Privacy is a treasured commodity in any outdoor space. When your neighbor's windows look directly into your yard or you're tired of seeing the street from your patio, a natural screen provides the perfect solution. But not all plants maintain their privacy-providing foliage year-round.
Evergreen privacy screens deliver constant coverage without seasonal gaps. These remarkable plants keep their leaves or needles throughout winter, ensuring your outdoor sanctuary stays secluded no matter the season. They're living walls that grow more beautiful and effective with each passing year.
Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress trees create the ultimate living privacy wall with their dense, feathery foliage that remains vibrant green all year. These fast-growing evergreens can shoot up 3-4 feet annually until reaching mature heights of 40-60 feet, quickly establishing the seclusion you crave. Their columnar growth habit means they don't spread too wide, making them perfect for narrower spaces.
This cypress variety thrives in USDA zones 6-10 and adapts to most soil conditions as long as drainage is decent. They require minimal maintenance beyond occasional watering during establishment and light pruning to maintain your desired shape and height. For maximum privacy effect, plant these trees 8-10 feet apart to create an impenetrable green curtain around your property.
Arborvitae
Arborvitae stands as one of the most popular privacy screen choices for good reason – its dense, emerald-green foliage creates a living wall that effectively blocks unwanted views. The 'Green Giant' and 'Emerald Green' varieties are particularly prized for privacy, growing 3-5 feet wide with heights ranging from 12-30 feet depending on the cultivar. Their natural pyramid shape requires minimal pruning to maintain an attractive appearance.
These hardy evergreens thrive in USDA zones 3-8, making them suitable for colder regions where other screening plants might struggle. Arborvitae prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade, though denser growth occurs with more sunlight. They establish quickly when properly planted and watered, forming an effective screen within just a few growing seasons. For a seamless privacy hedge, space plants 3-4 feet apart and watch as they grow together into a continuous green barrier.
Holly
Holly varieties offer more than just holiday decorations. They create exceptional year-round privacy screens with glossy, dark green foliage that stays vibrant regardless of season. American holly and Nellie Stevens holly are standout privacy performers, growing 15-25 feet tall with dense, prickly foliage that discourages unwanted visitors. The bonus of bright red berries adds visual interest during winter months when other landscape elements have faded.
These resilient evergreens thrive in USDA zones 5-9 and adapt to various soil conditions, though they prefer slightly acidic, well-draining sites. Holly plants respond well to pruning, allowing you to shape them into formal hedges or let them grow more naturally. Plant them 5-6 feet apart for a hedge that will eventually grow together, creating an attractive and impenetrable barrier that serves both ornamental and practical purposes in your landscape.
Yew
Yew plants deliver exceptional privacy with their lush, dark green needles that maintain their rich color throughout all seasons. These versatile evergreens come in various forms, from upright varieties reaching 15-20 feet to more spreading types that fill wider spaces. Their fine texture creates a sophisticated screen that complements any landscape style from formal to naturalistic.
Among the most shade-tolerant evergreens, yews thrive in USDA zones 4-8 and adapt well to various soil types provided they drain properly. They respond excellently to pruning, making them perfect for shaped hedges or more natural-looking barriers. The slow but steady growth rate results in dense, long-lasting privacy screens that require less maintenance than faster-growing alternatives. For best results, space plants 4-6 feet apart and be patient as they develop into an enduring, attractive barrier.
Italian Cypress
Italian Cypress creates dramatic vertical impact with its tall, slender profile reaching 40-60 feet high while staying remarkably narrow at just 3-5 feet wide. This distinctive columnar form makes it perfect for tight spaces where horizontal spread is limited but height is desired. The blue-green foliage retains its color year-round, providing consistent privacy without seasonal gaps.
These Mediterranean natives thrive in USDA zones 7-10 and require full sun and well-draining soil to perform their best. They're incredibly drought-tolerant once established, making them eco-friendly choices for privacy screens in warmer, drier regions. Italian Cypress trees need minimal pruning and maintenance, growing naturally into their characteristic narrow form. Plant them 3-4 feet apart for a striking architectural screen that provides privacy while adding sophisticated European flair to your landscape.
