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Best-Selling Hedges See All
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Beech
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is green in summer, with foliage turning gold and copper in fall. The rust-colored leaves then cling to the branches through winter providing year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to nearly full shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Green Mountain
Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is an extremely popular boxwood. It has great cold tolerance and is one of the most naturally resistant to Boxwood Blight. It is deer and rabbit resistant and grows well in full sun to shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.
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Green Giant
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x ‘Green Giant’) is a hybrid with extreme vigor! It is the fastest-growing hedge that we offer, making it ideal for large privacy hedges. It has some deer-resistance, grows well in full sun to part shade, and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Schip
Schip laurel (P. laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is excellent for partial shade locations. It grows quickly with a narrow habit. It has dark evergreen leaves and is deer-resistant. It is drought tolerant once established. Schip laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
Top Deciduous Hedges
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Flame Maple
Flame Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’) is a deciduous hedge with lush, green foliage in summer and blazing orange fall color, a naturally multi-stemmed and grows quickly into an effective privacy screen. Prefers full sun to shade and is hardy to USDA Zones 3-8.
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Beech
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is green in summer, with foliage turning gold and copper in fall. The rust-colored leaves then cling to the branches through winter providing year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to nearly full shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Mixed Beech
Mixed Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a mix of green and purple beech seedlings, grown together into a striking tapestry of a hedge. These have excellent winter leaf retention for year-round screening. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
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Hornbeam
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a popular deciduous hedge that is extremely versatile. It tolerates full sun to nearly full shade and a range of soil conditions. It holds its brown leaves into part of the winter for added screening. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.
More Deciduous See All
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Royal Star Magnolia
Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’) is a deciduous hedge that is covered with large, fragrant, pale pink flowers in late winter. In summer, lush green foliage develops. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Cornelian cherry
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is a deciduous hedge with ornamental and edible fruit in summer. The fruits are also enjoyed by birds. It also boasts striking yellow flowers in early spring. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Viburnum
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a North American native plant with pollinator-friendly flowers in spring and small blue fruits later in summer. It is extremely deer-resistant and cold-hardy and grows well in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 2-8.
Arborvitae Compare
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Green Giant
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja x ‘Green Giant’) is a hybrid with extreme vigor! It is the fastest-growing hedge that we offer, making it ideal for large privacy hedges. It has some deer-resistance, grows well in full sun to part shade, and is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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American
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is a fast-growing evergreen hedge with feathery foliage. It grows best in full sun and is very cold hardy. It’s a great choice for a privacy hedge. American Arborvitae is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Emerald Green
Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is a dense, columnar evergreen that is very popular for privacy hedges due to its consistent green color, natural thickness, and low-maintenance habit. It does best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Virescens
Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’) is a fast-growing evergreen with a fairly narrow habit making it easy to maintain. It is brilliant green all year and is deer-resistant. It grows well in full sun to partial shade. Virescens is hardy to USDA Zone 5-9.
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Little Simon
Little Simon Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Simon’) is a dwarf selection of Emerald Green that only reaches 3-4’ tall. It is a great boxwood substitute for colder regions and blight-susceptible areas. It grows best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
Boxwood & Boxwood Substitutes Compare
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Green Mountain
Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is an extremely popular boxwood. It has great cold tolerance and is one of the most naturally resistant to Boxwood Blight. It is deer and rabbit resistant and grows well in full sun to shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.
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Schmidt
Schmidt Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Schmidt’) is a lesser-known boxwood variety but has a desirable tall and narrow growth habit making it great for hedging. It is deer resistant and grows in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-8.
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Box Honeysuckle
Box Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is lovely hedge in its own right but also makes a great boxwood substitute for areas with Boxwood Blight. The foliage is evergreen and very similar to boxwood. It is deer resistant, takes full sun to full shade, and grows in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
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Little Simon
Little Simon Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Simon’) is a dwarf selection of Emerald Green that only reaches 3-4’ tall. It is a great boxwood substitute for colder regions and blight-susceptible areas. It grows best in full sun and is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.
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Teton Firethorn
Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’) is an evergreen hedge that boasts billows of white flowers in spring, followed by bright orange fruits that feed birds through winter. Sharp thorns keep deer away. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
Laurels Compare
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English
English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a popular fast-growing evergreen hedge for privacy. It has large, glossy leaves and is deer-resistant. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and is quite drought tolerant once established. English laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Schip
Schip laurel (P. laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is excellent for partial shade locations. It grows quickly with a narrow habit. It has dark evergreen leaves and is deer-resistant. It is drought tolerant once established. Schip laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Portuguese
Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is great for warm, coastal climates but does equally well in other temperate areas. It is very drought tolerant once established. It grows in full sun to partial shade and is deer resistant. Portuguese laurel is hardy in USDA Zones 6b-9b.
More Evergreens See All
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Hick's Yew
Hicks Yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’) is the best hedge for deep shade locations, although it also thrives in full sun. This is a naturally narrow plant, so it is good for small spaces. It has evergreen needles and bright red fruits. Hicks Yew is hardy to USDA Zones 5-8.
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Juniper
Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) has brilliant blue foliage to make a colorful year-round statement in the landscape. It is deer resistant and grows best in full sun. Once established it is highly drought-tolerant. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-7.
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Teton Firethorn
Teton Firethorn (Pyracantha ‘Teton’) is an evergreen hedge that boasts billows of white flowers in spring, followed by bright orange fruits that feed birds through winter. Sharp thorns keep deer away. It grows well in full sun to shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
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Sizes
Our hedges come in multiple, convenient sizes. Learn about which hedge size option will work best for your project, from our 18-24” tall MiniHedge to our 5-6’ tall InstantHedge. See detailed dimensions for all of our different hedge sizes, including root balls.
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Containers
You have multiple options for the kind of container in which your InstantHedge is shipped. Learn about our standard Biodegradable Cardboard Boxes, as well as the fabric bag and cedar box options. This page will lead you to the best choice for your project.
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Installation
InstantHedge is a unique product and the planting process is very unlike installing a traditional hedge. This page takes you step by step through the easy process of how to plant an InstantHedge. No doubt about it, it’s the fastest way to plant a hedge.
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best privacy hedges

