22 Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees for Privacy That Will Transform Your Backyard

Leyland Cypress

This is the workhorse of privacy screening, and for good reason. Leyland cypress can pack on three to four feet of growth a year, which is almost unfair to slower-growing trees.

It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, and it’s happy in USDA zones 6 through 10. The downside is that it can get top-heavy and prone to storm damage if you don’t give it occasional structural pruning. Still, for sheer speed, it’s hard to beat.

Thuja Green Giant

Thuja Green Giant is basically the golden retriever of privacy trees — eager, reliable, and hard to kill. It grows three to five feet a year and can reach 40 to 60 feet at maturity.

It handles a wide range of soils, tolerates both heat and cold in zones 5 through 9, and shrugs off deer better than most arborvitae. If you want a dense, pyramidal screen without much fuss, this is my go-to recommendation.

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Smaller and narrower than its Green Giant cousin, Emerald Green arborvitae is perfect for tighter side yards where space is limited. It grows a more modest six to nine inches a year, so it’s not the fastest on this list, but its narrow, columnar shape makes it ideal for creating a tidy hedge.

Give it full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil in zones 3 through 8. Deer, unfortunately, find it delicious, so a repellent may be necessary.

Italian Cypress

If you’re going for a Mediterranean or formal look, Italian cypress delivers height and drama in equal measure. These narrow, upright trees can grow up to three feet per year and eventually tower 40 to 60 feet tall while staying slim.

They need full sun and sharply drained soil — soggy roots are their downfall. Best suited to zones 7 through 10, they’re less about wide coverage and more about vertical, elegant screening.

Norway Spruce

Norway spruce is a classic choice for cold climates, growing up to two feet per year once established. Its drooping branches and rich green needles give it a graceful, almost weeping silhouette that softens as it matures.

It prefers full sun and adapts to a range of soil types, including clay, in zones 2 through 7. This one gets big, so plant it with mature spread in mind rather than squeezing it into a small side yard.

Eastern Red Cedar

A North American native, Eastern red cedar is tough, drought tolerant, and adaptable to nearly any soil, from sandy loam to rocky ground. It grows one to two feet annually and reaches 40 to 50 feet tall.

It thrives in full sun across zones 2 through 9 and is a magnet for birds looking for shelter and berries. As a bonus, it’s naturally deer resistant, which not every conifer can claim.

Green Giant Arborvitae Hedge Alternative: Nellie Stevens Holly

Nellie Stevens holly earns a spot here because it grows fast for a broadleaf evergreen, adding two to three feet per year. Its glossy, spiny leaves and bright red winter berries make it as ornamental as it is functional.

Plant it in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil in zones 6 through 9. It’s naturally rabbit and deer resistant, and it doubles as a pollinator and bird-friendly planting.

Skip Laurel

Skip laurel, sometimes called Schip laurel, is a broadleaf evergreen with dense, dark green foliage that creates an almost wall-like screen. It grows about two feet a year and tolerates shade better than most trees on this list.

It prefers moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil in zones 6 through 9. Gardeners love it because it stays compact without constant pruning, unlike some of the more sprawling conifers.

Cryptomeria Radicans

Also known as Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria Radicans grows fast, dense, and feathery, adding up to three feet per year. Its soft, plume-like foliage turns a slightly bronze tone in winter, which some people love and others find odd — I happen to like it.

It does best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil in zones 6 through 9. This one appreciates consistent watering, especially during its first couple of years.

Wax Myrtle

Wax myrtle is a fantastic option for warmer, humid climates where other evergreens struggle. It grows quickly, often two to three feet a year, and tolerates poor, sandy soil without complaint.

Full sun to partial shade suits it best in zones 7 through 10. It’s also salt tolerant, so if you’re gardening near the coast, this is one of the more forgiving choices for a privacy screen.

Blue Point Juniper

Blue Point juniper brings striking blue-green, pyramidal form to a privacy planting, growing about one foot per year. It’s slower than some entries here, but its dense, naturally tidy shape means less pruning maintenance overall.

It wants full sun and well-draining soil, ideally sandy or loamy, in zones 4 through 9. Junipers are famously drought tolerant once established, so this is a solid pick for low-water landscapes.

Southern Magnolia

Southern magnolia isn’t just a privacy tree, it’s a statement piece, with glossy leaves and enormous fragrant white blooms in summer. Growth rate runs one to two feet a year, and mature trees can reach 60 to 80 feet.

