30 Fast-Growing Privacy Shrubs For A Beautiful Front Yard

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Are you dreaming of turning your backyard into a cozy oasis away from prying eyes? Well, I’ve got just the solution for you: fast-growing privacy shrubs! These amazing plants not only provide you with some much-needed solitude but also add a touch of natural beauty to your outdoor space. So, let’s dive in and discover the top 30 fastest-growing privacy shrubs that will have your backyard feeling like a secluded paradise in no time.

Fast growing privacy hedgeYayImages

Advantages of Growing Privacy Shrubs

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the benefits that fast growing privacy shrubs bring to your backyard.

Firstly, they offer a sense of privacy and security, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space without worrying about prying eyes. 

Additionally, privacy shrubs attract a variety of birds and beneficial insects, creating a vibrant ecosystem right in your backyard. 

They also act as a natural windbreak, shielding your outdoor area from harsh winds and reducing noise pollution. 

And let’s not forget that they can significantly increase the value of your property, making them a wise investment for any homeowner.

With all these advantages, it’s no wonder privacy shrubs are a popular choice for backyard landscaping!

A hedge growing in a backyard for privacy.YayImages

How to Encourage Shrubs to Grow Faster

Now that we understand the importance of privacy shrubs, let’s discuss some tips for encouraging them to grow at an accelerated pace. 

Firstly, it’s essential to choose the right shrub for your specific climate and soil conditions. 

Once you’ve selected the perfect shrub, make sure to plant it in a location that receives plenty of sunlight, as most shrubs thrive in full sun. 

Additionally, providing adequate water is crucial for promoting rapid growth, especially during the establishment phase. 

Regular pruning is also essential for shaping the shrub and encouraging new growth.  Finally, applying a balanced fertilizer can provide the necessary nutrients for robust growth. 

By following these simple tips, you can help your privacy shrubs reach their full potential in no time!

Fast-Growing Privacy Shrubs

Let’s have a look at 30 fast growing privacy shrubs that you could use to turn your front or back yard into a private sanctuary: 

1. Arborvitae

Arborvitae green privacy hedge with cloudy sky above.YayImages

First off we have Arborvitae, a versatile shrub that can provide you with the privacy you need.

Its dense foliage grows quickly, forming a green barrier that can adapt to various climates and soil types. 

This shrub is resilient and easy to care for and remains evergreen throughout the year, making it the perfect way to add privacy to your backyard.

2. Holly

Forst on a holly hedge.YayImages

Holly is a popular shrub among gardeners due to its glossy green leaves and vibrant red berries.

It’s prized for its ornamental value and its ability to create a dense privacy screen. 

Holly’s dense foliage and compact growth habit make it an ideal choice for hedges and borders.

It provides both privacy and beauty and can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet!

3. Cherry Laurel

Cherry laurel bush with long white flowers.YayImages

Cherry Laurel is a great option for creating a private and cozy outdoor living space in your backyard.

Its dense growth habit and glossy leaves offer ample coverage and privacy, making it ideal for screening out unwanted views. 

With proper care and maintenance, cherry laurel can grow up to 15-25 feet in just a few years, making it a valuable addition to any backyard.

4. Portuguese Laurel

Closeup image of Portuguese Laurel leaves.YayImages

Portuguese Laurel is a great pick for adding a Mediterranean touch to your backyard!

It’s prized for its glossy green leaves, fragrant flowers, and fast growth. 

This shrub forms dense foliage, perfect for privacy screens, hedges, or borders.

With care, it can reach 15 to 20 feet in just a few years, making it a fantastic addition to any backyard.

5. Bay Laurel

Leaves of a Bay Laurel hedge.YayImages

Another way to add a Mediterranean touch to your backyard is with Bay Laurel!

This versatile shrub grows quickly and has aromatic leaves. 

It forms dense foliage, ideal for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape.

With care, it can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few years, making it a valuable addition to any backyard.

6. Privet

Privet hedge blossoming in the garden.YayImages

Need a tough and fast-growing shrub? Privet is the perfect choice!

With its dense foliage and quick growth, it’s great for creating green privacy screens. 

Privet’s glossy leaves and dense growth make it perfect for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

7. European Hornbeam

Leaves of a European or common hornbeam hedge used for privacy.YayImages

Another great way to make your backyard more private is with European hornbeam.

This shrub is prized for its unique foliage and fast growth. 

