The 8 Best Plants for Privacy

Use these unexpected options to create a unique hedge or screen

Why do we take hedges?Well , for one thing , they create concealment while intelligibly defining specific garden areas . Yet one acknowledgment of the Book “ hedge ” and many gardener cringe , envisioning a row of oversheared yews or a stand of pest - ridden hemlocks . But there ’s no reason that you have to sacrifice good looks or health for single-valued function . Many conifers , broad - leaved evergreen plant , and even select deciduous shrub extend gardeners the opportunity to craft an esthetically pleasing yet functional hedgerow .

Screens and hedge are write of one or more rowing of shrubs or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree forming a live fencing or bound . They can hide unsightly opinion , make sound barriers , and shelter the garden from extreme environmental conditions , such as wind and fluctuating temperature . The follow works make great living barriers and create a sense of enclosure and privateness in the landscape painting .

Coniferscreate large-scale, year-round boundaries

coniferous tree or needle evergreen provide a beautiful , fine texture . Their glowing hues of emerald green , blue , or atomic number 79 brighten the landscape painting , especially in winter . Conifers , in summation , demonstrate a strong , erect , and often pyramidic growth habit , which give them a alone presence . Although they may seem like an odd pick for hedges because of their large sizing , they are ideal for establishing a visual boundary in the landscape .

It’s got soft texture and disease resistance

Name:‘Yoshino ’ Japanese cedar(Cryptomeria japonica‘Yoshino ’ )

Nipponese cedar is an unusual coniferous tree with tenacious strands of short , needlelike unripened leaves set spirally along slender stems . As a young Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , its habit is dumb and upright , but it eventually transform into a more open , pyramidal build . ‘ Yoshino ’ is my favourite cultivar because of its overall energy and four - time of year , emerald green foliage . Mature plants have a peeling barque that looks interchangeable to that of a cedar or raetam . casual pruning of ‘ Yoshino ’ Japanese cedar tree will keep it dense and bang-up . As it mature , the intimate branch and leaves will often embrown out and must be removed . This plant makes an excellent magniloquent silver screen and should be grow informally ( in other word , leave it alone to produce naturally and refrain from trimming it often ) . It can also be grown as single - specimen tree and still block a persuasion . The best thing about this conifer is that it looks like and can be used in the same fashion as hemlock ( Tsugaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , make it an fantabulous choice that wo n’t get woolly adelgid .

USDA Hardiness Zones:5–8

Size:30 to 35 feet tall and 15 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun to fond ghost ; moist , well - drained , acidic soil

A spruce with cones that attract a lot of attention

Name:‘Gowdy ’ Oriental spruce(Picea orientalis‘Gowdy ’ )

Oriental spruce is , arguably , one of the most elegant conifers . Its short , glossy , dingy green needles ; pyramidic drug abuse ; and wholesale , graceful branches provide four seasons of interest . Small pinkish cone ( right-hand ) are an additional dramatic attribute . Although Oriental spruce can grow too great for the mediocre garden , ‘ Gowdy ’ is a midget cultivar , making it perfect for an loose hedge . It does not do well in windy , reveal website or in badly drained areas . Keep pruning to a minimum to preserve its lifelike habit .

Zones:4–7

Size:8 to 10 feet marvellous and 4 to 5 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial shadiness ; moist , well - drained filth

An arborvitae that you’ll love but the deer won’t

Name : Western red cedar(Thuja plicataand cvs . )

American arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalisand cvs . , Zones 2–7 ) has long been a democratic favorite for hedging ; however , western cherry-red cedar tree , a lesser - known species native to the Pacific Northwest , is far higher-ranking . This elegant evergreen has a refined yet durable branching social organization and luxuriant , emerald green leaves ( powerful ) . The main reasonableness westerly cherry-red cedar tree is superior to American arborvitae is its power to stand firm Baron Snow of Leicester , ice , winding , and other harsh elements . This evergreen plant also stomach inadequate soils , discover land site , drought , and even shade . If these reasons are n’t in force enough for you to run out and bribe this flora , try this : It is relatively deer resistant — far more than American arborvitae , pine , fir , and most other common conifers . Use western carmine cedar as a tall , dense blind to block the view of your neighbor ’s home .

