21 Living Privacy Fence Ideas for Your Landscape

If you’ve had enough of your neighbors peering in on your backyard activities, then it may be time to build — or plant — a privacy fence. Instead of purchasing some sort of fence or manual screen, why not opt for a living fence that will benefit the local wildlife as well?

There are many shrubs and small trees that suit this purpose perfectly. Plant them in a line, and you’ve got a living privacy fence. They often have dense, evergreen foliage to maintain your border all year long. While some get taller than others, you can prune many to your liking.

Forsythia

	common name Forsythia
	botanical name Forsythia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-10 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

The Forsythia genus contains a small list of deciduous, perennial shrubs that are known for their bright yellow blooms. These shrubs flower early in spring before foliage appears. The blooms cover the branches and create a cloud of yellow color as early as February.

These shrubs can reach up to ten feet at maturity. Their height and dense foliage makes them ideal for creating a living privacy fence or screen. Plant them in a full sun location to get as many blooms as possible.

You can also create borders on your property with these perennials, where their blooms will become a signature sign of the changing seasons.

Red Tip Photinia

	common name Red Tip Photinia
	botanical name Photinia x fraseri
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-20 feet
	hardiness zones 7-8

Red tip photinia, also known as Fraser’s photinia, is a small, evergreen tree. You can keep these perennials pruned to shrub size, but if allowed to mature, they will reach 20 feet tall. Their dense foliage remains through winter, creating privacy between you and your neighbors.

The new foliage on red tip photinia emerges red, hence the name, and you’ll find that the plant is also often covered in red flower buds. Note that their fragrance can be off-putting. 

While red tip photinia doesn’t appreciate soggy conditions and clay soil, it resists other common challenges, including drought, salt spray, and alkaline soil.

Ninebark

	common name Ninebark
	botanical name Physocarpus opulifolius
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-8 feet
	hardiness zones 2-8

Ninebark is a perennial shrub that reaches about eight feet in height at maturity. Its deciduous foliage takes on different colors depending on the cultivar, of which there are many. You can find ninebark shrubs with green, purple, and nearly-yellow leaves. Showy white flowers appear in spring and summer.

Though ninebark will flourish in full sun, purple foliage cultivars need some midday shade, or else they lose their color. You can plant this native in wet soils near streambanks and ponds. In fact, it’s fairly resistant to flooding. If eight feet is taller than you prefer, you can opt for a dwarf cultivar.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

	common name Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
	botanical name Prunus x cistena
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 7-8 feet
	hardiness zones 2-8

Purple leaf sand cherry is a hybrid in the rose family. This deciduous shrub has purple leaves—hence the name—that turn nearly bright red. In spring, dainty pink flowers dot these shrubs, giving way to attractive purple fruits. Purple leaf sand cherry matures to about eight feet tall and wide with dense foliage.

If you’re looking for something even bigger, the ‘Big Cis’ cultivar can reach an astounding 14 feet with larger leaves. Or if you’re in it for the color, the ‘Minnesota Red’ cultivar is known for its darker purple leaves, as well as its cold tolerance.

Blue Heaven Juniper

	common name Blue Heaven Juniper
	botanical name Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Heaven’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-20 feet
	hardiness zones 5-9

Blue heaven juniper is the common name for a cultivar of Rocky Mountain juniper that has a more vertical growth habit and blue needles. This evergreen tree offers blue color all year long and matures to about 20 feet in height, which is pretty compact for a conifer.

Planting multiple blue heaven junipers next to each other creates a lovely, whimsical living privacy fence. These trees prefer a lot of sunlight and well-draining soil. They won’t tolerate wet or clay soils, as they’re naturally suited to rocky areas. That said, these low-maintenance trees will prosper despite low soil quality. No fertilizer is needed.

Arrowwood Viburnum

	common name Arrowwood Viburnum
	botanical name Viburnum dentatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5-10 feet
	hardiness zones 2-8

Arrowwood viburnum is a native shrub that naturally grows in most of the eastern United States and is perennial in zones 2 through 8. If your home fits within these boundaries, arrowwood viburnum is a no-brainer choice for a privacy fence. It adapts to pretty much any soil and has minimal needs.

This deciduous, low-maintenance option produces 4-inch clusters of showy white flowers in the spring. It benefits local wildlife, hosting butterflies and providing food for birds and small mammals. Arrowwood viburnum can reach 10 feet in height, but you can prune it to your desired size with loppers.

