Privacy Fence Shrubs

Evergreen

• Evergreen shrubs provide year-round color in the landscape. Both common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) thrive in full sun to part shade and can handle alkaline soil. Boxwood can reach a height and width of 20 feet. Arborvitae can reach 30 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Boxwood grows well in USDA zones 4 to 8 and arborvitae grows in USDA zones 3 to 7. Each shrub has dense foliage for ultimate privacy.

Deciduous

• Deciduous shrubs suitable for a privacy fence may include forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) or burning bush (Euonymus alatus), each is suitable for full sun to part shade and USDA zones 4 to 8. Forsythia can reach a height of 8 feet, and burning bush can reach 15 feet tall. The beauty of each is at opposite ends of the season. Forsythia produces brilliant yellow blooms in early spring. The green leaves of burning bush turn bright red in the fall.

Prickly

• Thorny shrubs bring a form of protection in addition to privacy. Capable of reaching 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide, firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), produces clusters of white blooms in the spring followed by berries in the fall. Fast growing, firethorn is also drought tolerant and suitable for planting in USDA zones 5 to 9. Evergreen holly has many varieties suitable for a hedge, like the aquipernyi variety that can reach up to 25 feet tall. Holly is a dense shrub, with sturdy, pointed leaves. Holly shrubs are suitable for USDA zones 6 to 8.

Fruit-bearing

• White spring flowers of the bush plum (Prunus) shrub are followed by small fruits suitable for canning as jelly or jam. Plum shrubs can reach up to 10 feet tall and are suitable for growing in USDA zones 3 to 9. Blueberry (Vaccinium) shrub can reach a height of 6 feet and offers blueberries as a treat. Blueberry shrub thrives in acidic soil and can be grown in USDA zones 3 to 9.