Unveil 9 Hedges That Grow Swiftly for Better Privacy

Posted on 12/09/2025

Unveil 9 Hedges That Grow Swiftly for Better Privacy

In today's world, homeowners and gardeners alike constantly look for swift solutions to create natural privacy barriers. Fast-growing hedges not only provide valuable seclusion but also contribute beauty, greenery, and even habitats for wildlife. If you need quick, living walls to shield your outdoor space, discover these 9 hedges that grow rapidly for enhanced privacy. Each plant offers unique characteristics to suit various landscapes--with easy-to-understand gardening tips for a lush, thriving hedge.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Living privacy screens are an ideal solution for enhancing garden security and comfort. Quick-growing privacy hedges provide benefits far beyond simple visual separation:

• Main Keyword Variations: Swift-growing privacy barriers, speedy hedge plants, rapidly expanding hedgerows
• Year-Round Greenery: Many fast-growing hedges are evergreen, delivering continuous privacy and color.
• Sound and Wind Mitigation: Dense foliage lessens noise and blocks wind.
• Wildlife Support: Bird-friendly hedges offer food and nesting sites.
• Low Maintenance: Choose varieties which require minimal trimming to shape.

Key Considerations Before Planting Fast-Growing Hedgerows

While a speedy-growing hedge is tempting, consider the following to ensure your green screen thrives in years to come:

• Site Conditions: Evaluate sunlight, soil type, and moisture availability.
• Evergreen vs Deciduous: Evergreens provide continuous coverage; deciduous shrubs offer seasonal interest.
• Growth Rate: Be realistic about space--some hedges grow so quickly they need regular maintenance.
• Height & Spread: Match plant selection to your privacy and line-of-sight needs.
• Local Laws: Some species are invasive or regulated--always check with your local extension office.

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Leyland cypress reigns supreme as one of the fastest-growing privacy trees available. Its upright shape, soft textured needles, and rich green color make it a household favorite. Leyland cypress can surge up to 3 feet per year, creating a dense privacy barrier in only a few seasons.

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year
• Attributes: Evergreen, drought-tolerant, easy to trim and shape
• Ideal For: Tall hedges and urban privacy screens
• Quick Tip: Plant 3 to 4 feet apart for a solid barrier

Why Choose Leyland Cypress?

Its rapid vertical growth and lush year-round color make Leyland cypress a top pick for privacy enthusiasts. Once established, it's low-maintenance and resilient, tolerating many soil types.

2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges have adorned gardens for generations due to their adaptability and lightning-fast growth. With regular trimming, they form a dense, uniform privacy wall, ideally suited for both formal and informal gardens.

• Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
• Attributes: Semi-evergreen to deciduous, responsive to heavy pruning
• Ideal For: Shaped hedges, windbreaks, and boundary screens
• Quick Tip: Cut back hard in early spring to encourage lush regrowth

Standout Feature

Privet's ability to recover from aggressive pruning makes it an excellent candidate for low, medium, or even taller screens within residential landscapes seeking swift hedging for privacy.

3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

The Green Giant arborvitae is renowned as a speedy hedge plant, often growing up to 3 feet per year. Its rich, conical shrubbery forms a living wall that's both elegant and effective at blocking views--and noise!

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year, quickly reaching maturity
• Attributes: Evergreen, disease-resistant, fragrant foliage
• Ideal For: Large estates, privacy screens, and wind barriers
• Quick Tip: Prefers full sun and adequate spacing for best growth

Why Plant Green Giant Arborvitae?

It's a worry-free, low-maintenance hedge ideal for those seeking a fast-growing yet long-lasting privacy screen.

4. Bamboo

Bamboo stands out as one of the speediest-growing hedging plants on the planet. In optimal conditions, certain bamboo species can shoot up several feet in weeks. It's ideal for contemporary gardens, adding a lush, exotic vibe.

• Growth Rate: 3 to 5+ feet (species dependent)
• Attributes: Evergreen, graceful stems, quick establishment
• Ideal For: Urban gardens, oriental themes, containers
• Quick Tip: Always use barrier methods or clumping varieties to prevent unwanted spreading

Special Note on Bamboo

*Running* bamboo can be invasive. To ensure your fast privacy hedge doesn't escape, install root barriers or choose non-invasive, clumping types.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel is a top choice for quick-growing evergreen privacy hedges. Shiny, broad leaves create a glossy, bold look while effectively blocking sightlines, even in shaded spots.

