available. The double blue blooms appear from spring through fall, adding color while filling in as a seasonal hedge. Spacing at 8 to 12 feet apart still allows a solid screen after two to three seasons of growth.
Thrives in zones 5 through 9 with full sun to partial shade tolerance. The deciduous habit means leaves drop in winter, but the multistemmed branching structure remains dense enough to provide partial visual screening even when bare. Regular watering and organic material support the rapid growth habit that defines this cultivar.
Ships dormant during winter through early spring, so you want to get it into the ground as soon as soil is workable. The pruning habit is forgiving — you can shape it as a shrub or train it into a small tree form. Deer tend to leave Rose of Sharon alone, and the late summer bloom period attracts pollinators when other shrubs have finished flowering.
What works
- Long blooming season adds aesthetic value while screening
- Tall mature height suitable for two-story sight lines
What doesn’t
- Deciduous — winter branch structure leaves partial gaps
- Slower to reach full height compared to willow or arborvitae
5. Double Play Doozie Spirea Shrub
Double Play Doozie Spirea maxes out at just 24 to 36 inches tall, so it fits a different role than the tall screen plants above. Use it as a low border hedge in front of taller shrubs or along a patio where you need ground-level privacy without towering height. The red to purple flowers provide strong color from spring through fall.
Hardy in zones 3 through 8, this spirea handles colder winters than any other plant on this list. Full sun to partial shade keeps the foliage dense and flowering consistent. Spacing of 24 inches creates a continuous low hedge in one season, making it ideal for defining garden rooms or blocking sight lines to lower deck areas.
The 2-gallon pot size ships as live plants that establish quickly with moderate watering. Organic material and annual pruning keep the shape compact. Dormant shipping winter through early spring is standard. The shrub is low maintenance and resists most pests, though deer may browse tender new growth in spring.
What works
- Excellent for low hedges and border definition
- Hardy to zone 3, handling extreme cold better than most shrubs
What doesn’t
- Maximum height of 3 feet is too short for tall privacy screens
- Deciduous habit leaves bare branches in winter
Hardware & Specs Guide
Growth Rate per Year
Thuja Green Giant leads with 3 feet of vertical gain annually in full sun. Hybrid willow can reach 5 to 8 feet in a single season with adequate water, though first-year establishment varies. Rose of Sharon and spirea grow 1 to 2 feet per year depending on soil quality and pruning. Specs often list mature height rather than annual growth — divide mature height by years to maturity for real-world rate estimates.
USDA Hardiness Zone
All five plants cover zone 5 through 8 comfortably. Spirea extends down to zone 3, while willow and rose of Sharon tolerate zone 9 heat. Arborvitae requires zone 5 minimum to avoid winter burn. Match zone ranges to your region before ordering — zone-stressed plants grow slower and produce gaps in privacy screens.
FAQ
How far apart should I plant fast growing privacy shrubs?
Will hybrid willow roots damage underground pipes?
Can I plant these shrubs in partial shade and still get fast growth?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the fast growing shrubs for privacy winner is the Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae because it delivers year-round evergreen screening with 3 feet of annual growth and a long-term mature height of 40 feet. If you want the absolute fastest screen possible, grab the 24 Jumbo Hybrid Willow Cuttings. And for budget-friendly coverage of a long property line, nothing beats the 18 Hybrid Willow Trees bundle.