Give it full sun to partial shade and rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil in zones 6 through 10. It sheds leaves continuously, so be ready for some raking even though it’s evergreen.

American Holly

American holly grows at a moderate but steady pace, roughly one to two feet per year, forming a dense, prickly-leaved screen that doubles as security landscaping — nobody’s climbing through this hedge. Bright red berries appear on female trees if a male pollinator is nearby.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, acidic, well-draining soil in zones 5 through 9. It’s a native option that supports birds and other wildlife.

Loblolly Pine

For a faster-growing pine option, loblolly pine can shoot up two to three feet annually, eventually reaching towering heights of 60 to 90 feet. It’s less useful for tight screening near the ground since it drops lower branches with age, so it’s best paired with shrubs beneath it.

It grows well in full sun and adapts to a range of soils, including clay, across zones 6 through 9.

Deodar Cedar

Deodar cedar has a graceful, weeping form with soft blue-green needles, growing about two feet per year when young. It eventually becomes a large, wide-spreading tree, so give it plenty of room.

Plant in full sun and well-draining soil in zones 7 through 9. This is one of those trees that looks like it requires a horticulture degree to keep alive, but it’s actually quite low-maintenance once established.

Hicks Yew

Hicks yew is a narrow, upright evergreen shrub-tree hybrid that’s excellent for tight spaces, growing about six to twelve inches per year. Its dark, dense foliage creates a formal, tidy screen that responds well to shearing.

It tolerates full sun to full shade and prefers well-draining soil in zones 4 through 7. Note that yew is toxic if ingested, so keep that in mind around pets and small children.

Foster Holly

Foster holly is a pyramidal, fine-textured holly that grows one to two feet annually and produces abundant red berries in winter. Its narrower profile makes it a great choice for corner plantings or spots where a wide screen won’t fit.

Full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining, acidic soil in zones 6 through 9 suit it best. Birds absolutely love the berries, so expect some cheerful winter visitors.

Colorado Blue Spruce

Colorado blue spruce is prized for its striking silvery-blue needles and classic conical shape, growing about one foot per year. It’s slower than many trees here, but the color payoff is significant if you want a screen that also looks like a design feature.

It needs full sun and well-draining soil, ideally slightly acidic, in zones 2 through 7. It struggles in humid climates, so this one’s better suited to drier or cooler regions.

Willow Hybrid (Austree)

Austree hybrid willow is famous, or maybe infamous, for its explosive growth rate of up to six feet per year. If you need a screen fast and don’t mind a tree with a shorter lifespan, this is about as quick as evergreen-adjacent screening gets.

It prefers full sun and consistently moist soil in zones 3 through 9. Just know its roots are aggressive, so keep it away from septic lines and foundations.

Camellia Japonica

Technically more of a large evergreen shrub than a tree, camellia japonica still earns a spot for shadier privacy spots where conifers struggle. It grows six to twelve inches per year and rewards patience with gorgeous winter and spring blooms.

Partial shade and acidic, well-draining soil suit it best in zones 7 through 9. It’s a favorite among gardeners who want privacy that also looks like a flower show.

Podocarpus

Podocarpus, sometimes called yew pine, is a fine-textured evergreen that grows one to three feet per year and takes shearing exceptionally well, making it popular for formal hedges. Its soft, narrow leaves give it a refined look compared to spikier conifers.

It likes full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil in zones 8 through 10. This one’s more suited to warmer climates and doesn’t love hard frost.

Arizona Cypress

Arizona cypress is built for hot, dry conditions, growing about three feet a year with striking blue-gray foliage. It’s one of the more drought-tolerant options on this list, making it ideal for xeriscaped or water-conscious backyards.

Full sun and well-draining, even rocky, soil work well in zones 7 through 9. Just be sure not to overwater it, since root rot is its biggest enemy.

Whichever of these you choose, spacing matters as much as growth rate. Crowd your trees too close and you’ll end up fighting root competition and airflow problems down the road; space them too far apart and your privacy screen has awkward gaps for years. A little compost at planting time, consistent watering through the first two seasons, and mulch to retain moisture will do more for your screen’s success than almost anything else. Pick two or three that suit your climate and soil, and give them the head start they need — the payoff, a genuinely private backyard, is worth the wait.