9 Speedy Hedge Varieties to Maximize Your Privacy

Posted on 22/08/2025

9 Speedy Hedge Varieties to Maximize Your Privacy

A lush, thriving hedge not only transforms a garden's aesthetics but also delivers year-round **privacy** from street traffic and nosy neighbors. Especially when grown from fast-growing hedge varieties, living green walls can offer rapid and sustainable solutions compared to artificial screens or fencing. If you're eager to maximize your privacy swiftly, choosing the right hedge plants is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we explore 9 speedy hedge varieties that not only grow quickly but also excel in providing seclusion and charm for your outdoor spaces.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedge Varieties?

The choice of a hedge is vital when planning for privacy. Traditional hedge plants like boxwood, while classic, can take years to establish a dense barrier. Instead, many homeowners and landscapers opt for fast-growing hedge varieties to maximize privacy sooner and enjoy full foliage within a few seasons. Below are some compelling reasons for choosing speedy hedges:

• Quick Results: Obtain a thick, green barrier in as little as one to two years.
• Cost-Effective: Fewer plants required to achieve screening compared to slower-growing types.
• Versatility: Many varieties adapt to pruning, shaping, and even flowering, enhancing landscape appeal.
• Wildlife Benefits: Support local biodiversity with shelter and food for birds and pollinators.

Factors to Consider Before Planting a Hedge for Privacy

Before diving into plant selection, assess the following:

• Sunlight & Soil: Some hedges prefer full sun, while others thrive in shade; check soil requirements for optimal growth.
• Evergreen vs. Deciduous: Evergreens provide year-long cover; deciduous types may lose leaves in winter, reducing privacy.
• Maintenance: Consider how much pruning or clipping the hedge requires.
• Growth Rate: Fast hedge plants can grow up to 3 feet or more per year.
• Height and Spread: Pick varieties suited to your space and desired privacy level.

9 Fast-Growing Hedge Varieties to Maximize Your Privacy

Let's dive into the best options to create a fast-growing privacy hedge. Each of these plants combines rapid growth with attractive foliage and ease of care, making them perfect for quickly establishing a living screen.

1. Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Max Height: 60-70 feet, can be pruned to desired size
• Best For: Tall, dense privacy screens in large gardens

The Leyland cypress is celebrated for its remarkable speed--often regarded as the fastest-growing privacy hedge. Its lush, fine-textured evergreen foliage swiftly blocks views and muffles sound. While Leyland Cypress can soar sky-high, it tolerates regular pruning to maintain a manageable hedge height. Provide full sun and well-drained soil for best results.

2. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Max Height: 15-30 feet
• Best For: Dense, glossy hedges for medium to large spaces

With its broad, polished green leaves, the cherry laurel makes a striking formal hedge. It excels at quickly creating a privacy screen and adapts to shade better than many other fast hedge plants. Clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring add ornamental value.

3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')

• Growth Rate: 3-4 feet per year
• Max Height: 30-40 feet
• Best For: Tall, uniform hedges for larger yards or windbreaks

Green Giant arborvitae is a standout among rapid-growing hedging plants. With its vibrant, feathery foliage, it forms a dense and imposing barrier that is relatively pest-resistant and tolerant of a range of soils. This resilient conifer grows almost vertically, conserving space while reaching impressive heights.

4. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Max Height: 12-15 feet
• Best For: Classic, easily shaped hedges

No list of fast privacy hedges is complete without privet. Adaptable, tough, and forgiving, privet creates a tight-knit green wall--whether grown as evergreen (in milder climates) or deciduous. Regular trimming produces even, formal lines, and in June, white flowers delight pollinators.

5. Bamboo (Phyllostachys and Fargesia spp.)

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year (some varieties)
• Max Height: 15-40 feet depending on type
• Best For: Exotic, quick cover and sound screening

Bamboo is a spectacular choice for a contemporary, lush, and speedy living screen. Opt for clumping types like Fargesia for non-invasive growth, or use barriers for running species. Its rapid vertical growth, dense stems, and subtle leaf movement create a soothing yet effective privacy screen. Bamboo hedges also help absorb noise and air pollution.

6. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Max Height: 10-15 feet
• Best For: Colorful hedges with seasonal interest

If you desire a hedge that combines speed and year-round color, look to Photinia 'Red Robin'. Its foliage emerges bright red before maturing to deep green, creating a lively contrast. It's a favorite for urban gardens seeking a fast-growing, low-maintenance privacy hedge that thrives in sun to partial shade.

7. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Max Height: 40-60 feet (prune for size control)
• Best For: Durable, soft-textured evergreen walls

Western Red Cedar produces a soft, feathery wall of-green that is both fragrant and highly effective against wind and prying eyes. Cold hardy and long-lived, this evergreen conifer suits larger gardens or boundaries demanding persistent privacy.

8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Max Height: 12-18 feet
• Best For: Compact, sophisticated hedges with red stems

The Portuguese laurel offers elegant, glossy leaves and distinct red stems. Tolerant of heat, drought, and most soil conditions, it delivers a dense, vigorous privacy hedge--perfect for tight, urban spaces or defining driveways.

9. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Max Height: 6-10 feet
• Best For: Flowering, salt-tolerant seaside or southern gardens

For a flowering fast-growing hedge plant with glossy, aromatic leaves, Escallonia is unrivaled. It thrives in coastal regions, producing an abundance of pink, red, or white flowers through summer--ideal for gardens where you want privacy and pollinator appeal.

How to Establish a Dense, Speedy Hedge for Privacy

Achieving that perfect, secluded haven relies not only on choosing fast-growing privacy plants but also on proper hedge care. Here's how you can encourage maximum growth and density:

• Soil Preparation: Dig in organic matter and test for correct drainage before planting.
• Spacing: Plant closer together (per the variety's recommendations) for a seamless barrier.
• Watering: Keep new hedges moist during establishment, especially in dry spells.
• Feeding: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring to boost growth.
• Pruning: Trim lightly at first to encourage bushiness; prune annually for shape and vigor.
• Mulching: Retain moisture and suppress weeds with bark or compost mulch.

FAQs about Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy

How Fast is "Fast" for Privacy Hedge Plants?

A growth rate of 2-3 feet (or more) per year is considered speedy for hedges. With ideal conditions, many varieties will create a privacy screen in 2-3 years.

Do Fast-Growing Hedging Plants Require Lots of Maintenance?

Most rapid-growing privacy hedges benefit from at least annual pruning--some more frequently to maintain a neat barrier. Regular watering and feeding ensure healthy, lush foliage and robust growth.

Which Hedge Plant Stays Green All Year?

Most evergreens, including Leyland cypress, Green Giant arborvitae, laurel, photinia, and Western Red Cedar, keep their foliage year-round, ensuring uninterrupted privacy and color even in winter.

Are There Hedging Plants Safe for Pets?

Some hedging plants (notably cherry and Portuguese laurel) can be toxic if ingested by pets. If you have dogs or cats, check plant safety before choosing a fast-growing hedge for privacy.

Conclusion: Create the Privacy You Deserve--Fast!

By selecting from these 9 fast-growing hedge varieties, you'll speedily gain the privacy, shelter, and visual interest your garden craves. Each offers a unique blend of qualities, so weigh your landscape's sun, space, and style before deciding. Remember, a thriving hedge isn't just a boundary--it's an investment in comfort, security, and natural beauty for years to come.

Ready to plant your perfect privacy barrier? Choose your favorite speedy hedge, nurture it well, and enjoy your secluded green sanctuary in record time!