A wooden fence might mark your boundary, but it doesn’t always give you the quiet or seclusion you want in your backyard. If you’re after a more natural way to block out nosy neighbors or soften a harsh fence line, you’re in the right place.
The shrubs below all grow taller than a six-foot fence—and they do more than just provide privacy. Many offer blooms, year-round greenery, or a splash of color that turns your yard into a relaxing retreat. Whether your garden gets full sun or dappled shade, there’s something on this list to fit your space and style.
1. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
This upright evergreen is a classic choice for privacy screens. It forms a neat, dense wall of foliage and holds its shape beautifully without much fuss. Perfect for lining a fence with a touch of elegance.
Planting Tip: Keep it watered during the first year, and give it a light trim to maintain its shape.
2. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)
If you need privacy fast, Leyland Cypress is one of the quickest growers around. It’s tall, stately, and fills out quickly to block even the nosiest neighbors.
Planting Tip: Space them out properly and prune once or twice a year to prevent them from taking over.
3. Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum)
With its glossy green leaves and fast-growing habit, Japanese Privet is a great option for a lush, leafy barrier. It works well in sun or partial shade and can be clipped into a formal hedge or left to grow more naturally.
Planting Tip: Trim regularly to keep it thick and shapely—left alone, it can get a bit leggy.
4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
This one’s a bit of a workhorse. It’s hardy, evergreen, and dense enough to create an excellent screen. The shiny leaves and occasional white flower spikes add ornamental value, too.
Planting Tip: Cherry Laurel prefers moist but well-drained soil and does well in shady spots where other shrubs struggle.
5. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
If you’re after something tough and low-maintenance, this native evergreen is a winner. It grows tall and straight, making it a great option for a windbreak and a privacy screen all in one.
Planting Tip: Thrives in poor soil and doesn’t need much care once it’s established—great for a “plant it and forget it” hedge.
6. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
This flowering shrub brings bold, tropical-style blooms to your privacy line. It’s deciduous, so you’ll lose some coverage in winter, but the summer display more than makes up for it.
Planting Tip: Prune it hard in late winter to encourage strong blooming and bushy growth.
7. Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Camellias are perfect if you’re after privacy and pretty flowers. Their glossy, dark green leaves look good year-round, and their blooms brighten up shady corners in late winter or early spring.
Planting Tip: Camellias prefer acidic, well-drained soil and protection from hot afternoon sun.
8. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
This old-fashioned shrub has a lovely scent and soft white flowers in late spring. It’s deciduous but fills out nicely in summer, offering a gentle, flowering screen.
Planting Tip: Prune it back after flowering to encourage bushier growth and more blooms next year.
9. Viburnum Tinus
An evergreen viburnum with compact growth and clusters of white flowers through winter and early spring. It’s neat, tidy, and perfect for mild climates where you want privacy without losing leaves.
Planting Tip: Responds well to light trimming after flowering—great for shaping and thickening up.
10. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Loved by pollinators, this fast-growing shrub adds height, privacy, and a burst of color. It’s not evergreen, but its summer flowers and quick growth make it a standout choice for seasonal screening.
Planting Tip: Cut it back hard each spring to keep it blooming and under control.
11. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
This vining evergreen will scramble happily along a fence, offering shiny leaves and sweet-smelling white flowers. With support, it can climb well above fence height.
Planting Tip: Train it early along trellis or wire and water regularly while it’s getting established.
12. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
If you want a bold, fast-growing climber, this one’s hard to beat. Its large orange-red flowers attract hummingbirds, and its aggressive growth ensures you’ll have privacy in no time.
Planting Tip: Give it a sturdy structure and be prepared to prune—it grows fast and strong.
13. Clumping Bamboo (Fargesia spp.)
This non-invasive bamboo is a great way to get privacy without the chaos. It forms a soft, swaying wall of greenery and works especially well in shady spots.
Planting Tip: Keep it well-watered and protected from hot afternoon sun for best results.
14. Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
This one’s bold, beautiful, and fast-growing. Just be aware it can spread if left unchecked, so it’s best planted in a contained space or with a root barrier.
Planting Tip: Ideal for creating a tall, tropical screen—just make sure you’re ready to manage it.
15. Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
With its fragrant flowers and dense foliage, honeysuckle adds privacy, scent, and charm. It grows quickly and covers fences with ease when supported properly.
Planting Tip: Prune yearly to control its shape and encourage strong flowering.
16. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus)
This tall ornamental grass brings a soft, natural look to backyard screening. It forms an upright clump that’s perfect for lining a fence and sways beautifully in the breeze.
Planting Tip: Cut it back to the ground in late winter to make way for new spring growth.
17. Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)
With its towering height and fluffy white plumes, Pampas Grass makes a striking privacy feature. It’s drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once settled in.
Planting Tip: Wear gloves when handling—it has sharp edges. Cut back dead growth in early spring.
18. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
This deciduous shrub offers seasonal interest, with green foliage in summer and brilliant red stems in winter. It’s a great all-year option if you don’t mind losing some leaves.
Planting Tip: Prune older stems in early spring to keep the red color vivid.
19. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Lilacs bring classic cottage charm and heady fragrance to your garden. They bloom in mid to late spring and grow tall enough to offer seasonal screening.
Planting Tip: Prune just after flowering to shape the shrub and avoid cutting off next year’s blooms.
20. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Known for its bright yellow spring blooms, Forsythia also makes a lovely informal hedge. It’s easy-going and grows fast, making it ideal for filling in gaps above a fence line.
Planting Tip: Trim after flowering to keep it bushy and prevent bare spots at the base.
21. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus)
With small, glossy leaves and bright red berries, Cotoneaster offers subtle beauty along with solid privacy. It makes a great formal hedge or informal screen, depending on how you prune it.
Planting Tip: Loves well-drained soil—don’t let it sit in soggy spots.
22. Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
This native beauty offers white flowers in spring, edible berries in summer, and rich color in fall. It’s a brilliant choice if you want a screen with changing seasonal interest.
Planting Tip: Mulch around the base to keep the roots cool and moist, and prune in late winter.
23. Evergreen Wisteria (Millettia reticulata)
Not a true wisteria, but just as lovely. This evergreen vine produces deep purple blooms and dense foliage that climbs high and fills in fast.
Planting Tip: Needs a strong support system and annual pruning to keep it tidy and flowering.
24. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Photinia gives you colorful red new growth in spring and thick evergreen coverage year-round. It grows quickly and looks great as a fence-topping screen.
Planting Tip: Regular trimming helps maintain its shape and encourages vibrant red foliage.
25. Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
If you want something dramatic and architectural, Italian Cypress is your answer. These tall, narrow evergreens shoot up above the fence line, giving instant elegance and excellent privacy.
Planting Tip: Plant them in well-drained soil and give them some room to breathe—they don’t like wet feet.
🌿 Clive’s Tips for a Thriving Living Fence
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Mix it up for interest. Don’t be afraid to combine a few different plants—evergreens for year-round coverage, flowering shrubs for seasonal color, and fast growers to fill in gaps while slower ones catch up.
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Mind your spacing. It’s tempting to cram plants in for instant privacy, but overcrowding leads to poor airflow and unhappy roots. Check the mature width of each shrub and give them room to breathe.
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Feed and mulch annually. A layer of organic mulch in spring helps lock in moisture, suppress weeds, and feed the soil—your shrubs will thank you with lush growth.
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Plan for height. All of these shrubs will grow above a 6-foot fence, but some reach for the sky while others stay just over the top. Pick what works best for your garden and view-blocking needs.
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Keep up with pruning. Regular trimming encourages bushier growth and keeps your living screen looking tidy. A bit of upkeep goes a long way!
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Water wisely. New plantings need regular watering, especially in their first year. Once established, many of these shrubs are surprisingly drought-tolerant—but don’t let them go bone dry.
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