There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having your own private space to relax in the garden—whether that’s enjoying a quiet cuppa tea, letting the kids run wild, or simply blocking out the neighbour’s view!

If you’re looking for a natural, year-round solution, fast-growing evergreen trees are a brilliant choice. They offer lush greenery in every season, and they don’t hang about when it comes to growing tall and thick. Whether your garden is big or small, this list of evergreen trees will help you turn it into a peaceful, sheltered retreat in no time.

1. Leyland Cypress

Growth Rate: Very fast (up to 3-4 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-60 feet
Width: 15-25 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: The Leyland Cypress is one of the fastest-growing privacy trees available. With its dense foliage and rapid growth, it quickly forms a thick, green screen ideal for larger backyards or windbreaks.
Find Leyland Cypress Shrub ➾

2. Emerald Green Arborvitae

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 12-15 feet
Width: 3-4 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: The Emerald Green Arborvitae is perfect for smaller backyards or narrow spaces. Its slim, columnar shape makes it an excellent choice for creating a tidy, structured privacy hedge without taking up too much space.
Find Emerald Green Arborvitae Shrub ➾

3. Thuja Green Giant

Growth Rate: Extremely fast (3-5 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-50 feet
Width: 12-20 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: This low-maintenance, pest-resistant tree is a favorite for creating large, natural privacy screens. Its thick, dark green foliage makes it a stunning and effective barrier.
Find Thuja Green Giant Shrubs ➾

4. Holly (Nellie R. Stevens)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 15-25 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Known for its glossy, deep green leaves and vibrant red berries, the Nellie R. Stevens Holly provides year-round beauty and dense growth, making it an attractive and functional privacy option.
Find Holly (Nellie R. Stevens) Shrubs ➾

5. Eucalyptus Tree

Growth Rate: Very fast (3-6 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-70 feet (depending on species)
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Eucalyptus trees are not only fast growers but also drought-tolerant and fragrant. Their evergreen leaves add year-round greenery, making them ideal for large backyards.
Find Eucalyptus Trees ➾

6. Italian Cypress

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-40 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Tall and narrow, the Italian Cypress adds a touch of elegance to any backyard. It’s perfect for tight spaces where vertical growth is needed to form a stylish privacy screen.
Find Italian Cypress Varieties ➾

7. Privet (Wax-Leaf Ligustrum)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 6-10 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Privet trees grow into a dense hedge that can be easily shaped and pruned. They are versatile, making them ideal for creating clean, green privacy walls.
Find Privet Varieties ➾

8. Carolina Cherry Laurel

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 20-30 feet
Width: 15-20 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: This tree features glossy, dark green leaves and dense growth, providing excellent privacy while maintaining a polished look. It’s also highly drought-tolerant once established.
Find Cherry Laurel Shrubs ➾

9. Southern Magnolia (Little Gem)

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 20-25 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Known for its stunning white blooms and evergreen leaves, the Little Gem Magnolia adds beauty and privacy to mid-sized backyards.
Find Little Gem Magnolia Shrubs ➾

10. Japanese Cryptomeria

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-40 feet
Width: 15-20 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With its soft, feathery foliage, Japanese Cryptomeria offers a unique texture while providing dense coverage for privacy.
Find Cryptomeria Shrubs ➾

11. Eastern Red Cedar

Growth Rate: Fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 20-50 feet
Width: 10-20 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Hardy and drought-tolerant, the Eastern Red Cedar is perfect for large yards. Its dense growth offers excellent protection from wind, noise, and prying eyes.
Find Red Cedar Shrubs ➾

12. Bay Laurel

Growth Rate: Moderate (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 10-30 feet
Width: 8-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With aromatic, evergreen leaves, Bay Laurel can be pruned into a hedge or left to grow naturally for an elegant privacy screen.
Find Bay Laurel Shrubs ➾

13. Murray Cypress

Growth Rate: Very fast (3-4 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-40 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A hardier alternative to Leyland Cypress, the Murray Cypress is disease-resistant and grows rapidly into a dense screen, making it perfect for windbreaks and large properties.
Find Murray Cypress Shrubs ➾

14. Arizona Cypress

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-50 feet
Width: 15-25 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With striking blue-green foliage, the Arizona Cypress thrives in dry climates and poor soils, offering a low-maintenance privacy option.
Find Arizona Cypress Shrubs ➾

