Want a fast, natural way to block out nosy neighbors or traffic noise? These 18 lesser-known privacy plants proliferate, offering beauty, shade, and sound reduction—without the expense or maintenance of traditional fences. Perfect for garden lovers who want beauty and seclusion! These living fences also improve air quality and bring in pollinators. It’s a green solution that boosts your backyard’s charm and purpose.
1. Carolina Cherry Laurel
Carolina Cherry Laurel is an evergreen with shiny, deep green leaves and a neat, column-like shape. It grows quickly—up to 2 feet per year—and reaches 15 to 25 feet tall. Its dense foliage makes it ideal for hedges or tall screens. It also tolerates pruning, allowing you to shape it as needed. Bonus: the subtle cherry scent from its leaves. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. Plus, it creates a solid visual and sound barrier for fronts or backyards.
2. Sweet Viburnum
This fast-growing shrub is known for its glossy leaves and clusters of white flowers. It can grow up to 20 feet tall, making it a great option for tall hedges. Sweet Viburnum also offers a pleasant fragrance when in bloom. It grows quickly in warm climates and responds well to trimming. It prefers sunny spots but can handle some shade. It is ideal for privacy without sacrificing beauty. In addition, its thick growth habit makes it useful for noise buffering.
3. Texas Privet
Texas Privet is a hardy, adaptable plant that thrives in various soils. It can grow up to 3 feet annually, forming dense, leafy walls. Its glossy green leaves add a polished look to any garden. When left untrimmed, it produces small white blooms in spring. Once established, this shrub tolerates drought. It’s a great low-maintenance choice for living fences. Texas Privet also holds up well to urban pollution.
4. Japanese Pittosporum
Compact and fast-growing, Japanese Pittosporum adds texture with its thick, leathery leaves. It reaches up to 12 feet and works well as a clipped hedge. The plant thrives in sun or part shade and tolerates salty air, making it ideal for coastal gardens. It’s evergreen and dense enough to block out views year-round. Occasionally, it shows off small, fragrant white flowers. This plant is also deer-resistant, making it great for rural areas.
5. Wax Myrtle
Wax Myrtle is a native evergreen that grows quickly and smells amazing. It can reach 15 to 20 feet tall and form a thick privacy screen in no time. This plant loves full sun and moist soil but adapts well to tough conditions. Its aromatic leaves naturally repel insects. Plus, birds love the waxy blue berries it produces. A win for privacy and wildlife! It also tolerates pruning if you want to control its size and shape.
6. Bamboo Palm
Also called Reed Palm, this clumping bamboo variety is perfect for tropical settings. It grows up to 10 feet tall and fills out fast with feathery fronds. Unlike its invasive cousins, Bamboo Palm thrives in part shade and brings a lush jungle feel without the worry of uncontrolled spreading. Unlike running bamboo, it won’t spread aggressively. It’s ideal for small yards or patios needing instant greenery. Water regularly for the best growth. Its graceful appearance also adds an exotic flair to shaded areas.
7. Silver Sheen Pittosporum
This lesser-known pittosporum dazzles with shimmery, silver-green leaves. It grows fast—up to 3 feet per year—and forms tall, narrow columns. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, perfect for tight spaces where privacy is necessary. The light foliage adds brightness while still offering coverage. Easy to shape and maintain, it’s both stylish and functional. It’s also fairly wind-tolerant, making it suitable for breezy spots.
8. Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata)
Mountain Pepper is an evergreen shrub native to Australia that offers both beauty and practicality. It grows up to 10 feet tall and has lush green leaves with striking red stems. The plant produces small cream-colored flowers in spring, followed by dark berries that are often used as a spice. It thrives in partly shade and moist, well-drained soil, perfect for cooler, sheltered spots. Its dense foliage forms an attractive, compact screen for privacy. It’s also deer-resistant and low-maintenance.
9. Griselinia Littoralis
Native to New Zealand, this glossy-leafed evergreen grows quickly in coastal climates. It reaches up to 15 feet and loves full sun and well-drained soil. Its bright green, leathery leaves create a cheerful living fence. Wind and salt tolerant, it’s perfect for beachside homes. Easy to shape and resistant to pests. It is a great choice for a tidy yet natural screen. It can also be grown in containers for small-space privacy solutions.
