17 Fast-Growing Shrubs for Privacy

Red Twig Dogwood

Even in the winter, the red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) still stands out as a handsome privacy hedge though its leaves, berries, and flowers have disappeared. Despite having lost so many features, red twig dogwood may be at its best when nothing blocks the view of its finest feature: its signature fire-red bark color (the same applies to yellow twig dogwood but in a different color). Looking at such a plant can lift your spirits on the gloomiest of winter days. It can be a fast-growing shrub adding 2 feet of height annually.

• Name: Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, fertile, moist soil
• Mature Size: 6–9 feet tall, 8–12 feet wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Mock Orange

Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) is a wonderfully fragrant shrub with a strange name. Mock orange is not a true orange. But the citrusy smell of its white blossoms is enough to invite comparison. You'll see this shrub grow about 2 feet annually. Another white-flowered option is doublefile viburnum. 

• Name: Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy soil
• Mature Size: 10–12 ft. tall and wide
• Deer Resistant: Most of the time

Common Lilac

Like mock orange, the traditional and common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is an olfactory treasure with fragrant flowers. There are plenty of new cultivars available. They will grow about 2 feet a year and make a spectacular privacy bush when in full bloom in the springtime.

• Name: Common lilac bushes (Syringa vulgaris)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Loamy soil
• Mature Size: 8–15 ft. tall, 6–12 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Forsythia

There should be a special place in your heart for forsythia bushes. When their flower buds start yellowing up, forsythia flowers herald nothing less than spring, itself. Among the bushes, they are some of the earliest spring flowers and make beautiful and wild yellow "walls" of privacy, growing at about 2 feet annually.

• Name: Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• Light: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
• Mature Size: 2–10 ft. tall, 2–10 ft. wide
  
• Deer Resistant: Most of the time

Cotoneaster

The branching of rock cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) is stiff and dense, giving the plant a rather bristly look. Stems shoot off the branches in what is often referred to as a "herringbone pattern," a term also used in hardscaping. The bristly look is significantly softened once the red berries appear, as your attention will be drawn to their fleshy orbs. The berries of cotoneasters are toxic to humans and animals, although birds do fine with them.

Cotoneaster is a fast-grower at 2 feet annually. For a taller cotoneaster privacy hedge, go with one of the taller types, such as C. lucidus, which grows 6 to 10 feet high and wide (grow it in zones 3 to 7).

• Name: Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 7
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained, evenly moist
• Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall; 6-8 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Beautyberry

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is such a fast-growing bush at 2 feet annually that many recommend pruning it down to within a foot or so of the ground in early spring. The resulting new growth, laden with berries by autumn, is sufficiently large to make for a compelling display and privacy hedge. 

• Name: Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
• Mature Size: 3–6 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Some of the time

Common Ninebark

Even though common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) was named for its bark, it is not in quite the same class as red twig dogwood. The Diablo cultivar especially offers something beyond an interesting bark: Dark foliage that makes it one of the so-called "black" plants. Diablo has a mature size of 8 to 10 feet tall with burgundy foliage. But the best part is that all ninebarks are such fast-growing shrubs they may reach their mature height in one year.

• Name: Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Clay or loamy soil
• Mature Size: 3-10 ft. tall, 3-8 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Pussy Willow

Forsythia may be one of the earliest heralds of spring, but it's not as early as pussy willow (Salix discolor), which displays its characteristic fuzzy white catkins even before the arrival of forsythia's yellow blooms. Pussy willows are extremely fast growers and can potentially add 4 to 6 feet of height a year. You can also try another willow shrub that grows quickly, the Flamingo Japanese willow. 

• Name: Pussy willow (Salix discolor)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
• Mature Size: 6–25 ft. tall, 4–15 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: No

Loropetalum

Loropetalum, also called Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense), is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub well-known for its delicate, fragrant, and frilly blooms. It has a fast growth rate of 2 feet annually.

