16 Shrubs That Double as Privacy Screens

When you want to create a private outdoor space, choosing the right shrubs can make all the difference. Shrubs not only offer natural beauty but also serve as effective privacy screens that blend seamlessly into your garden or yard.

These shrubs provide an easy and attractive way to block unwanted views while enhancing your landscape. With options that suit different climates and growing conditions, you can find plants that grow quickly or maintain a neat, compact shape to match your needs.

Boxwood

Boxwood shrubs are a great choice for creating a dense, evergreen privacy screen. You’ll appreciate their slow growth and ability to be shaped easily, making them perfect for neat hedges or topiaries.

They have glossy dark green leaves that stay vibrant year-round. You can use them in your garden borders or along fences to add structure and privacy without blocking all the light.

Arborvitae ‘North Pole’

If you want a tall, narrow shrub for tight spaces, Arborvitae ‘North Pole’ is a great choice. It grows upright and stays dense, making it ideal for privacy screens.

This evergreen keeps its dark green color year-round, even in winter. It’s low-maintenance, so you won’t need to spend much time caring for it.

Dwarf Golden False Cypress

You’ll find the Dwarf Golden False Cypress is a great option for a privacy screen. Its sharp spines add extra security while creating a natural barrier.

This shrub is slow-growing and stays compact, so it won’t take over your space. The golden foliage adds a cheerful touch to your garden year-round.

Flowering Quince

If you want a privacy screen that adds beauty, flowering quince is a great pick. Its thorny branches help create a natural barrier.

You’ll enjoy colorful blooms from early spring into fall. This shrub can also help block wind and noise around your yard. Flowering quince is low-maintenance and safe for families, making it perfect for your outdoor space.

Glossy Abelia

You’ll find Glossy Abelia is a semi-evergreen shrub with shiny, dark green leaves. It grows with graceful arching branches, giving a soft look to your garden.

This plant produces fragrant white flowers in summer. It’s low-maintenance, making it a good choice for a privacy screen or low hedge in your yard.

Amelanchier First Editions Standing Ovation

You’ll appreciate the narrow, upright shape of this shrub. It grows up to 15 feet tall and around 4 feet wide, making it ideal for tight spaces.

In spring, white flowers cover the stems, adding seasonal interest. By fall, the leaves turn vibrant red and orange, brightening your landscape. Plant them about 30 inches apart to create a solid privacy screen. They do best in full sun and are hardy in zones 2 to 8.

Black Chokeberry ‘Autumn Magic’

You’ll appreciate the Black Chokeberry ‘Autumn Magic’ for its glossy dark leaves and bright white flowers. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall, making it a good choice for privacy.

This shrub works well in full sun or part shade. It also produces black berries and beautiful red and purple fall colors, adding interest year-round.

Black Chokeberry ‘Glossy’

You’ll find Black Chokeberry ‘Glossy’ a great choice for privacy screens. It grows 5 to 8 feet tall and spreads 6 to 10 feet wide, creating a dense barrier.

This shrub offers white fragrant flowers in spring and attractive foliage through the seasons. It does well in part sun or shade, fitting easily into your landscape.

Polar Gold Arborvitae

You can use Polar Gold Arborvitae to create a bright, narrow privacy screen. It grows 12-15 feet tall and stays 4-6 feet wide, perfect for limited space.

Its golden color adds visual interest while providing year-round coverage. This shrub works well as a specimen or a natural fence for your yard.

Privet

You’ll find privet is a popular choice for a privacy screen because it grows quickly and densely. It can be trimmed easily to keep the shape neat and tidy.

This shrub tolerates a variety of soils and light conditions, making it versatile for many garden spaces. If you want a classic, budget-friendly hedge, privet could work well for your yard.

Holly

Holly is a great choice if you want a privacy screen that stays green year-round. You can pick from various types, like yaupon or inkberry, depending on the size you need.

Many hollies have dense foliage, which helps block views effectively. Some varieties, like the Emerald Colonnade, naturally grow into an attractive, pyramid shape.

Photinia

If you want a quick and colorful privacy screen, Photinia is a great choice. Its bright red new leaves add vibrant color before they turn green.

This shrub grows up to 12 feet tall and is resistant to many pests and diseases, making it low maintenance. Deer usually avoid it, which is helpful in areas with deer.

Cherry Laurel

If you want a reliable privacy screen, Cherry Laurel is a solid choice. It grows well in many conditions and offers year-round greenery.

You can use it to block noise and create a natural barrier. Just give it some time to settle and grow thicker for the best privacy. It’s also easy to shape as a hedge.

Japanese Pieris

Japanese Pieris is an evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest for your garden. It offers glossy, colorful foliage in spring, followed by delicate bell-shaped flowers.

This shrub works well as a privacy screen due to its bushy and compact growth. You’ll also appreciate its low-maintenance nature and suitability for borders or foundation plantings.

Yew

Yew shrubs are a great choice if you want a dense, evergreen privacy screen. Their dark green needles and red berries add color and texture to your garden year-round.

You can plant them close together in a row, and they’ll slowly fill in to block views. They tolerate shade well, so they work in many spots.

Laurustinus

Laurustinus is a versatile shrub ideal for creating privacy screens. It grows between 5 to 12 feet tall, depending on the variety and conditions.

You can plant it in full sun or partial shade. Its dense foliage provides year-round coverage, perfect for blocking views or noise. This shrub also works well as a background plant or a neatly trimmed hedge in your garden.