Zones:5–7 ( and perchance warmer parts of Zone 4 )

Size:50 feet grandiloquent and 30 feet wide ( can be maintained at a small size with regular and wise pruning )

Broad-leaved evergreensmake a perfect four-season fence

If you ’re looking for twelvemonth - rhythm privacy from your hedge but require a plant that stays smaller and more compact than a conifer , then consider a broad - leave evergreen . These plants arrive at a mature size quickly and flower readily ; some even have Chuck Berry , which give them added appeal . Broad - leaved evergreen are also commonly less expensive than coniferous tree .

A low-maintenance shrub with shiny foliage

Name : Inkberry(Ilex glabraand cvs . )

Inkberry is a member of the holly family unit , but unlike traditional hollies , it has showy , lush , sorry green leaves without prickle . Like all hollies , however , only female plants produce berries . The small , jet-propelled plane blackened yield ripen in fall and will stay through much of the wintertime . Inkberry is exceedingly resilient , accommodate to abrasive , exposed seashores as easily as it does to shady woodland garden . It ’s great engraft as a formal or cozy hedging , or in a large mass to shape a screen .

Zones:5–9

Size:6 to 8 foot improbable and wide

Conditions : Full Lord’s Day to fond shade ; acidic , moist , well - drained soil

This one has it all—flowers, fruit, and fall color

Name : Heavenly bamboo(Nandina domesticaand cvs . )

Unlike fast-growing Asiatic bamboos , celestial bamboo is actually quite tame , forming neat clumps . This take a shit it ideal for a low-toned or average - size cozy hedge . The hit new growth set out from coppery red to pink , changing to subdued dismal - green with long time . The foliage will often change state shade of reddish maroon in cool weather condition ( in harsh winters , plants may lose some or all of their leaf ) . In late spring to other summer , small white flowers form at the ends of the stems ( right ) , followed by large , brilliant crimson fruit clusters that mature in fall and persevere through winter . celestial bamboo may need to be clip per year to keep a dumb habit , specially in shadowiness . Pruning should be done while flora are inactive in late wintertime or former spring . This bush thrives in moist , well - drained soil , and although it prefers full sun to partial shade , it will tolerate dense tad .

Zones:6–11

Size:6 to 8 feet tall and up to 5 metrical unit wide

Deciduous shrubscreate unobtrusive screens

One of the primary quality a works needs for it to be an effective hedge or screen is a dense maturation wont , and many deciduous shrubs have this trait . Even in wintertime , when these shrub have no foliage , their thick-skulled fork substance abuse will make a visual barrier . As with many evergreens , several mutual deciduous or semievergreen shrubs , such as privet ( Ligustrumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , are overused . If you ’re front to create an informal screen or would wish to use a flora that offers more than just predictable unripened leaves , then try these options , which have attractive foliage as well as interesting blooms .

An underappreciated overachiever

Name : Taiwanese neillia(Neillia sinensis )

An strange flowering shrub , Formosan neillia is rarely used in gardens . This is unfortunate because its dense , upright , spreading habit seduce it everlasting for screening . The dangle pinkish flower clusters in midspring ( right ) and glistening , serrated , dark green leaves ply interest all through the growing season . As an added feature , the peel off bark on older stems is especially stunning in wintertime . Chinese neillia looks best when used as an informal hedge or in a aggregated planting . you could hand - prune before long after florescence has give up to keep plant in check , or selectively prune in former saltation to hit older stems and stimulate vigorous growth from the stand .

