13 Plants That Add Instant Privacy to Your Yard • Schisandra & Bergamot

Looking to create a peaceful outdoor space without putting up a fence? The right plants can give you privacy and beauty. Whether you're blocking out neighbors, hiding an eyesore, or simply craving a cozier yard, certain plants can deliver quick and stylish coverage.

These fast-growing plants create instant green walls, adding privacy, texture, and color to your landscape.

Carolina Cherry Laurel – Evergreen and Elegant

A close-up of a branch with clusters of small white flowers and elongated green leaves against a blurred background. — Photo Credit: Ralphs_Fotos/Pixabay

This glossy-leaved evergreen forms a dense hedge and grows quickly in full sun or partial shade. It’s a low-maintenance choice that can be pruned into neat shapes or left to grow wild for a more natural screen.

Clumping Bamboo – Tall Privacy Without the Spread

Tall bamboo plants form an archway on both sides, framing a green grassy path that extends into a sunlit clearing. — Photo Credit: joff16/Pixabay

For fast-growing height and a tropical vibe, clumping bamboo is a smart option. Unlike invasive running bamboo, clumping varieties stay contained while forming thick, towering walls of green in just a couple of seasons.

Emerald Green Arborvitae – Slender and Space-Saving

Tall green hedge serving as a privacy screen in front of a brick house, with a row of pink and white flowers at the base. — Photo Credit: thefutureis/Deposit Photos

Need privacy in a narrow space? Emerald Green Arborvitae is a tall, columnar evergreen that’s perfect for tight spots. It stays neat, grows fast, and provides year-round coverage.

Wax Myrtle – Tough and Versatile

A bouquet of pink wax flowers with green stems and small leaves, isolated on a white background. — Photo Credit: ksena32/Deposit Photos

Wax myrtle is a hardy evergreen shrub that grows fast, tolerates poor soil, and smells amazing. Its soft foliage makes a great privacy hedge, especially in warmer climates.

Miscanthus Grass – Feathered and Fast

A path of dry, tall, yellow grass leads to a vibrant green field with trees and hills in the background under a clear sky. — Photo Credit: ybernardi/Pixabay

This ornamental grass reaches 6–8 feet tall in just one season and creates a wispy, moving screen. Its soft plumes add visual interest while gently filtering sunlight and sound.

Privet – Classic Hedge That Grows Fast

A dense hedge with small, green and yellow variegated leaves, showing lush and healthy growth. — Photo Credit: JACLOU-DL/Pixabay

If you're after a traditional hedge look, privet delivers. It fills in fast, takes well to shaping, and forms a dense barrier that bees and birds love, too.

Italian Cypress – Sky-High Style

A row of tall cypress trees lines a paved road with a stone bench on the side, set in a dry, open landscape under a clear blue sky. — Photo Credit: helgaloessl1/Pixabay

Want instant height with a dramatic feel? Italian cypress trees grow tall and narrow, making them ideal for lining driveways or dividing property lines with style.

Leyland Cypress – One of the Fastest Growers

A row of tall, dense evergreen trees with bright green foliage growing along a sidewalk or pathway in a landscaped outdoor area. — Photo Credit: dbvirago/Deposit Photos

Leyland cypress is a go-to for instant privacy. It can grow 3–4 feet per year, forming a thick, evergreen wall that blocks wind, noise, and curious eyes.

Viburnum – Fragrant and Full

A branch with clusters of round, white hydrangea-like flowers and green leaves against a blurred green background. — Photo Credit: _Alicja_/Pixabay

Many viburnum varieties grow quickly and form lush, flowering screens. Some even produce colorful berries that attract birds, giving your hedge extra seasonal flair.

Photinia – Shiny Leaves with a Pop of Red

Glossy red leaves of a plant with some green leaves in the background, shown in natural light. — Photo Credit: angelstar/Pixabay

This evergreen shrub adds color and coverage, with bright red new growth that matures into glossy green. It’s easy to trim and makes a bold privacy border.

Texas Sage – Drought-Tolerant Screen

A bushy shrub with dense branches covered in small purple flowers is set against a textured green wall and paved ground. — Photo Credit: decioaer/Deposit Photos

If you’re in a dry climate, Texas sage is a beautiful option. It has silvery foliage, purple flowers, and thrives in full sun—perfect for adding privacy and color with minimal watering.

Nellie R. Stevens Holly – Thick and Thorny

Close-up of a cluster of red berries growing on a holly bush with glossy green leaves and spiny edges. — Photo Credit: jhenning/Pixabay

This holly hybrid grows fast and thick, forming a tough, evergreen barrier with glossy leaves and red berries. It’s also deer-resistant, making it great for rural areas.

Tree Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) – Big Blooms, Big Impact

Two clusters of pale green hydrangea flowers surrounded by green leaves in natural sunlight. — Photo Credit: AlexVog/Deposit Photos

For a flowering privacy hedge, tree-form hydrangeas offer big beauty and surprising coverage. Their large blooms and bushy form help define space while softening the look of your yard.

Creating privacy doesn’t have to mean putting up a fence. With the right plants, you can enjoy a natural, living barrier that adds beauty, shade, and solitude—all in one green package.