Bamboo
Bamboo creates instant privacy with its dense, vertical growth and lush foliage that stays green throughout the year. Clumping varieties like Fargesia are particularly excellent for screens as they grow in tight, well-behaved clumps rather than spreading aggressively. Reaching heights of 10-15 feet with graceful arching canes, bamboo creates a tropical atmosphere while effectively blocking unwanted views.
This fast-growing plant establishes quickly, often reaching full height within just 3-5 years compared to the decade some trees require. Bamboo thrives in USDA zones 5-9 depending on the variety and appreciates consistent moisture and partial shade in hotter regions. The gentle rustling sound as breezes pass through the leaves adds a peaceful auditory element to your privacy screen. For best results, plant clumping bamboo varieties 3-5 feet apart and contain running types with barriers if you choose those more vigorous species.
Cherry Laurel
Cherry Laurel creates a stunning privacy screen with glossy, broad evergreen leaves that form a dense wall of greenery year-round. This versatile shrub grows 15-30 feet tall and nearly as wide, making it perfect for creating substantial privacy barriers along property lines or around outdoor living spaces. The bonus of fragrant white flower clusters in spring adds seasonal interest to this hardworking evergreen.
Thriving in USDA zones 6-9, Cherry Laurel adapts to various soil types and light conditions from full sun to partial shade. Its relatively fast growth rate of 1-2 feet per year means your privacy screen develops quickly without the maintenance demands of extremely fast growers. The plant responds well to pruning, allowing you to maintain your desired height or shape it into a more formal hedge. Space plants 5-6 feet apart for a hedge that will eventually grow together into a seamless green barrier.
Boxwood
Boxwood creates refined privacy screens with its exceptionally dense, small leaves that form solid walls of green when planted in a row. While slower growing than some options, this classic evergreen rewards patience with precisely shaped hedges that maintain their form and color throughout all four seasons. Varieties range from dwarf types reaching just 3 feet to taller selections growing up to 10 feet high.
These versatile shrubs thrive in USDA zones 5-9 and adapt to various light conditions from full sun to partial shade. Boxwoods prefer well-draining soil but tolerate many soil types once established. Their naturally compact growth habit makes them ideal for formal settings where a manicured appearance is desired. The small leaves respond beautifully to pruning, allowing for creative shaping from traditional rectangular hedges to more elaborate topiary forms. Plant them 2-3 feet apart for a hedge that will gradually grow into a solid, sophisticated privacy screen.
Privet
Privet creates effective privacy screens with remarkable speed, growing up to 2-3 feet annually until reaching mature heights of 10-15 feet. While some varieties are deciduous, evergreen types like Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) and wax-leaf privet (Ligustrum lucidum) maintain their screening ability year-round. The dense branching pattern and oval leaves form a solid barrier that effectively blocks unwanted views.
These adaptable shrubs thrive in USDA zones 7-10 and tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and light exposures. Privet responds exceptionally well to pruning, allowing you to maintain any desired height or shape through regular trimming. The bonus of fragrant white flower clusters in spring attracts beneficial pollinators while adding seasonal interest. Plant privets 4-6 feet apart for a fast-growing hedge that quickly transforms into a solid privacy screen within just a few growing seasons.
Euonymus
Euonymus varieties like Japanese Euonymus offer excellent year-round privacy with glossy, leathery leaves that maintain vibrant color throughout all seasons. These versatile shrubs grow 10-15 feet tall with a similar spread, creating substantial visual barriers when planted in rows. Variegated selections add extra visual interest with cream or gold leaf margins that brighten even shaded locations.
These resilient plants thrive in USDA zones 5-9 and adapt to various light conditions from full sun to partial shade. Euonymus tolerates urban conditions well, including pollution and poor soils, making them practical choices for city gardens and suburban landscapes alike. They respond well to pruning, allowing you to maintain your desired height and density. For a continuous privacy screen, space plants 4-5 feet apart and allow them to grow together into a solid green wall that effectively blocks unwanted views year-round.
Blue Point Juniper
Blue Point Juniper creates distinctive privacy screens with its dense, pyramidal shape and striking blue-green foliage that maintains its color throughout the year. These architectural evergreens grow 12-15 feet tall while staying relatively narrow at 8-10 feet wide, making them excellent choices for medium-sized privacy needs. Their naturally formal shape requires minimal pruning to maintain an attractive appearance.