Zones:5–7

Size:6 feet tall and wide

It offers delicate good looks and unbeatable hardiness

Name : Cutleaf stephanandra(Stephanandra incisaand cvs . )

A graceful , cascading substance abuse ; fine foliage ; and delicate spring flowers make cutleaf stephanandra a wonderful plant . The thick , irregular branching habit is attractive even in winter . Its small , fine dissected leaves issue reddish bronze before changing to medium green . Although often not overwhelming in autumn , the leaves deepen to shades of yellow or orange , or become tinged with reddish purple . In spring , small clusters of creamy white flowers come forth and persist for several weeks . Regular pruning of cutleaf stephanandra is not required , but occasionally cutting back ill shaped shrubs to 6 inch above the ground will rejuvenate them . Avoid shearing the plant into formal shapes because this will compromise its naturally flowing growth habit . Cutleaf stephanandra is ideal when used as an informal hedgerow . One famed cultivar is ‘ Crispa ’ , which is nanus , only reaching 2 to 3 feet in height with a slightly wider spread .

Zones:3–7 ( may tolerate Zone 8 if it receives adequate wet in a shady location )

Photo above and below: Susan A. Roth

Size:4 to 8 feet tall and wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial ghost ; moist , well - drained acid soil

This bold bloomer shines when the rest of the garden is dormant

Name : Buttercup wintertime hazel(Corylopsis pauciflora )

This shrub has a compact , disseminate habit , and it shines even in winter . The heavy , irregular patterns of the fragile stems make buttercup winter hazel an splendid intimate hedge . It has fragrant yellow flowers in tardy winter to early spring ( right ) , and they persist for several workweek before yielding to modest pleated immature leaves . The leaves will turn bronze to golden yellow in fall . Pruning should be kept to a lower limit because unconstipated and excessive cut will compromise the beautiful growth habit of the plant . If pruning is take to regenerate buttercup winter hazel , do it selectively in springiness ; removing erstwhile stems will further young stems to make without keeping the bush from flowering the next yr .

Zones:6–9

‘Yoshino’ Japanese cedar

Photo above and below: Susan A. Roth

Size:5 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 8 foot wide

condition : Full sun to partial tone ; rich , moist , acidic , well - drained stain

Choose a Hedge Formation

you may maintain hedges formally or informally . Formal hedges are pruned into rounded physical body or angular lines . Informal hedges are not pruned regularly but leave to grow naturally . Maintaining hedges conversationally create salubrious , more productive plant . Here are three types of hedge arrangements , all of which foreground the flora ’s natural beauty .

Grouping

• search decent while plants meet in ( no gaps )

• discourage inadvertent overcrowding

• regard more confinement ( forked course )

‘Gowdy’ Oriental spruce

• Costs more money ( more plants )

Row

• Covers a large area with few plant life

• Presents a straight and neat coming into court

• pack time to fill in

pinecones of ‘Gowdy’ Oriental spruce

• Is easy to miscalculate spacing at initial planting

Solo

• Involves less labor

• cost less money

• Covers a small sphere

Western red cedar

• Takes meter to fill out

Vincent Simeone is director of the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay , New York .

Photos , except where noted : courtesy of Vincent A. Simeone

green leaves of Western red cedar

Sources

Fine Gardening Recommended production

plant in a Post - violent World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Inkberry

Fine horticulture receive a commission for items purchase through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising program .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Razor - Back Potato / Refuse Hook

Heavenly bamboo

Get our latest baksheesh , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

When Not to Prune

Regional Picks: Plants to Grow Together - Mountain West

Regional Picks: Overlooked Plants - Southern California

Regional Picks: Plant This, Not That– Southern Plains

get together Fine horticulture for a free engaging alive webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned industrial plant pathologist as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technological coach …

When I spotted a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I get laid I was in trouble . With a delicious semblance radiation diagram …

When we only prioritise plants we want over plants our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - ending inclination of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , better , and fertilizing , with …

Heavenly bamboo flowers

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden graphic designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a dyad …