A fence that doesn’t quite block the view, or a chain-link that leaves you exposed—the solution isn’t another board of wood; it’s a living, breathing wall that actually gets better with age. When you need a dense, year-round screen that outpaces the growth of any lumber, the right conifer or shrub selection makes all the difference between a patchy boundary and a solid green fortress.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I’ve spent years studying market trends, comparing root-stock viability, and analyzing aggregated owner feedback to determine which cultivars reliably deliver density and speed for residential privacy screens.
By focusing on hardiness zone adaptability, mature dimensions, and establishment success rates, this detailed guide breaks down the top contenders to help you build a secluded landscape with the best evergreen plants for privacy fence available today.
How To Choose The Best Evergreen Plants For Privacy Fence
Selecting the right plant for a living fence means balancing three non-negotiable factors: how tall it will eventually grow, how quickly it gets there, and how much horizontal room it demands. A mismatch in any of these leaves you with either a sparse hedge or an overgrown mess.
Prioritize Growth Rate and Final Height
A privacy screen is useless if it takes a decade to reach eye level. Fast-growing cultivars like Thuja Green Giant push 3-5 feet per year under ideal conditions, while Dwarf Alberta Spruce inches up at a mere 2-4 inches annually. Always check the mature height listed for your zone—a 60-foot giant may overwhelm a small suburban lot, whereas an 8-foot spruce may never fill a long fence line.
Understand Spacing and Spread
Your planting distance determines whether gaps close quickly or remain forever. For pyramidal evergreens, 5-6 feet between plants is standard for a uniform screen, but wider-spreading varieties like the Green Giant (up to 20 feet wide) need more room or regular pruning. Measure your linear fence length before ordering and subtract the mature width of each plant to calculate exact quantity.
Check Hardiness Zone and Soil Tolerance
Not every evergreen thrives in every climate. Thuja Green Giants perform best in zones 5-9, while Emerald Green Arborvitae handle zones 3-8. Dwarf Alberta Spruce prefers cooler zones 3-8 but struggles in high humidity or heavy clay. Match the plant’s USDA zone range to your local conditions, and test your soil drainage—most evergreens demand well-drained sandy loam and will rot in standing water.
Quick Comparison
On smaller screens, swipe sideways to see the full table.
| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighter Blooms Thuja Green Giant 2-3 ft | Premium Tree | Fastest Estate-Scale Screen | 3-5 ft/year growth rate | Amazon |
| Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 8-Pack | Premium Multi-Pack | Uniform Hedge in One Order | 8 plants, ~2 ft tall each | Amazon |
| Green Promise Farms Emerald Green Arborvitae | Mid-Range Specimen | Narrow, Formal Privacy Screen | Mature height 18-20 ft | Amazon |
| Green Promise Farms Dwarf Alberta Spruce | Premium Compact | Small Gaps & Foundation Planting | Mature height 6-8 ft | Amazon |
| Sandys Nursery Thuja Green Giant 15-Pack | Value Multi-Pack | Large-Scale Affordable Planting | 10-14 inch starter plugs | Amazon |
| 10 Thuja Green Giant Starter Trees | Budget Starter Pack | Low-Cost Large-Volume Hedges | 7-10 inch potted starts | Amazon |
| 25 Thuja Green Giant Starter Trees | Budget Bulk Pack | Maximum Economy Per Plant | 8-14 inch starter trees | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Brighter Blooms – Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae, 2-3 ft.
The Brighter Blooms Green Giant is the closest thing to a “privacy-in-a-box” you can buy. These trees arrive as robust 2-3 foot specimens with established root systems, capable of accelerating to an astonishing 3-5 feet of vertical growth per year once they settle in. That means a 6-foot privacy screen can be yours in as little as 12-18 months if you plant in full sun and well-drained sandy soil.
A single tree can reach 50-60 feet at full maturity with a 15-20 foot spread, so this is a serious investment for estate-sized lots or long property lines where you want a tall, dense wall without pruning. The foliage stays a rich green year-round and is naturally deer resistant—a huge plus for rural or suburban edges where wildlife browsing kills slower growers.
Shipping restrictions apply to AK, AZ, HI, and OR due to federal regulations, so verify your location before ordering. The manufacturer’s warranty covers delivery issues, though cosmetic leaf damage from transit heat or darkness is excluded. The overwhelming majority of buyers report healthy, accurate-size plants, but a small minority have received smaller stock or experienced losses after 9 months—stagger planting and provide consistent water during the first season to maximize survival.