10. Spartan Juniper
This upright, columnar juniper is excellent for formal privacy screens. It grows 1 to 2 feet annually and reaches up to 15 feet tall. The rich green needles stay vibrant year-round. It thrives in full sun and tolerates drought well. Its neat shape adds elegance to any landscape. There is little maintenance and lots of impact. Spartan Juniper is also resistant to many common plant diseases.
11. Ligustrum Japonicum
Also known as Japanese Privet, this shrub is quick-growing and extremely hardy. It reaches 8 to 12 feet in height, with glossy leaves that stay lush all year. White flowers bloom in summer, followed by small black berries. It tolerates trimming and adapts to various soils. Full sun helps it grow best, but partial shade works too. It is great for privacy in tough conditions. Its dense form is also effective at reducing road noise.
12. Nellie R. Stevens Holly
This holly variety grows fast—up to 3 feet per year—and forms a dense, pyramid shape. It reaches up to 25 feet tall but can be trimmed shorter. Glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries add visual interest. It’s evergreen, low-maintenance, and drought-resistant. Ideal for year-round coverage and festive appeal. Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Its prickly foliage also acts as a natural security barrier.
13. Evergreen Clematis
Looking for a flowering privacy screen? While not a shrub, this fast-growing vine delivers excellent coverage! Evergreen Clematis features glossy leaves and star-shaped white flowers with a sweet scent. It climbs fences and trellises with ease, filling in quickly. Plant in full to partial sun and prune after flowering. It is a pretty and practical privacy pick. Its evergreen foliage ensures coverage even when not in bloom.
14. Arabian Jasmine
Arabian Jasmine is a tropical shrub that can double as a fragrant hedge. It grows quickly in warm climates, reaching 8 feet or more. The small white blooms are intensely fragrant and bloom year-round. It prefers full sun and regular watering. Dense foliage makes it great for blocking views. A scent-filled living fence that feels like paradise! It also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
15. Bottlebrush 'Little John'
Compact yet bushy, this plant has crimson flowers and fine green leaves. It grows fast, up to 5 feet tall, and makes a vibrant, dense hedge. Loved by hummingbirds, it brings motion to your garden. It thrives in sunny spots and needs little water once established. Trim it for shape, or let it grow wild. It is great for color and privacy in one. Its evergreen nature provides coverage throughout the seasons.
16. Elaeagnus Ebbingei
With silver-backed leaves and sweet-smelling flowers, this tough shrub grows 2-3 feet a year. It reaches about 10 feet tall and forms a thick screen. It’s evergreen and highly drought-tolerant. It works well in poor soil or coastal conditions. Fragrant flowers appear in fall, followed by small edible fruit. This shrub is both useful and beautiful. It also reflects sunlight nicely, helping to brighten shaded corners.
17. Firethorn (Pyracantha)
Firethorn is a vigorous, fast-growing evergreen shrub that makes a standout privacy screen. It grows up to 12 feet tall and features dense, thorny branches covered with shiny green leaves. In spring, it blooms with small white flowers, followed by vibrant orange or red berries in fall and winter. Its thorny nature makes it an excellent natural barrier against intruders. Firethorn thrives in full sun or light shade and adapts well to various soil types.
18. Australian Brush Cherry
Also known as Syzygium, this evergreen shrub grows fast and thick. It reaches 10 to 15 feet and takes well to shape. New leaves emerge red before maturing to green. It handles humidity well and loves sun or partial shade. Tiny white flowers lead to small edible fruit, which are loved by birds but are safe for children if accidentally consumed in small amounts. An exotic hedge option with a neat appearance. Its dense structure also helps reduce noise and wind.
Care Tips and Maintenance
Start with well-draining soil and the right light conditions for each species to keep your privacy plants thriving. Water regularly during the first year to establish strong roots, then adjust based on rainfall and plant type. Prune as needed to maintain your living fence's shape, height, and density. Fertilize in spring to boost healthy growth, especially for flowering or fast-growing varieties. Watch for pests or diseases, particularly in dense plantings. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Grow Green Privacy Fast!
Skip the fence and grow a lush, leafy wall with these 18 underrated fast-growers. Each plant adds privacy with personality, from fragrant flowers to dense evergreen leaves. Whether you're in a hot, coastal, or shaded spot—there’s a living fence here for you! These fast-growing options let you create a natural barrier in months, not years. With less cost and more beauty, your garden will feel like a private oasis.