14 Hedge Plants That Provide Natural Privacy for Your Home
If you're looking for a more natural look to provide some privacy cover, consider one of these hedge plants that act as a natural fence.
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A hedge is formed when bushes or shrubs are grown closely together to create a natural fence. Hedge plants are commonly used to provide a level of privacy from neighbors as well as act as a windbreaker and a noise buffer for busy streets. They are typically planted along a border or the periphery of the home. Hedges can also provide habitat and food sources for pollinators, such as birds and insects.
Considerations for Choosing Hedges for Privacy
When deciding on the best hedge plants for your landscape, you'll want to consider how tall the plant will get and how fast it will grow. "Match the mature size of the plant to your desired hedge height and available space to ensure the shrubs will stay within the desired parameters and require regular pruning to maintain size," says Jim Putnam, a plant expert from the Southern Living Plant Collection. Also, know how much sunlight or shade the area receives. Some shrubs and bushes thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial or full shade.
You'll also want to consider evergreen versus deciduous shrubs. Deciduous shrubs and bushes drop their leaves, so you may have different levels of privacy throughout the year. "Evergreens provide year-round privacy, while deciduous shrubs may fit a desired look if privacy needs decrease in winter," says Putnam.
Finally, choose shrubs and bushes native to your growing region. They provide habitat and food sources for pollinators and wildlife and are easier to grow and maintain. "Plants appropriate for your eco-region are adapted to the local climate, soil type, and rainfall patterns," says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy/certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. "They'll need less water, fertilizer, and care to flourish, saving you time and resources."
Ahead, our experts explain some of the best shrubs and bushes you can use as hedge plants for privacy.
Meet Our Expert
Jim Putnam, plant expert from the Southern Living Plant Collection
Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy/certifications at the National Wildlife Federation
Janet Sluis, director of Sunset Western Garden/Perennial Programming, Plant Development Services, Inc.
Related: 15 Privacy Shrubs to Make Your Yard Feel Like a Secluded Oasis
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis L)
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Buttonbush, a deciduous shrub, produces glossy green leaves. From June to September, it produces "unique spherical clusters of many tiny flowers, each packed with nectar [that] attracts birds, a favorite for native pollinators," says Phillips. This shrub is deer-resistant, too, so if you live in an area where deer frequently visit your yard and munch on your plants, consider planting buttonbush.
Zone: 5 to 11
Height: 6 to 12 feet tall
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Boxwood (Baxus)
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Although it's not a native plant to North America, boxwood is a common choice for growing hedges for privacy. Boxwoods come in various sizes and heights, so you can find one that fits your gardening and privacy needs. "They can be used in narrow or small spaces where other shrubs would get too large," says Janet Sluis, director of Sunset Western Garden/ Perennial Programming, Plant Development Services, Inc.
Some plants lose their leaves in winter, so if you're seeking a natural protective screen year-round, boxwood can be the answer. "Boxwoods hold onto their leaves year-round, so you won't lose your screening over the winter or have to deal with falling leaves," says Sluis. "Just make sure you are choosing a tall growing variety, as there are dwarf ones that top out at 3 to 4 feet." In late spring and summer, small yellow-greenish fragrant flowers attract bees. Once established, these plants are easy to maintain.
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 1 to 20 feet tall
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Hydrangea
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Hydrangeas are wonderful hedge plants as they create plenty of privacy while also adding allure to the garden with big, showy flowers. When in bloom, you can cut them to have fresh cut flowers in your home. Hydrangeas come in many hues, too. "Pink to blue flowers in balloon-sized clusters that bloom on old and new wood," Putnam says. Hydrangeas are low maintenance and don't need regular pruning, he adds.
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 6 feet tall
Light: Morning sun, afternoon shade
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
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Want a hedge that provides food for birds and a habitat for butterflies? Consider the inkberry holly. This shrub produces "dense, evergreen foliage that doesn’t require regular pruning," says Phillips. Inkberry holly can grow in most types of soil, so whether you have clay or sandy soil, this hedge is versatile and adaptable. If you're trying to plant more natives, inkberry holly is a wonderful substitute for boxwood. This plant is important for moths and a specific type of butterfly—it's "a larval host plant to Henry’s elfin butterfly and several species of sphinx moths," says Phillips.
Zone: 4–11
Height: 6 to 12 inches tall
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
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Loropetalum is a native plant to China and is also known as the Chinese fringe flower because it produces red to purple foliage depending on the variety. This plant has a lot of wonderful characteristics for someone who is looking for a low-maintenance option and is drought-tolerant. Loropetalum grows fast; Putnam says this could grow one foot in one season. Another benefit is it's both deer-resistant and pest-resistant, so you don't have to worry about insects or wildlife chomping on your hedge cover. Plus, it blooms sporadically throughout the year with intense red fringe flowers, he adds.