What works
- Exceptional 3-5 ft/year growth rate for fastest possible screen
- Deer resistant foliage reduces pest damage risk
- Large 2-3 ft starting size gives immediate presence
What doesn’t
- Cannot ship to AK, AZ, HI, or OR
- Mature spread up to 20 ft requires generous spacing
2. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 2ft. Tall 8-Pack
When you need a uniform row of privacy trees in a single order, the Perfect Plants 8-pack delivers eight Green Giants that each stand roughly 2 feet tall at shipping. This is a premium multi-pack strategy: instead of buying individual specimens, you get a matched set with consistent root development and foliage density, ideal for creating a seamless hedge right out of the box.
The trees are shipped in protective plastic with separate base wraps and thick outer boxes, a packaging system that buyers consistently praise for arriving undamaged even on coast-to-coast transit. Once planted in zones 5-9, these Thujas can rocket upward at 3-5 feet per year, reaching a mature pyramidal shape up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide if left unpruned.
Customer reviews are uniformly excellent, with most reporting healthy root balls and vibrant green foliage upon arrival. The biggest pain point is that not every tree hits the full 2-foot mark—some are slightly shorter—but that variation is minor when you consider the growth spurt they undergo in the first growing season. This pack is best for homeowners who want a consistent, dense screen without sourcing trees from multiple vendors.
What works
- Excellent protective packaging for long-distance shipping
- Consistent 8-tree set creates uniform hedge line
- Fast 3-5 ft/year growth after establishment
What doesn’t
- Some trees may arrive slightly under 2 ft tall
- Premium price per plant compared to starter plugs
3. Green Promise Farms Thuja occidentalis ‘Smargd’ Emerald Green Arborvitae
If your privacy need is a narrow, formal screen rather than a towering wall, the ‘Smargd’ Emerald Green Arborvitae is the classic choice. This cultivar stays naturally dense and pyramidal, topping out around 18-20 feet tall with a spread of just 5-6 feet, meaning you can plant them 3-4 feet apart and still get a full, tight hedge without requiring heavy pruning.
The #3 container (3-gallon pot) delivers a plant roughly 30 inches tall at shipping, already fully rooted and ready for immediate planting. It thrives in zones 3-8, making it one of the most cold-hardy narrow evergreens available—perfect for northern climates where other arborvitae may brown or split under snow load. The rich emerald green color holds through winter without the bronze tinge common on other Thuja varieties.
Buyers consistently mention that the plants arrive healthy and fresh despite sometimes beat-up boxes, though a few note that the size feels slightly small for the price. The moderate growth rate (12-18 inches per year) means you won’t get instant privacy, but the longevity and tidy form make this a low-maintenance, long-term investment for property lines where space is at a premium.
What works
- Narrow 5-6 ft spread fits tight spaces
- Excellent cold hardiness down to zone 3
- Rich year-round emerald green color
What doesn’t
- Slower growth than Green Giant varieties
- Container size may feel small for the price point
4. Green Promise Farms Picea glauca ‘Conica’ Dwarf Alberta Spruce
For filling a narrow gap in a privacy fence line or creating a low-maintenance foundation screen, the Dwarf Alberta Spruce offers a compact, slow-growing alternative. This dense pyramidal conifer takes its time—just 2-4 inches of new growth per year—but it rewards patience with a perfectly symmetrical cone shape that rarely needs trimming and stays deep green through all four seasons.
The #3 container plant arrives roughly 12-18 inches tall with a healthy root ball and is hardy in zones 3-8. Its mature dimensions (6-8 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide) make it suitable for smaller suburban lots where a full-sized Green Giant would overwhelm the space. The spruce’s prickly needles also deter deer browsing, a practical advantage in wooded neighborhoods.
Customer feedback highlights the excellent packaging and healthy condition at delivery, with many noting the plant exceeded their size expectations. The slow growth means you won’t get quick coverage, so plan to use this as an accent or filler between faster-growing evergreens. Winter survival in zone 5 and below has been confirmed by multiple long-term owners, but immediate unboxing and watering are critical upon arrival.
What works
- Ideal for small spaces with 3-4 ft mature width
- Extremely low maintenance, no shearing needed
- Deer-resistant due to prickly needles
What doesn’t
- Extremely slow growth (2-4 inches per year)
- Not suitable as a standalone fast privacy screen
5. Sandys Nursery Online Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae, Lot of 15
When you need to plant a long property line without breaking the budget, the Sandys Nursery 15-pack provides a cost-effective starter kit. Each tree arrives in a 3-inch deep pot, roughly 10-14 inches tall from soil line, with well-developed roots and moist soil individually bagged to prevent drying. The set also includes one August Beauty Gardenia starter plant as a bonus.
These Green Giant starter trees have the same genetic potential as larger specimens—mature height of 30-50 feet with a 12-16 foot spread, growing 2-3 feet per year once established. Spacing them 5 feet apart creates a dense privacy screen in roughly 3-5 years. The hardiness range of zones 5-8 covers most of the continental US, and the trees tolerate drought once their roots are deep.