Its dense and attractive leaves are perfect for privacy screens or adding beauty to your landscape.

With care, it can grow 20 to 30 feet tall in just a few years, making it a valuable addition to any backyard.

8. Hydrangea

How to plant hydrangeasYayImages

Want a beautiful and fast-growing privacy shrub? Hydrangea is your answer!

With its stunning blooms and quick growth, it adds color and privacy to your backyard. 

Hydrangea’s dense foliage and upright growth make it perfect for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 4 to 6 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

Check out our guide 18 Easy Tips to Plant and Grow Beautiful Hydrangeas to learn how to grow these amazing plants!

9. Leylandii

Closeup leaves of a fast growing privacy shrub Leylandii. YayImages

A great way to spruce up your backyard is with Leylandii.

This shrub grows fast and has dense foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can reach 30 to 40 feet tall in just a few years, making it a valuable addition to any backyard.

10. Mock Orange

Delicate white flowers and green leaves of Philadelphus ornamental plant, known as sweet mock orange or English dogwood.YayImages

If you’re looking for a fast-growing privacy shrub that also has a delicious fragrance, Mock Orange is the perfect choice.

With its sweet-smelling blooms and quick growth, it is a delightful way to add privacy to your backyard. 

Mock Orange’s dense foliage and upright growth make it perfect for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

11. Western Red Cedar

Western red cedar bush for fast growing privacy.YayImages

Another excellent way to bring privacy to your backyard is with a Western Red Cedar bush.

This versatile shrub grows fast and has aromatic foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can reach 30 to 50 feet tall in just a few years, making it a valuable addition to any backyard.

12. Bamboo

Green bamboo growing in a garden for privacy.YayImages

If you want an exotic and fast-growing privacy option, Bamboo is the way to go.

With its rapid growth rate, it brings a touch of the tropics to your backyard while offering privacy. 

Bamboo’s dense foliage and upright growth is perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape.

With care, it can grow 10 to 30 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

13. Photinia

Water drops on photinia leaves.YayImages

Another way to add privacy to your backyard is with Photinia.

This versatile shrub grows quickly and has colorful foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can reach 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

14. Pyracantha

Colorful Pyracantha Coccinea plant in the gardenYayImages

If you’re looking for a bold and beautiful privacy shrub, Pyracantha is the perfect choice.

With its vibrant berries and fast growth, it adds a pop of color to your backyard while offering privacy. 

Pyracantha’s dense foliage and upright growth are ideal for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 8 to 12 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

15. Japanese Barberry

Bright red Berberis plant growing in a backyard.YayImages

A great way to add color and privacy to your backyard is with Japanese Barberry (Berberis).

This versatile shrub grows quickly and has colorful foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can reach 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it a great option for any backyard.

16. Forsythia

Forsythia flowers in front of with green grass and blue sky.YayImages

If you’re looking for a cheerful and fast-growing privacy shrub, Forsythia is the perfect choice.

With its bright yellow flowers and quick growth, it adds a splash of color to your backyard while offering privacy. 

Forsythia’s dense foliage and upright growth are ideal for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

17. Euonymus Japonicus

Colorful Euonymus Japonicos plants in the gardenYayImages

Another fantastic way to add privacy to your garden is with a Euonymus Japonicus shrub.

This versatile shrub grows fast and has glossy foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can reach 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it a great option for backyard privacy.

18. Ninebark

Closeup image of red ninebark bush leaves and flowers.YayImages

If you’re looking for a unique and fast-growing privacy shrub, Ninebark (Physocarpus) is the perfect choice.

With its distinctive foliage and quick growth, it adds drama to your backyard while offering privacy. 

Ninebark’s dense growth and attractive foliage are ideal for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

19. Burning Bush

Closeup image of bright pink burning bush leaves.YayImages

Burning Bush is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a privacy shrub that brings a bright pop of color to your garden.

With its blazing red foliage and quick growth, it brightens up your backyard while offering privacy. 

Burning Bush’s dense foliage and upright growth are ideal for hedges, borders, or planting as specimens.

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

20. Cotoneaster

Many red fruits on the branches of a cotoneaster horizontalis bush in the garden in autumn.YayImages

Another fantastic fast-growing privacy shrub is Cotoneaster!

This versatile shrub grows fast and has graceful foliage, perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

Whether you want to add visual interest or create a natural barrier, Cotoneaster will impress.

