Discover six fast-growing shrubs ideal for natural privacy. These resilient plants, including skip laurels and lilacs, offer quick coverage, visual appeal, and adaptability to various landscapes. Perfect for homeowners seeking an effective, low-maintenance alternative to fencing, they enhance security and yard aesthetics while thriving in diverse conditions. Expert advice can help select the best options based on your climate and landscape needs.

Six Fast-Developing Shrubs to Increase Privacy

Ensuring security and privacy is essential for homeowners. While fencing is a typical option, it may not fit every aesthetic or budget. An effective alternative involves planting rapid-growing, low-maintenance shrubs that act as natural barriers, enhancing both privacy and landscape beauty.

Skip laurels
These fast-maturing shrubs are ideal for spacious yards, reaching heights of up to 18 feet and widths of 7 feet. Their thick foliage provides excellent coverage and they adapt well to dry, difficult soils. Resistant to pests and wildlife, they thrive under various sunlight and soil conditions.

Common lilac
Celebrated for its fragrant purple flowers, the lilac is a stunning, fast-growing shrub that offers both visual appeal and privacy. It typically grows 8–15 feet tall and spreads 6–12 feet wide. Hardy in harsh cold conditions, it blooms in spring, releasing a lovely scent that helps shield your yard from view.

Heavenly bamboo
A relatively recent addition to gardens, heavenly bamboo features vibrant seasonal color shifts. During summer, its leaves turn bluish-green; in spring and autumn, they change to red; winter brings orange hues. Growing up to 3.5 feet tall and wide, it creates layered textures when paired with taller privacy shrubs.

Arctic willow
Recognized for its rounded form, Arctic willow offers dense coverage and rapid growth, reaching about 15 feet tall. It spreads equally in width and prefers full sun with well-drained soil. Its vigorous growth makes it perfect for creating privacy along pathways and property boundaries.

Privet
These evergreen, low-maintenance shrubs grow swiftly to around 15 feet. They adapt well to partial sunlight and various climate zones. Their thick foliage offers excellent privacy, and they are easily shaped through pruning. Be cautious, as flowers and berries can be toxic, requiring responsible trimming.

Crape myrtle
Combining beauty with privacy, crape myrtles produce vibrant, long-lasting flowers in shades like pink, white, and purple. They reach approximately 15 feet tall and tolerate hot environments. Their flowering cycle makes them a popular choice for quick, colorful privacy screens around gardens and patios.

Consult with gardening specialists to determine the best shrubs for your local climate and landscape. Costs and upkeep vary depending on plant selection, weather conditions, and gardening methods.