Long-term buyers report excellent results: one reviewer noted that after 7 years, original plantings had exceeded 7 feet tall and were still healthy. A few trees are occasionally lost to weather or pests, but the value per plant is significantly lower than buying individual large specimens. Note that this pack does not ship to Arizona, and you’ll need to provide consistent watering the first season to ensure establishment.
What works
- Excellent value for large-scale planting projects
- Well-packaged individual pots maintain root health
- Proven long-term growth recorded by 7-year owners
What doesn’t
- Small starter size requires 2-3 years to become impactful
- No shipping to Arizona
6. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 Inches Tall Trees
At roughly per plant, this 10-pack of Thuja Green Giant starter trees is the most economical way to establish a large privacy screen. Each tree ships as a potted 7-10 inch start, already rooted in soil and ready for transplant into a larger pot or directly into the ground. The cultivar boasts a fast growth rate of 3 feet per year, with a mature height up to 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
These starters are ideal for budget-conscious homeowners willing to invest a little extra care in the first year—consistent watering, protection from deer browsing with fencing, and a slow-release fertilizer to boost root development. Buyers in zone 5 and above have successfully overwintered these trees and reported that their size doubled within the first year of proper maintenance.
The warranty from the nursery covers only 5 days from delivery, and it excludes plants ordered outside recommended zones or in severe weather. Some trees may arrive with minor dehydration after transit, but immediate potting and watering typically revive them. For the price per unit, this is a volume play: plant extras knowing that a small percentage may not survive, and you still come out ahead on total cost versus buying larger specimens.
What works
- Lowest cost per tree for massive privacy screens
- Potted starts with good root ball development
- Proven 3 ft/year growth at maturity
What doesn’t
- Short 5-day warranty window
- Requires deer fencing and heavy first-year care
7. 25 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 8-14″ Tall Trees
For the ultimate economy in volume planting, the 25-pack of Thuja Green Giant trees delivers the lowest per-plant cost available. These hardy starters range 8-14 inches tall and come individually potted with well-developed root systems. When spaced 6-7 feet apart, 25 trees can cover over 150 feet of fence line, providing a full privacy screen within 3-5 years at the reported 3 ft/year growth rate.
Buyers have reported exceptional packaging with bamboo support stakes and air holes to keep plants fresh during transit. The trees are hardy in zones 5-8 and tolerate full sun with moderate watering. Many owners describe seeing bright green new growth within weeks of planting, and those who staggered planting in successive seasons achieved continuous visual coverage even if a few trees lagged.
However, this bulk pack requires careful planning: one buyer in zone 5a reported 70 out of 75 trees died during an unusually harsh winter despite being repotted in a garage until spring. Winter protection—like mulching heavily or insulating pots—is critical in colder parts of zone 5. The warranty is a short 5-day window, so inspect and pot immediately. For those who manage conditions well, the long-term results are impressive, with 7-foot trees reported after 3-4 years.
What works
- Best per-plant cost for very long fence lines
- Healthy root systems with quick post-planting vigor
- Excellent packaging with bamboo supports
What doesn’t
- High winter mortality reported in zone 5a
- Very short warranty and weather-dependent viability
Hardware & Specs Guide
Growth Rate Per Year
This number defines how fast your fence becomes private. Thuja Green Giant varieties claim 3-5 feet per year under ideal conditions (full sun, consistent moisture, well-drained soil). Emerald Green Arborvitae grow 12-18 inches per year, while Dwarf Alberta Spruce manages only 2-4 inches. A lower growth rate means you need larger starting plants or longer patience.
Mature Height and Spread
Knowing the full dimensions of a mature plant prevents over- or under-planting. Green Giants can exceed 50 feet tall with 15-20 foot spread—too large for small suburban lots. Emerald Green Arborvitae stays manageable at 18-20 feet tall x 5-6 feet wide. Dwarf Alberta Spruce maxes out at 6-8 feet tall. Measure your property line and choose a plant whose mature size fits the space without annual heavy pruning.
FAQ
How far apart should I plant Thuja Green Giants for a privacy screen?
Why did my newly planted arborvitae turn brown after the first winter?
Can I plant evergreens for privacy in partial shade?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the best evergreen plants for privacy fence winner is the Brighter Blooms Thuja Green Giant (2-3 ft) because its 3-5 ft/year growth rate and large starting size deliver the fastest visual impact of any option. If you want a uniform hedge in one purchase, grab the Perfect Plants 8-Pack. And for tight suburban spaces where a narrow formal screen is needed, nothing beats the Green Promise Farms Emerald Green Arborvitae.