Home> best privacy hedges
best privacy hedges2020-12-17T11:50:53+00:00

Peace. Quiet. Solitude. Privacy.

Privacy Hedges allows you to enjoy all these qualities in any yard, no matter how noisy or urban the area.

It blocks noise and peering eyes while providing beauty to the garden and a home for small animals.
So what bushes are good for privacy? We have compiled a list of the best bushes for privacy. They are each suitable for different situations, so we are sure you will find your perfect match!

Jump to:

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8 Varieties of Privacy Hedges

Fagus Sylvatica
European Beech

Fagus Sylvatica

Prunus laurocerasus
English Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus L. Schipkaensis
Cherry Laurel

Prunus L. 'Schipkaensis'

Prunus Lusitanica
Portuguese Laurel

Prunus Lusitanica

Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae

Thuja x. 'Green Giant'

Emerald Green Arborvitae
Emerald Green Arborvitae

Thuja Occidentalis 'Smaragd'

Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar

Thuja Plicata 'Virescens'

American Arborvitae
American Arborvitae

Thuja Occidentalis

What Makes a Great Privacy Hedge?

For great privacy hedges there are three main factors:

  1. Density
  2. Height
  3. Evergreen

You want tightly-branched evergreens for privacy to avoid any gaps. You can do this two ways: opt for privacy shrubs with extremely dense branching, or trim your looser-growing hedge religiously each year.

Height

The great news about evergreen hedges for privacy or garden over a fence is you can usually grow a hedge much taller than you might be allowed to build a fence based on CC&Rs from your community. Want privacy for the second story windows of your house? No problem.

Evergreen

This one is flexible. While evergreens will provide solid, year-round protection, if you only need it for an outdoor space in the summer you could go with deciduous privacy hedges. We recommend choosing privacy shrubs, something like European Beech, which is deciduous but holds its copper-colored leaves through the winter and still provides a shield.

Best Bushes for privacy: Buy Privacy shrubs available for sale

Maintaining a Privacy Hedge

The key to maintaining a perfectly dense privacy hedge is consistent pruning on the sides. If the hedge is allowed to grow large and leggy, then pruned hard, you will end up with gaps (in laurels and beech this can be corrected, but in conifers, it usually can’t). A quick, simple trim once per year on fast-growing varieties and once every 2 years on slow-growing varieties is all you need to keep your hedge full and dense. Pruning the top half of the privacy hedges a little slimmer than the bottom will keep the lower branches nice and full (see the diagram below).

For more information on how to get privacy trees as fast as possible, check out our page on fast-growing hedges.

A guide to How to Prune best trees for privacy. Best Bushes for privacy. Privacy shrubs pruning tip.
155618789-prunus-schipkaensis-schip-skip-cherry-laurel-privacy-hedge-swimming-pool-suburban-estate-modern

Swimming pools are one of the most important places to use privacy hedges

172930253-prunus-laurocerasus-english-cherry-laurel-urban-suburban-privacy-hedge-street-curb-appeal

Homes located on busy streets can still feel quiet and secluded when surrounded by a privacy hedge

577345444-Thuja-occidentalis-american-arborvitae-suburban-courtyard-patio-outdoor-dining-modern

Simple and elegant privacy hedges can be used at residences, restaurants, and event venues to create private outdoor eating areas

139789426-Thuja-smaragd-emerald-green-arborvitae-privacy-hedge-park-garden-estate

Emerald Green Arborvitae gives dense privacy, blocking noise, wind, and eyesores

52641-Taxus-Fagus-privacy-hedge-yew-beech-country-garden

Block neighborhood sounds and views with privacy hedges to create a peaceful sanctuary

22195513-Prunus-laurocerasus-english-cherry-laurel-privacy-hedge-driveway-estate

Entries and driveways gain drama and glamour when lined with lush privacy hedges

38516-Fagus-Beech-boxwood-Buxus-hedge-country-cottage-garden-knot-privacy

Create peaceful, quiet spaces by surrounding them with tall privacy hedges