American Arborvitae

	common name American Arborvitae
	botanical name Thuja occidentalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 40-60 feet
	hardiness zones 3-7

The American arborvitae is another great conifer option. This evergreen tree has a classic, needled look. They’re ideal if you’re looking for a serious privacy fence with high walls, as these trees reach somewhere between 40 and 60 feet at maturity. Various cultivars exist with different growth forms, including pyramidal and columnar shapes.

They’re tolerant of many common struggles, including wet soil, clay soil, and heavy air pollution, and clay, and though they grow best with lots of light, you can grow them in partial shade. They will even survive full shade, though the foliage will be thin.

Panicle Hydrangea

	common name Panicle Hydrangea
	botanical name Hydrangea paniculata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-25 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

If you want something that will grow fast, check out panicle hydrangeas. These multi-stemmed deciduous shrubs have a rapid growth rate with thick, dense foliage to create a visual fence. They usually reach about 15 feet in height but can get to 25 feet in ideal conditions.

In summer, white hydrangea blooms emerge from these shrubs. The flowers fade to pink and then brown in autumn, offering color for a wide range of time. Panicle hydrangeas prefer well-draining soil that’s slightly on the acidic side. Best case scenario, they like some afternoon shade, too.

Golden Privet

	common name Golden Privet
	botanical name Ligustrum x vicaryi
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-12 feet
	hardiness zones 5-9

Golden privet is a beautiful option if you like bright, chartreuse leaves. The new foliage on these deciduous hybrids is yellow, fading to green, and then red in the fall. Unlike most other privet species, golden privet is sterile and is not invasive in the United States, so these shrubs won’t spread beyond where you plant them.

These shrubs are commonly used as living privacy fences, with a rounded growth habit that forms a dense barrier. Golden privet isn’t too picky either. It thrives in most soil types and sun exposures, as long as it’s not planted in full shade. 

Eastern Red Cedar

	common name Eastern Red Cedar
	botanical name Juniperus virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30-40 feet
	hardiness zones 2-9

Eastern red cedar is actually another juniper species. This conifer is native throughout much of North America, flourishing in a wide range of conditions between hardiness zones 2 through 9. Reaching 40 feet tall, eastern red cedars can provide a serious screen between you and your neighbors.

Once established, these are low-maintenance trees that won’t need much. You can plant them in pretty much any soil, whether it be swampy or rocky. Eastern red cedars will tolerate poor-quality soil, salt, and even drought. Planting these trees also provides habitat and food for local wildlife, such as the juniper hairstreak butterfly.

Chinese Fringe Flower

	common name Chinese Fringe Flower
	botanical name Loropetalum chinense
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8 feet
	hardiness zones 7-9

Chinese fringe flower, also referred to casually by its genus, Loropetalum, is a diverse shrub or small tree. It can be evergreen or semi-evergreen, with broad-leaved foliage and star-shaped, fringy flowers. Many cultivars of Chinese fringe flower exist, some with reddish leaves and pink flowers.

These shrubs reach about eight feet in height and can form a dense fence. You can easily create a hedge with Chinese fringe flower plants, and deer will leave them alone. Plant Chinese fringe flower perennials in well-draining, slightly acidic soil in a spot where winter winds can’t cause damage.

American Wisteria

	common name American Wisteria
	botanical name Wisteria frutescens
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-40 feet
	hardiness zones 5-9

If it’s color you’re after, then consider planting American wisteria, which is a woody vine that can grow up to 40 feet. This fast-grower is ideal for covering existing fences with life. In the proper conditions, American wisteria can take over a boring barrier. Its growth rate is somewhat aggressive, but it is a native species.

These perennial vines produce fragrant bluish-purple flowers in the spring. The drooping blooms are usually about six inches long and emerge as early as April. Other cultivars are available with blooms in other colors. American wisteria needs full sun to really put on a show. 

Dappled Willow

	common name Dappled Willow
	botanical name Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

Dappled willow, also known as Japanese dappled willow or Nishiki willow, is a deciduous, round shrub with eye-catching foliage. The new leaves emerge light pink or white, maturing to green with silvery variegation. In autumn, the stems turn red, creating color contrast.

These perennial shrubs are hardy in mild zones 5 through 8, and they grow best when provided with plenty of sunlight. Their rapid, rounded growth rate makes dappled willows perfect for a medium-height privacy fence. They mature to about six feet tall. Dappled willows also feed a variety of pollinators and specialized bees, even though these shrubs are not native.