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Attributes: Dense foliage, drought-tolerant, attractive white flowers in spring
• Ideal For: Shady boundaries, noise abatement, low-maintenance gardens
• Quick Tip: Prune lightly after flowering to maintain thickness

What Makes Cherry Laurel Special?

Its adaptability to different sites, robust foliage, and speedy growth rate make it perfect for homeowners seeking reliable, evergreen privacy barriers fast.

6. Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

The Red Tip Photinia's eye-catching red new leaves lend vibrant color to any landscape, transitioning to glossy green as they mature. Renowned for its vigour, it forms dense, mid-height privacy screens within a few years.

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Attributes: Evergreen, striking red foliage, tolerates urban conditions
• Ideal For: Decorative privacy hedges, foundation plantings
• Quick Tip: Prevent fungal issues with good airflow and annual thinning

Why Select Red Tip Photinia?

It combines fast growth with dramatic color, making it a standout choice among rapid-growing hedge plants for privacy.

7. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Classic boxwood hedges have adorned gardens for centuries, prized for their formal, neat appearance and solid growth habit. While typically moderate in pace, modern hybrid varieties deliver impressive speed with classic formality.

• Growth Rate: 12 to 24 inches per year (hybrid types)
• Attributes: Evergreen, compact foliage, amenable to shaping
• Ideal For: Small yards, topiary designs, formal gardens
• Quick Tip: Choose faster-growing hybrids for speedier coverage

What Sets Boxwood Apart?

For those who desire a speedy yet elegant privacy solution, boxwood offers reliability, structural beauty, and year-round color.

8. Escallonia

Escallonia is prized for its rapid rate of growth and eye-catching pink, red or white blooms throughout summer. It thrives in seaside or exposed gardens where many plants struggle, making it a robust privacy hedge for fast results.

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Attributes: Evergreen, vibrant summer flowers, salt tolerant
• Ideal For: Coastal regions, flowering screens, pollinator gardens
• Quick Tip: Prune after main flowering flush to maintain size

Why Grow Escallonia?

Escallonia's dynamic combination of flowers, evergreen foliage, and speedy growth make it a favorite for gardeners seeking quick privacy and seasonal color.

9. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Wax myrtle is an adaptable native shrub that rapidly forms broad, dense privacy screens. Its aromatic foliage deters pests, while blue-grey berries attract wildlife. In favorable climates, wax myrtle offers a lush, fast-growing hedge for privacy with minimal fuss.

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Attributes: Semi-evergreen, tough, aromatic leaves, wildlife-friendly
• Ideal For: Wet or poor soils, low-maintenance borders
• Quick Tip: Responds well to light, regular pruning for dense screens

The Wax Myrtle Advantage

Its quick establishment and resistance to challenging environments make wax myrtle a top option for speedy privacy hedging in diverse landscapes.

Planting Tips to Maximize Your Fast-Growing Hedge Barrier

No matter which rapid privacy hedge species you select, follow these horticultural pointers to achieve the lush, living screen you desire:

• Spacing: Plant closely for faster coverage, but allow room for adult width.
• Watering: Establish young hedges with regular watering--especially first two seasons.
• Mulching: Layer around roots to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Feeding: Boost growth with balanced fertilizer during spring and/or autumn.
• Pruning: Light, frequent trimming encourages dense branching and shape.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Q: How long do fast-growing hedges take to create a privacy screen?

With ideal care, most speedy privacy hedges achieve substantial coverage within 2-5 years after planting. Regular feeding and proper watering will hasten establishment.

Q: Do all fast-growing hedges require frequent pruning?

While many hedges benefit from annual shaping, some varieties naturally maintain a neat outline with little attention--especially if given enough room to mature.

Q: What's the best time of year to plant these hedges?

Early spring and autumn are optimal, allowing roots to settle in while weather is mild. Always water well after planting.

Conclusion: Transform Your Landscape with Fast Growing Privacy Hedges

A swift, living privacy barrier enhances both peace and beauty in your garden. From towering Leyland cypress and lush cherry laurel to exotic bamboo and robust escallonia, the choices for fast-growing hedges for privacy are diverse and plentiful. Carefully select a hedge suited to your soil, climate, and style, and you'll enjoy an attractive green screen for years to come.

Enhance your home with nature's best privacy solution: an attractive, quick-growing hedge! For more guides and inspiration, explore our other articles on landscape design and gardening tips.