15 Fast-Growing Bushes That Grow Tall & Provide Backyard Privacy

If you’re tired of feeling exposed in your own backyard, tall, fast-growing bushes are one of the best natural ways to create instant privacy. Unlike fences, these lush green barriers add life, color, and texture to your outdoor space while softening harsh lines and blocking unwanted views.

Whether you want to shield your patio from neighbors, frame a garden path, or reduce street noise, these 15 fast-growing privacy bushes bring structure and serenity to any backyard. Each option offers unique benefits — from fragrant blooms to evergreen foliage — while growing tall enough to form a living wall of green beauty.

1. Arborvitae

Arborvitae is a timeless favorite for backyard privacy thanks to its dense, evergreen foliage and low maintenance.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 10–15 feet tall, ideal for boundary hedges
  • Thrives in full sun with regular watering
  • Retains lush color year-round
  • Works well in formal or modern landscapes

2. Privet

Fast-growing and easy to shape, private hedges give you complete control over your privacy level and design style.
What to include:

  • Can grow 2–3 feet per year
  • Perfect for sculpted or natural-looking hedges
  • Tolerates different soil conditions
  • Produces small, fragrant white flowers in summer

3. Bamboo

For a modern, exotic look, bamboo provides height, texture, and movement in the wind while acting as an excellent sound barrier.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 20 feet tall in just a few years
  • Choose clumping varieties to prevent spreading
  • Perfect for tropical or contemporary yards
  • Requires rich, well-drained soil

4. Leyland Cypress

One of the fastest-growing privacy trees, Leyland cypress forms a lush, evergreen wall in just a few seasons.
What to include:

  • Can grow 3–4 feet per year
  • Reaches heights up to 50 feet if left untrimmed
  • Excellent for large backyards or property lines
  • Resistant to many pests and diseases

5. Holly (Ilex)

Holly bushes offer year-round greenery with glossy leaves and bright red berries that add seasonal color.
What to include:

  • Grows 2 feet per year depending on the variety
  • Ideal for formal gardens and winter interest
  • Provides dense foliage for solid privacy
  • Great for creating elegant hedges or mixed borders

6. Forsythia

Known for its brilliant yellow flowers in early spring, forsythia brightens your backyard while forming a tall, natural screen.
What to include:

  • Reaches 8–10 feet in height
  • Grows rapidly with minimal care
  • Adds vibrant seasonal color before most plants bloom
  • Works beautifully in modern cottage-style gardens

7. Lilac

Lilac bushes combine fast growth with fragrant purple, white, or pink blooms that make your yard both private and inviting.
What to include:

  • Reaches 8–12 feet tall
  • Prefers full sun and well-drained soil
  • Attracts butterflies and pollinators
  • Perfect for creating fragrant privacy hedges

8. Red-Tipped Photinia

Photinia offers glossy red-tinted leaves that stand out in any backyard while growing quickly into a dense hedge.
What to include:

  • Grows 2–3 feet per year
  • Reaches up to 12 feet tall
  • Tolerates pruning and shaping
  • Great for vibrant, modern landscapes

9. Nellie Stevens Holly

A hybrid holly that grows tall and thick, ideal for creating a lush, evergreen privacy wall.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 3 feet per year
  • Can reach 20 feet tall
  • Produces small red berries for winter color
  • Thrives in full sun or partial shade

10. Mock Orange

Mock orange bushes are fast-growing and prized for their citrus-scented white blooms in late spring.
What to include:

  • Reaches 8–10 feet tall
  • Grows well in sun to partial shade
  • Adds seasonal fragrance and classic beauty
  • Works well along fences or patios

11. Viburnum

Viburnum shrubs are versatile and fast-growing, offering both privacy and beautiful seasonal flowers.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 12 feet tall
  • Produces white blossoms in spring and colorful berries later
  • Evergreen or semi-evergreen varieties available
  • Blends well with mixed garden plantings

12. Wax Myrtle

Wax myrtle’s aromatic foliage and quick growth make it a great option for coastal or southern climates.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 20 feet tall
  • Tolerates poor soil and salty air
  • Great for natural privacy screens
  • Provides soft, wispy texture to your yard

13. Oleander

For warm climates, oleander offers fast-growing privacy with showy pink, white, or red flowers.
What to include:

  • Can grow 2 feet per year, reaching 12–15 feet tall
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Great for Mediterranean or tropical-style yards
  • Toxic to pets and humans if ingested, so plant carefully

14. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry laurel forms a dense, glossy green wall that’s perfect for elegant privacy hedges.
What to include:

  • Grows up to 25 feet tall
  • Fast-growing evergreen for year-round coverage
  • Tolerates pruning and shaping
  • Thrives in full sun to partial shade

15. Red Twig Dogwood

Add color and structure to your privacy garden with red twig dogwood, known for its vivid red stems in winter.
What to include:

  • Reaches 8–10 feet tall
  • Grows quickly and adapts to most soils
  • Stunning in all seasons, especially winter
  • Works beautifully in contemporary garden designs

Create a Private Backyard Oasis with Natural Beauty

Fast-growing bushes don’t just give you privacy — they shape your backyard into a living retreat filled with color, texture, and movement. From evergreens like arborvitae and cypress to flowering options like lilac and forsythia, these shrubs help you design a modern outdoor space that feels secluded, serene, and alive. With the right mix of height, density, and seasonal interest, you’ll enjoy beauty and privacy all year round without ever needing a fence

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