Zone: 7 to 10
Height: 6 feet tall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Related: 13 Blooming Vines That Add Beauty—and Privacy—to Your Yard
Forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia)
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Forsythia shrubs are non-native plants that are typically grown for their vibrant yellow flowers. "Forsythia shrubs are among the first plants to bloom in spring, providing an early burst of color and privacy before many other plants have started growing," says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins. Another advantage is they can manage in most types of soil, from sandy to clay, and they grow quickly making this an ideal hedge for anyone who wants to create privacy for their home in a short amount of time. "Forsythia plants are generally low maintenance and require minimal care once established in the garden," she says.
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 6 feet tall
Light: Partial sun to full sun
Ilex Screen Play (Ilex integra x latifolia 'Screen Play)
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Ilex screen play is a hybrid, meaning it's a cross between two different plants. This hedge produces light green leaves and is similar to a holly but doesn't have spines, so you don't have to worry about pricking yourself. If you're seeking a hedge that grows quickly and tall, consider this hedge as it reaches up to 30 feet high. "They can be planted together and pruned into hedges or left as a stand-alone screen," says Sluis. These produce white flowers and, in the winter, red berries that are a food source for songbirds, she says.
Zone: 7a to 9b
Height: Up to 30 feet tall
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Juniper (Juniperus)
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Frequently used in landscaping, junipers are a common evergreen choice for hedges. With numerous varieties and purposes, some junipers are low-ground cover plants, while others are tall-growing trees. The leaves range from light green to evergreen to silver and blue.
Zone: 2 to 9
Height: Up to 65 feet tall
Light: Full sun
Related: 9 Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees That Will Be Tall Before You Know It
Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)
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A densely growing deciduous shrub with greenish-yellow leaves, meadowsweet is a native plant in some areas of the United States. In summer, meadowsweet produces a cone-shaped branch full of clusters of tiny white flowers that attract butterflies and birds, as well as acts as a larval host plant for the spring azure butterfly. Leaves change color to a bright yellow in the fall.
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: Up to 8 feet tall
Light: Full sun
Rhododendrons (Rhododendron spp)
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Have a lot of shade in the areas where you want to plant hedges for privacy? Consider one of the many native to North America varieties of rhododendrons. "Rhododendrons offer evergreen glossy, dense foliage for dynamic texture [and] are shade tolerant, making them a versatile option," says Putnam. In spring, they produce small flowers that range from white hues to various shades of pink.
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 3 to 4 feet tall
Light: Part shade to full shade
Related: 11 Front Yard Ideas Guaranteed to Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal
Sea Myrtle (Baccharis halimifolia)
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Sea myrtle is a versatile shrub with silvery green foliage that grows in many geographical regions throughout the U.S. With dense foliage, it provides privacy, wind protection, and shelter for birds, says Phillips. In late summer and early fall, sea myrtle produces white feathery flowers that attract pollinators.
Zone: 4 to 11
Height: 6 to 15 feet tall
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
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Southern arrowwood, also known as arrowwood dentatum, is a native shrub in some areas of the United States and produces clusters of tiny white flowers in late spring through mid-summer. "In areas to which it is native (southeast to Midwest), arrowwoods are fast-growing shrubs whose flowers and berries provide food for bees, birds, and butterflies," says Sluis. Throughout most of the year, it has dark green leaves, but after the summer, the leaves change color. "In the fall, foliage turns bright shades of yellow, orange, and red," she says.
Zone: 2 to 8
Height: 6 to 8 feet
Light: partial shade to full sun
Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis)
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Arborvitae, or Thuja, is an evergreen shrub that is native to North America. A wonderful hedge for privacy year-round, arborvitae grows densely, creating a natural living wall that also provides a windscreen. "Commonly known as American arborvitae and northern or eastern white cedar, it is a woody plant with a dense, upright, ovate habit," says Funk.
Zone: 2 to 7
Height: 18 feet
Light: Partial sun to full sun
Weigela (Weigela spp)
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A quick-growing shrub, Weigela is an easy-to-care-for plant that creates plenty of privacy for a home. "Once established, Weigela shrubs require minimal maintenance, making them convenient for homeowners seeking privacy without extensive upkeep," says Funk.
These plants are versatile and can grow in different types of soil and climates. "Weigela shrubs produce colorful foliage and vibrant flowers, adding visual interest to the landscape," says Funk. Expect blooms in spring through early summer.
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: Up to 5 feet tall
Light: Full sun
Related: Why You Should Plant Sedge Grass—and 10 Great Varieties to Grow
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