15. Eastern White Pine

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 50-80 feet
Width: 20-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A great choice for larger landscapes, this classic evergreen creates a soft-textured, dense screen and is highly adaptable to various soil types.
Find Eastern White Pine Shrubs ➾

16. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)

Growth Rate: Extremely fast (3-5 feet per year, some species even more)
Mature Height: 15-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Clumping bamboo grows into a thick, lush wall of greenery within a couple of years and is an excellent non-invasive option for privacy screens.
Find Clumping Bamboo Varieties ➾

17. Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’)

Growth Rate: Fast (3-4 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-60 feet
Width: 20-30 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A beautiful, dense conifer with soft, feathery foliage, offering excellent privacy while being resistant to most pests and diseases.
Find Japanese Cedar Shrubs ➾

18. Western Red Cedar

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 50-70 feet
Width: 15-25 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: This towering evergreen is a great windbreak and noise barrier, featuring fragrant, lush foliage that stays green year-round.
Find Red Cedar Shrubs ➾

19. Chinese Juniper

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 20-40 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Tolerant of poor soil and drought, this juniper variety has dense, dark green foliage that forms an effective privacy hedge or screen.
Find Juniper Varieties ➾

20. Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-70 feet
Width: 25-35 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A shade-tolerant evergreen that grows into a thick, soft-textured screen, perfect for woodland-style landscapes.
Find Canadian Hemlock Shrubs ➾

21. Spartan Juniper

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 15-20 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With a narrow, upright growth habit, this drought-tolerant juniper is excellent for small spaces and creates a neat, structured privacy screen.
Find Juniper Varieties ➾

22. Blue Point Juniper

Growth Rate: Moderate (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 10-12 feet
Width: 4-6 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Its silvery-blue foliage stands out in landscapes, and it requires minimal pruning while providing year-round coverage.
Find Juniper Varieties ➾

23. Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora)

Growth Rate: Fast (3-4 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-40 feet
Width: 20-25 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: This evergreen tree features drooping, willow-like foliage and thrives in warm, dry climates, making it an excellent drought-tolerant choice.
Find Willow Tree Shrubs ➾

24. Mondell Pine (Pinus eldarica)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-60 feet
Width: 20-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A hardy alternative to Aleppo Pine, this tree is great for hot, dry regions and forms a dense, green privacy barrier.
Find Pine Tree Varieties ➾

25. Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-60 feet
Width: 20-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: This drought-resistant pine is ideal for Mediterranean and arid climates, providing quick coverage and wind protection.
Find Pine Tree Varieties ➾

26. Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-50 feet
Width: 15-25 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Unlike traditional magnolias, this semi-evergreen tree thrives in moist soils and offers glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers.
Find Sweet Bay Magnolia Shrubs ➾

27. Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta)

Growth Rate: Very fast (3-4 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-80 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Tall, tropical, and fast-growing, the Mexican Fan Palm is ideal for privacy in warm climates and coastal regions.
Find Mexican Fan Palms ➾

28. Afghan Pine (Pinus brutia var. eldarica)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-80 feet
Width: 20-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Thriving in hot, dry regions, the Afghan Pine is an excellent windbreak and grows well in poor soils.
Find Pine Tree Varieties ➾

29. Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra – clumping variety)

Growth Rate: Extremely fast (up to 5 feet per year)
Mature Height: 20-30 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With striking black canes and dense green foliage, this non-invasive bamboo forms an elegant and unique privacy screen.
Find Black Bamboo Varieties ➾

30. Weeping Podocarpus (Podocarpus gracilior)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 30-50 feet
Width: 20-30 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Soft, fern-like foliage makes this tree an attractive and effective privacy option, particularly in warmer climates.
Find Podocarpus Varieties ➾

31. Bottlebrush Tree (Callistemon spp.)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 10-30 feet
Width: 8-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With bright red flowers and dense growth, this evergreen attracts pollinators and creates a stunning natural barrier.
Find Bottlebrush Tree Varieties ➾

32. Texas Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi)

Growth Rate: Fast (2-3 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-60 feet
Width: 30-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A semi-evergreen that provides year-round coverage in warmer regions and develops beautiful red foliage in fall.
Find Red Oak Shrubs ➾