• Name: Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy, acidic soil
• Mature Size: 6 ft. to 10 ft. tall, 6 ft. to 10 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Arborvitae

There are many kinds of evergreen arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) that are used in hedges (including the relatively small 'North Pole'), and they do not all exhibit the same rate of growth. Therefore, not all arborvitaes are equally suited for use in privacy hedges. A good choice for large privacy hedges is the fast grower 'Green Giant', which can reach 50 to 60 feet tall (with a spread of 12 to 20 feet). If you want a bush that is more compact and you do not mind waiting a bit longer, 'Emerald Green' arborvitae is a better option. The latter usually reaches just 12 to 14 feet tall, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. Its foliage comes in flat sprays and, if you look closely, the needles appear covered in scales. 

• Name: Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy
• Mature Size: 12–60 ft. tall, 4–12 ft. wide, depending on type
• Deer Resistant: No

Yew

One advantage that yews (Taxus) have over many similar evergreens is that these shade-tolerant plants will thrive in north-facing foundation plantings, no matter how sunlight-deprived. Yet they can be grown in full sun, too. Yew is a slower-growing hedge, however, so expect only a foot a year. If you have small children, keep them away from the shrubs: All parts are toxic to humans and animals.

• Name: Yew (Taxus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 10
• Light: Full, partial, shade, depending on type
• Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
• Mature Size: 4-60 ft. tall, 4-20 ft. wide, depending on the variety
• Deer Resistant: Yes
  

Canadian Hemlock

The Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is not the plant that famously killed the Greek philosopher Socrates. This tree is completely safe. Moreover, whether you think of hemlock as a tree or shrub may well depend on where you live. If you dwell in a rural area of North America, you probably know the hemlock as a towering tree. But some of the finest privacy hedges around the country are composed of scaled-down Canadian, or Eastern, hemlocks. These somewhat fast-growing and cold-hardy shrubs, or trees, grow 2 feet a year and form dense privacy walls.

• Name: Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
• Light: Part sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, moist
• Mature Size: 70 ft. tall, 25-35 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Burning Bush

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) may be the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America. It is a fast grower at 2 feet annually with a terrific fall color that ranges from red to pinkish-red. Burning bush also produces reddish-orange berries in fall. Just be aware that this is an invasive shrub and should be planted with care.

• Name: Burning bush (Euonymus alatus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy soil
• Mature Size: 3-20 ft. tall, 3-12 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Leylandii

Also known as leyland cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii or Cupressocyparis leylandii), leylandii is a hybrid of Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress. It is an aggressive grower, capable of growing up to 3 feet per year, and it gets a bad reputation for being difficult to handle. However, if you keep up with annual or semi-annual pruning, leylandii makes an excellent privacy hedge or windbreak. Leyland cypress may be slightly toxic to grazing animals.

• Name: Leyland cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii or Cupressocyparis leylandii)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
• Light: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Clay, loamy, sandy
• Mature Size: 60–70 ft. tall; 10—15 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Most of the time

Amur Maple

Like most maples, the amur maple (Acer ginnala) is prized for its brilliant fall color, but it's also a fast-growing shrub that makes a great privacy hedge as well as a winter windbreak. The most popular cultivar for hedges is 'Flame', which grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 8. It can grow up to 2 feet per year and needs only annual pruning to keep its shape.

• Name: Amur maple (Acer ginnala)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Clay or loamy to sandy, well-drained soil
• Mature Size: 15-18 ft. tall, 15-18 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Cherry Laurel

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), also commonly called English laurel, is a good option for those in relatively warm climates, as it's hardy only to zones 6 to 8. In ideal conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet per year. Its glossy green leaves are evergreen and do not change color in fall. Creamy white flowering clusters bloom in spring.

• Name: Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) 
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
• Mature Size: Up to 25 ft. tall, 30 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Yes

Privet

Privet (Ligustrum spp.) is the quintessential (or at least the most familiar) privacy hedge plant. It is a fast-growing shrub at 2 feet a year, prunes nicely, and has flowers that lead to fruit clusters that last through the winter. While Ligustrum vulgare was once the most common type of privet planted, it has lost popularity to some of the more ornamental varieties, such as Japanese privet (L. japonicum). The fruits and leaves of privet are toxic to humans and pets.

• Name: Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
• Light: Full sun to part sun
• Soil Needs: Well-drained, rich soil
• Mature Size: 4–15 ft. tall, 4–10 ft. wide
• Deer Resistant: Most of the time