These resilient conifers thrive in USDA zones 4-9 and perform best in full sun and well-draining soil. Blue Point Junipers tolerate drought once established, making them sustainable choices for privacy screens in various climate conditions. Their moderate growth rate of about 1 foot per year strikes the perfect balance – fast enough to establish privacy within a reasonable timeframe but slow enough to maintain a neat, controlled appearance. Plant them 6-8 feet apart for an effective screen that provides year-round privacy with distinctive blue-toned elegance.
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar creates natural-looking privacy screens with its dense, textural foliage that ranges from bright green to blue-green depending on the season. These native North American trees grow 40-60 feet tall with a 10-20 foot spread, making them excellent for large-scale privacy needs along property boundaries. The reddish-brown bark adds visual interest, especially during winter months.
These remarkably adaptable trees thrive across USDA zones 2-9 and tolerate challenging conditions from drought to poor soils where other plants might struggle. Eastern Red Cedars require minimal maintenance once established and naturally grow into dense, effective screens without extensive pruning. Their berries attract birds, adding wildlife value to your landscape. Plant them 10-15 feet apart for a naturalistic privacy screen that provides year-round coverage while supporting local ecology.
Skip Laurel
Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis') creates exceptional privacy screens with its broad, glossy leaves that maintain rich green color through all seasons. This versatile shrub grows 10-18 feet tall and nearly as wide, quickly establishing dense barriers that effectively block unwanted views. Its compact growth habit forms solid walls of greenery without excessive pruning or maintenance.
Thriving in USDA zones 6-8, Skip Laurel adapts to various light conditions from full sun to partial shade, making it versatile for different locations around your property. It tolerates urban conditions well and resists deer browsing better than many evergreens. The bonus of fragrant white flower clusters in spring followed by small black berries adds seasonal interest. Plant Skip Laurels 5-6 feet apart for a hedge that will grow together into a seamless, sophisticated privacy screen that maintains its effectiveness regardless of season.
Podocarpus
Podocarpus creates elegant privacy screens with its soft-textured, narrow leaves forming dense columns of deep green foliage year-round. These versatile evergreens grow 20-40 feet tall depending on the variety, with a relatively narrow spread of 5-10 feet that makes them suitable for tighter spaces. Their naturally upright growth habit requires minimal shaping to maintain an attractive appearance.
These adaptable plants thrive in USDA zones 8-11, making them excellent choices for warmer regions where some other evergreens might struggle. Podocarpus tolerates everything from full sun to partial shade and adapts to various soil conditions provided drainage is adequate. They respond excellently to pruning, allowing you to maintain any desired height or shape them into formal hedges. Plant them 4-6 feet apart for an effective privacy screen that combines practical coverage with refined, elegant aesthetics suitable for even the most sophisticated landscapes.
Viburnum
Evergreen viburnum varieties create outstanding privacy screens with their dense growth habit and broad, leathery leaves that maintain year-round coverage. Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) and Awabuki Viburnum are standout performers for privacy, growing 15-20 feet tall with similar spreads. Their layered branching pattern creates naturally dense screens even without heavy pruning.
These versatile shrubs thrive in USDA zones 7-10 and adapt to various light conditions from full sun to partial shade. The bonus of fragrant flower clusters followed by colorful berries adds multi-season interest to your privacy screen. Viburnums establish quickly when properly planted and watered, forming effective screens within just a few growing seasons. For best results, space plants 5-6 feet apart and allow them to grow into their natural form for a privacy screen that delivers both practical coverage and ornamental appeal throughout the year.
Creating Your Perfect Year-Round Privacy Sanctuary
Privacy screen planning requires considering your specific climate, space constraints, and aesthetic preferences. The right evergreen choices transform your outdoor areas into secluded retreats that maintain their screening ability regardless of season. Factor in growth rates and mature sizes when selecting plants to ensure they'll meet your privacy needs without outgrowing their space.
Proper planting and initial care dramatically impact how quickly and effectively your privacy screen establishes. Prepare soil properly, space plants according to their mature width, and provide consistent water until roots establish. With the right evergreen selections and proper care, your living privacy screen will provide years of seclusion while enhancing your landscape's beauty and value. The perfect combination of form and function awaits in these versatile, hardworking evergreen options.