Lilac

	common name Lilac
	botanical name Syringa vulgaris
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-16 feet
	hardiness zones 3-7

You just can’t go wrong with a classic. Common lilac, also called French lilac or English lilac, is a spring-flowering small tree or shrub. These perennials can reach up to 16 feet tall in perfect conditions, creating quite a living privacy fence of considerable height.

Of course, the star feature of these shrubs is their beloved blooms. Typically purple in color, 8-inch blooms emerge in early spring. You can detect their strong fragrance from across the street. Note that a late frost can inhibit blooms.

Many cultivars of lilac are available, some with other flower colors, including blue, pink, and white.

Climbing Hydrangea

	common name Climbing Hydrangea
	botanical name Hydrangea anomala
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 30-60 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

If you have an old fence in a shaded area, you may want to cover it with graceful climbing hydrangeas. These perennials can grow in a shrub or vining form, and you can even grow them in full shade. Climbing hydrangeas can really add life to a dull area of your lawn.

Climbing hydrangea can be slow to establish at first, but this species has a rapid growth rate once it gets settled. White or yellowish flowers bloom in spring and summer on the vines. Best of all, climbing hydrangea has no serious pest or disease problems.

Weigela

	common name Weigela
	botanical name Weigela florida
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-10 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

Weigela is in the honeysuckle, and like honeysuckle, it has a dense, round growth habit. This deciduous perennial shrub has coarse branches that are briefly covered with flowers in the spring. Usually, the tubular pink flowers emerge for about two weeks in late spring.

Reaching about 10 feet in height and 12 feet in width, weigela is often used as a border plant. Gardeners often pursue variegated cultivars or other varieties with flowers of different colors. Weigela shrubs are fairly easy to care for, as they have no problems with air pollution or clay soils.

Cherry Laurel

	common name Cherry Laurel
	botanical name Prunus laurocerasus
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 10-20 feet
	hardiness zones 6-8

Cherry laurel, also known as English laurel, is another evergreen shrub, though you can also consider it a tree. This perennial can reach heights of 20 feet and spread 10 feet wide, so just a few cherry laurel plants could create a mighty living privacy fence. You can prune cherry laurel aggressively to your liking, and it will bounce right back.

The dense, glossy foliage of this tree remains all year, adding color to your landscape. Cherry laurel tolerates any amount of light, including full shade. In spring, cherry laurel produces heavily fragrant white flowers.

Common Holly

	common name Common Holly
	botanical name Ilex aquifolium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30-50 feet
	hardiness zones 7-9

Common holly is another evergreen shrub or small tree known for both its foliage and its fruits. Also known as Christmas holly, these shrubs produce bright red berries in fall that remain through the winter, creating a festive color contrast against the shiny green leaves and possibly even snow.

This perennial is perfect for a living privacy screen since its dense foliage remains all year. These plants need the presence of both male and female plants to produce berries, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re planting multiple specimens to create a border.

Crape Myrtle

	common name Crape Myrtle
	botanical name Lagerstroemia indica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-30 feet
	hardiness zones 6-9

Common crape myrtle is a lovely choice for anyone who loves the color pink. This deciduous shrub has thick green foliage and produces huge, showy pink blossoms in summer. Hardy in zones 6 through 9, crape myrtle is sometimes called the “Lilac of the South.”

This shrub needs full sun to bloom properly, and you must plant it in well-draining soil. One plant can reach 30 feet in optimal conditions. Note that there are many cultivars of crape myrtle available, with different mature heights and flower colors.

Japanese Yew

	common name Japanese Yew
	botanical name Taxus cuspidata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-25 feet
	hardiness zones 4-7

The Japanese yew tree is a woody, evergreen shrub that grows best in mild climates within zones 4 and 7. This shrub grows in a variety of sun exposures and has dense, thick foliage, making it ideal for creating hedges and borders.

Japanese yew tolerates urban pollution, so it’s an excellent option in busy residential neighborhoods. These shrubs also put up with drought once they’re established. Small but brightly colored red berries emerge among the leaves in the fall, but they are poisonous to humans and pets, so leave them for the birds.

Orange Bells

	common name Orange Bells
	botanical name Tecoma fulva subsp. guarume
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-15 feet
	hardiness zones 8-11

If you are located somewhere warm, you may want to create a living privacy fence with coral bells, an evergreen perennial shrub also known as flaming bells, orange star, and orange trumpet bush. As the names imply, this perennial has bright orange, bell-shaped blooms that are present in spring, summer, and fall.

Coral bells needs full sun to thrive, and won’t survive the winter anywhere colder than zone 8. But if you have the right conditions, this shrub is a stunner. Each plant can reach 15 feet in height and 10 feet in width.