33. Chinese Evergreen Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

Growth Rate: Fast (3-5 feet per year)
Mature Height: 40-60 feet
Width: 30-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: With a wide, spreading canopy and dense foliage, this tree is excellent for shade and privacy in larger backyards.
Find Elm Tree Varieties ➾

34. Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana)

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast (1-2 feet per year)
Mature Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 10-15 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: A fruit-bearing evergreen shrub that creates a dense, lush hedge while offering edible fruit and attractive flowers.
Find Pineapple Guava Shrubs ➾

35. Silk Oak (Grevillea robusta)

Growth Rate: Fast (3-5 feet per year)
Mature Height: 50-80 feet
Width: 30-40 feet
Why It’s Great for Privacy: Thrives in warm climates, with deeply cut leaves and golden-orange flowers that add beauty and privacy.
Find Oak Varieties ➾

🌲 Clive’s Top Tips for Planting Privacy Trees

Creating a private, peaceful garden starts with more than just picking a fast-growing tree. It’s about planting the right ones, in the right way, so they thrive for years to come. Here’s what I’ve learned from years of getting my hands dirty and helping others do the same.

1. Choose Trees That Suit Your Garden

Every garden is different—what thrives in one spot might struggle in another. Take note of your soil type, sun exposure, and how wet or dry the area tends to be. Even the fastest growers won’t do well if they’re in the wrong conditions.

Here are a few reliable privacy trees that tend to do well in many temperate climates:

Leyland Cypress – A popular favourite that grows up to 3–5 feet a year.
Thuja Green Giant – Tall, dense, and low maintenance. Great for quick coverage.
Clumping Bamboo – A non-invasive variety grows fast and adds a unique touch.
Hybrid Poplar – One of the fastest growers around—up to 8 feet a year in the right conditions.
Emerald Green Arborvitae – Slower growing, but compact and perfect for smaller gardens.

2. Plant at the Right Time

Aim to plant in early spring or autumn—when the weather’s mild and the soil is still warm. It gives roots time to establish without the stress of summer heat or winter frost.

3. Space Them Properly

It’s tempting to plant trees close together for that instant screen, but give them breathing room! Overcrowding can cause poor growth, disease, and competition for water.

Here’s a general guide:

Leyland Cypress / Green Giant Thuja: 5–8 feet apart
Emerald Green Arborvitae: 3–4 feet apart
Hybrid Poplar: 10–15 feet apart
Clumping Bamboo: 3–5 feet apart

4. Prep the Soil & Mulch Well

Before planting, work in some compost or organic matter to enrich the soil and improve drainage. Once planted, add a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

5. Water Deeply and Regularly

Especially during the first year, trees need consistent watering to establish deep roots. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than giving them a little every day.

6. Give Them a Boost with Fertiliser

A slow-release, balanced fertiliser in spring and midsummer can really help speed up growth. Choose something with a good nitrogen content to support strong foliage.

7. Prune Lightly

Minimal pruning helps shape your privacy screen, but avoid cutting back new growth too harshly. Stick to removing damaged or crossing branches—and let the tree do its thing.

8. Watch Out for Pests & Problems

Keep an eye on your trees for common issues like fungal spots, insect damage, or deer browsing. Natural remedies like neem oil or soapy sprays often do the trick without harsh chemicals.

9. Stagger Your Planting

Rather than lining trees up in a straight row, plant in a zigzag pattern for a thicker, more natural screen. It creates fuller coverage and looks much more appealing.

10. Mix It Up for Variety

If you want more interest through the seasons, combine different types of trees. A mix of evergreen and deciduous varieties can add colour, texture, and seasonal charm.

Fast-growing evergreen trees are one of the easiest ways to reclaim your privacy and enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest. Whether you fancy the towering elegance of Cypress or the thick, tidy look of Arborvitae, you’ll find something that works for your garden. Give them a strong start and a little care, and you’ll soon have a lush green barrier you can be proud of.

About Your Guide

Clive Harris

Clive Harris is the creator of DIY Garden and a professional landscape gardening consultant with over 6 years experience. In his spare time he enjoys testing the latest gardening equipment and sharing his experiences here on the site. And of course, he absolutely loves his garden and spends many happy hours outside each week growing, mowing, and having fun with his three kids.