The Best Shrubs to Plant for Privacy

Japanese Privet

• The Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) thrives in the southern United States and on the Pacific coast in a wide variety of soils. In these regions, its dense, small, glossy leaves remain evergreen all year round. According to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Japanese privet grows swiftly to a height of 4 to 12 feet, and is deemed the best evergreen hedge plant for warm climates. Japanese privet can be trimmed to maintain its shrub habit, or allowed to mature into a short, broad-spreading tree that creates a privacy screen at head-height but allows an open area to develop at ground level for air circulation or to plant shade-loving groundcovers.

Hollies

• Hollies (Ilex spp.) are dense-growing shrubs and small trees with deep green glossy evergreen leaves. Most varieties have scratchy spikes on the leaves that enhance the privacy and security usefulness of this class of shrubs. Many varieties also bear bright red berries for visual appeal and wildlife food in winter. The University of Tenessee Extension recommends the Savannah holly (Ilex x attenuata "Savannah") for an attractive combination of lighter green foliage and large red berries; the Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata "Fosteri 2") for shearing into formal hedge shapes; the American holly (Ilex opaca) for its height and disease resistance; and the Lusterleaf holly (Ilex latifolia) for its natural pyramid shape and profusion of berries. Varieties of holly are hardy as far north as central New England.

Leyland Cypress

• The Leyland cypress (X Cupressocyparis leylandii var.) is one of the top scale-leaf evergreen shrubs recommended by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County for privacy screening. The Leyland cypress is hardy to southern New England and the Great Lakes, pest-resistant, and grows swiftly, maturing at a height of 30 to 50 feet and a width of 10 to 15 feet. The Leyland cypress can withstand shearing, but grows in a naturally attractive conical shape; planting in two staggered rows 8 to 10 feet apart will create a dense yet soft-looking privacy hedge requiring little maintenance. Many other varieties of cedar, fir and juniper can be planted in a similar manner for a natural-looking privacy screen that also blocks noise from neighbors or traffic.