Creating year-round privacy while adding curb appeal starts with choosing the right high shrubs for privacy. The selections below focus on evergreen, fast-growing varieties that can form dense screens, tolerate pruning, and thrive in American landscapes. Whether you want a formal hedge or a natural privacy wall, these options offer dependable growth, low maintenance, and attractive foliage.
| Product | Key Benefit | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cherry Laurel Hedge Plants | Dense evergreen foliage; fast-growing | Year-round privacy screens |
| Wax Myrtle (3 Large Gallon) | Aromatic foliage; versatile screen | Natural windbreaks and privacy |
| Ligustrum Japonicum Howardi | Two-tone yellow-green new growth; easy to shape | Colorful hedges and formal screens |
| Wax Myrtle (3 Extra Large 3 Gallon) | Higher height potential; dense screen | Robust privacy hedges |
| Viburnum Odoratissimum | Fast-growing evergreen with fragrance | Long, lush privacy walls |
2 Cherry Laurel Hedge Plants – 6–12 Inches Tall
These live Cherry Laurel plants arrive 6–12 inches tall, nursery-grown and well-rooted for quick establishment. Their glossy evergreen leaves create a dense, year-round screen suitable for front yards or backyard borders. Cherry Laurel tolerates full sun to partial shade and adapts to a wide range of soils, supporting rapid initial growth with regular pruning. When trained into a hedge, they offer a refined outline while delivering substantial privacy. Care is straightforward, focusing on consistent watering until established and periodic shaping to maintain form.
Wax Myrtle | 3 Large Gallon Size Plants
Wax Myrtle is an aromatic evergreen shrub that provides year-round privacy with fragrant, dense foliage. These three large gallon plants thrive in a variety of soils, making them a flexible choice for home landscapes, restoration projects, and ornamental gardens. They grow quickly, forming a natural screen or windbreak that remains vibrant across seasons. Regular pruning helps maintain a strong, compact hedge, while their drought-tolerant nature reduces water needs once established.
Ligustrum Japonicum ‘Howardi’ – 10 Live Plants
Howardi ligustrum offers a sturdy evergreen hedge with dark, glossy green leaves and bright yellow new growth that matures to green. The two-tone effect adds visual interest to a privacy border. It tolerates full sun and partial shade, with moderate growth and high disease resistance. This low-maintenance shrub responds well to regular pruning and shaping, helping you create a clean, uniform screen that remains attractive year after year.
Wax Myrtle | 3 Extra Large 3 Gallon Plants
These extra-large Wax Myrtle plants offer a substantial start for a fast-growing privacy hedge. Aromatic evergreen foliage and strong growth make them ideal for backyards seeking a robust screen. They adapt to diverse soils and climate conditions, delivering a reliable windbreak and visual barrier. Regular pruning helps maintain density and height, while their drought tolerance supports lower maintenance once established.
Wax Myrtle | 20 Live Plants
A larger starter group, this collection of 20 Wax Myrtle plants accelerates the creation of a vigorous privacy screen. The aromatic evergreen foliage provides continuous coverage and year-round appeal. Adaptable to various soils and landscaping contexts, these plants support a cohesive, rapid-growth hedge. Consistent watering during establishment promotes deeper root systems and long-term resilience, with pruning shaping to maintain a uniform appearance.
Ligustrum Japonicum Jack Frost Privet
The Jack Frost Privet features striking variegated foliage—green leaves with white margins—that adds brightness to a hedge. It grows quickly to 8–10 feet, making it a strong choice for privacy walls in a short timeframe. It tolerates full sun to partial shade and various soil types, and responds well to pruning. This makes it suitable for formal hedges or more relaxed privacy borders with a decorative edge.
Perfect Plants Camellia 1 Gallon
The Camellia offers fragrant, pink blooms against evergreen foliage, useful as a focal point or as part of a privacy hedge. While not as fast-growing as some evergreens, Camellias provide seasonal charm and a soft, elegant backdrop for screens. They perform well in partial shade and benefit from mulching and regular watering during dry spells. Planting in groups can create a lush, intimate privacy effect amid flowering interest.
Viburnum Odoratissimum
Viburnum Odoratissimum grows quickly into a dense evergreen wall, ideally suited for privacy screening along fences or property lines. In spring, it produces clusters of white blooms that add seasonal fragrance, enhancing garden ambiance. Upright growth supports year-round coverage, making it a dependable hedge for formal borders or casual boundaries. It performs well in sunny to partly shaded sites and benefits from regular mulching and irrigation during establishment.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
Selecting the best high shrubs for privacy depends on climate, soil, and desired hedge characteristics. Consider the following:
- Growth rate: Fast-growing varieties like Wax Myrtle and Privets establish privacy quickly but may require regular pruning to maintain shape.
- Light and soil: Most listed plants tolerate full sun to partial shade and a range of soils. Ensure proper drainage to prevent root issues.
- Maintenance: Evergreen hedges require seasonal pruning to keep density and form. Drought-tolerant options reduce irrigation needs after establishment.
- Fragrance and aesthetics: Aromatic shrubs like Wax Myrtle add sensory appeal, while variegated cultivars offer visual interest year-round.
- Fragrance and blooms: Viburnum and Camellia provide seasonal scent or flowers, enhancing landscape value beyond privacy.
- Planting strategy: Grouping plants with similar growth habits helps create uniform screens. Consider staggered planting for a natural look or formal rows for a neat edge.
- Maintenance plan: Establish a routine for watering, fertilizing, and pruning. Mulching reduces weeds and moisture loss, supporting healthier hedges.