With care, it can reach 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

21. Loropetalum

Redleaf chinese fringe tree in blossom.YayImages

If you’re seeking an exotic and fast-growing privacy shrub, you should check out Loropetalum.

With vibrant blooms and speedy growth, it adds drama to your backyard while offering privacy. 

Loropetalum’s dense foliage and upright growth are perfect for hedges, borders, or specimens.

With care, it can reach 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, a valuable addition to any backyard.

22. Canadian Hemlock

Canadian hemlock or Tsuga canadensis tree.YayImages

A versatile shrub known for its fast growth and graceful appearance is Canadian Hemlock.

Its dense growth and attractive foliage make it perfect for privacy screens or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can grow 30 to 40 feet tall in just a few years, a backyard essential.

23. Juniper

Juniper on the bush. Close up berries in the forest.YayImages

Juniper is the rugged, fast-growing privacy shrub you need!

Its unique foliage and quick growth is perfect for providing your backyard privacy and coverage. 

With its dense, upright growth, Juniper is perfect for hedges, borders, or specimen plantings.

With care, it can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few years, a valuable addition to any backyard.

24. Dogwood

White dogwood bush flowers.YayImages

Dogwood is the elegant, fast-growing shrub you’ve been looking for!

Its dense growth and lovely foliage are perfect for creating a green privacy screen or enhancing your landscape. 

With care, it can grow 10 to 15 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard.

25. Bottlebrush Buckeye

Bottlebrush buckeye tree in blossom.YayImages

Bottlebrush Buckeye is a vibrant, fast-growing shrub perfect for privacy!

Its striking blooms and quick growth rate add drama to your backyard while offering ample coverage. 

With care, it can grow 8 to 12 feet tall in just a few years, making it essential for any backyard landscape.

26. Buddleja

Buddleja plant with purple flowers growing in a garden.YayImages

Buddleja is a charming, fast-growing privacy shrub you need in your backyard!

Its fragrant blooms and quick growth add romance to your backyard while giving you plenty of coverage. 

Buddleja is also known as the butterfly bush as its a fantastic source of nectar for butterflies!

With care, Buddleja can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet in just a few years, perfect for any privacy garden.

27. Arrowwood Viburnum

Famartin / Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 International

Arrowwood Viburnum is a versatile, fast-growing shrub that’s great for privacy!

Its attractive foliage and rapid growth adds texture to your backyard while ensuring coverage and privacy. 

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall in just a few years, a valuable addition to any landscape.

28. American Elderberry

Close-up image of Common elderberry flowers.YayImages

American Elderberry is the perfect addition for adding rustic charm in your backyard!

Its fast growth and edible berries make it a versatile option for adding privacy and beauty. 

With dense foliage, it’s great for privacy or enhancing your landscape.

With care, it can grow 6 to 10 feet tall quickly, a backyard essential.

29. Crepe Myrtle

Lagerstroemia cape myrtle plant flowering.YayImages

Crepe Myrtle is renowned for its stunning summer blooms and rapid growth.

With its vibrant flowers and attractive bark, Crepe Myrtle adds a touch of elegance to any backyard while providing ample privacy.

With proper care, it can grow up to 15 to 25 feet tall in just a few years, making it a standout choice for your outdoor sanctuary.

30. Common Lilac

Purple common lilac flowers.YayImages

Common Lilac is another wonderful option for adding both beauty and privacy to your yard.

This classic favorite not only offers privacy but also fills your backyard with delightful scents and colors in the springtime.

With its dense growth habit, Common Lilac can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet, creating a beautiful and secluded retreat for you to enjoy.

Other Privacy Shrubs To Grow

While the privacy shrubs listed above are known for their fast growth rate, there are a few other options that take a bit longer to establish but are still worth considering. 

Yew, Box Hedge and Boxwood are all excellent choices for creating a secluded retreat in your outdoor space. 

Although they may take a bit longer to reach their full potential, these shrubs are well worth the wait.

House with a green hedge in front for privacy.YayImages

Conclusion

And there you have it – the top 30 fast growing privacy shrubs to rapidly transform your backyard into a secluded paradise!

Whether you’re looking to block out unsightly views, attract wildlife to your garden, or simply add some beauty and privacy to your outdoor space, these versatile shrubs have got you covered!

Thirty fast growing privacy shrubs for front of house.
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