18 Fastest Growing Trees for Privacy

Are you looking to add more privacy and seclusion to your outdoor space? Planting fast-growing trees is an ideal solution. The suitable trees can shoot up by several feet each year, quickly forming a tall, dense screen that blocks unsightly views and muffles noise.

1. Leyland Cypress ( Cupressus × leylandii )

The Leyland cypress is prized as one of the quickest-growing, drought-tolerant, and privacy trees available. These evergreen Leyland cypress trees can gain up to 3 feet in height per year, allowing them to rapidly reach mature heights of 60-70 feet much faster than most other fence tree options.

Their thick foliage and narrow pyramidal shape make the Leyland cypress a go-to choice for creating a living natural fence or wall for privacy screening.

When allowed to grow to full size, Leyland cypress trees quickly outpace other trees to form tall, opaque buffers that block views and noise.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae ( Thuja plicata )

The thuja green giant, also known as green giant arborvitae, is a rapidly growing tree that can reach up to 50 feet tall. This green giant arborvitae cypress tree grows up to 3 feet per year in full sun when given proper care and spacing.

The dense foliage and rapid growth of green giant arborvitaes make them ideal for quickly establishing privacy screens and hedges in the landscape.

3. Poplar ( Populus )

Poplar trees thrive in growing zones 3-9, reaching mature heights over 50 feet tall. Their rapid growth rate of up to 8 feet per year makes poplars one of the best privacy trees for quickly establishing tall privacy nets and living fences.

Despite their extreme heat tolerance, poplars are valued for their speedy vertical growth, allowing them to rapidly tower over other deciduous trees.

4. Bamboo ( Bambusa )

As one of the fastest-growing trees for privacy, bamboo is prized for its rapid growth rate, often up to several feet per year. Clumping bamboo varieties like Moso and Black bamboo make excellent tree fences, quickly forming tall, dense curtains of foliage to block views and noise.

With proper containment through regular pruning, bamboo is an ideal fast-growing tree for establishing instant tropical privacy.

5. Cryptomeria ( Cryptomeria japonica )

With the ability to grow up to 3 feet per year, cryptomeria is often listed among the fastest-growing trees for privacy. This evergreen can rapidly reach heights over 50 feet tall, forming an opaque screen. Cryptomeria’s speedy vertical growth allows it to swiftly outpace other trees when used as a living wall or fence.

Its dense foliage makes cryptomeria an exceptionally fast-growing tree for establishing year-round privacy.

6. American Arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalis )

With the ability to gain up to 2 feet per year, American arborvitae is one of the fastest-growing emerald green arborvitae for privacy. This hardy evergreen fence tree can quickly form a classic dense privacy hedge up to 30 feet tall.

The rapid but compact growth habit of American arborvitae makes it an ideal fast-growing tree for establishing living screens and fences to seclude yard spaces. Its year-round foliage provides excellent privacy.

7. Hybrid Poplar ( Populus x canadensis )

With growth rates up to 10 feet per year, hybrid poplar is one of the fastest-growing privacy trees for plant privacy screens. Its rapid growth allows hybrid poplar to outpace other trees when used for privacy swiftly. These tall, low-maintenance privacy trees thrive when planted in growing zones 3-9.

8. Dawn Redwood ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides )

The dawn redwood is a unique fast-growing deciduous fence tree, gaining up to 6 feet yearly. Its rapid growth makes it ideal for privacy screens and screening plants. Dawn redwood thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.

9. Black Locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia )

An extremely fast growing tree that can grow up to 5 feet per year, the black locust is one of the best trees for rapidly establishing privacy screens even in poor, well drained soil conditions and full sunlight. The fragrant white blooms in spring also add curb appeal.

10. Empress Tree ( Paulownia tomentosa )

Empress tree is a fast growing deciduous tree, shooting up nearly 6 feet annually into a low maintenance shade tree ideal for quick privacy screening. Their drought-tolerant nature makes these trees perfect privacy plants in warmer climates. Empress tree thrives in well-drained soil and can increase even in poor conditions.

11. Silver Maple ( Acer saccharinum )

Silver and red maple are two prized fast-growing privacy trees, gaining over 3 feet of growth annually. Silver maple’s speedy growth allows it to swiftly tower over other living giants as a dense privacy screen in the front yard. This cold, hardy privacy tree thrives in different soils, even in northern regions. Red maple is also versatile, growing well across various soil conditions.

Silver and red maple varieties have lush foliage that rapidly reaches mature height, making them excellent tree fence choices. Their rapid growth creates a tall, opaque screen for privacy in just a few seasons.

12. Hybrid Willow ( Salix Matsudana x Alba )

Hybrid willows like ‘Streamco’ grow up to 8 feet per year, making them exceptionally fast-growing, pest-resistant privacy trees for establishing quick trees for privacy. Their dense branches stand up to strong winds. Many evergreen trees are available at local nurseries for partial shade and different growing zones.

13. River Birch ( Betula nigra )

Beloved for its peeling bark, river birch proliferates into a mid-sized tree up to 40 feet tall, even in partial sunlight. River birch is ideal for front yard privacy fences and screens with its rapid growth rate. This cold hardy tree thrives in different soils.

14. Easter White Pine ( Pinus strobus )

The Eastern White Pine is one of the best trees for a fast growth rate and grows well in full sun and well-drained soil. This pine tree can grow 2 feet or more per year when young. The Eastern White pine is a fast-growing tree that thrives in full sun and well-drained acidic soil.

With its rapid growth rate and stately appearance, the Eastern White Pine is one of the best trees for landowners looking for fast-growing trees. This tree grows in USDA zones 3-8.

15. Colorado Blue Spruce ( Picea pungens )

With its stiff branches and dense, blue-green needles, the Colorado Blue Spruce makes an excellent fast growing privacy tree. It can grow up to 2-3 feet per year when young, quickly forming an impenetrable screen. This hardy evergreen thrives in cold climates and various soil types, providing year-round privacy and protection.

16. Italian Cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens )

With their narrow, columnar shape and upright branches, Italian. This columnar tree are some of the best trees for privacy. These evergreen privacy trees can grow up to 3 feet per year, rapidly reaching a mature height of 40-60 feet.

Italian Cypress thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it a versatile privacy tree.

Their dense foliage provides excellent screening and seclusion for yards and gardens.

The upright branching habit of Italian Cypress contributes to its narrow form for tight privacy screens.

17. Holly Trees ( Ilex aquifolium )

Holly trees are admired for their rapid growth rate, gaining up to 2 feet per year until reaching their mature height. American Holly is one of the fastest-growing hollies, quickly developing an attractive symmetrical shape. With varieties that thrive across diverse climates, holly trees are versatile, fast growing trees perfect for landscaping.

Their lush green leaves coupled with the ability to grow quickly make hollies ideal growing trees.

17. Wax Myrtle ( Myrica cerifera )

The wax myrtle tree is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree that thrives in moist soils and full sun to partial shade. It’s an attractive ornamental plant that can grow up to 20 feet tall with a spread of 15 feet. The leaves are aromatic when crushed and the small purple fruits attract birds. The wax myrtle grows rapidly, often gaining several feet per year, and develops a dense, bushy form.

Its adaptability to various conditions makes it a popular choice for hedges and screens. The wax myrtle’s rapid growth rate and evergreen foliage make it a great option for a fast-growing tree.

18. Bald Cypress ( Taxodium distichum )

With impressive growth rates of up to 3 feet annually, the bald cypress is one of the fastest growing trees available. This deciduous conifer regal tree thrives from swamps to urban spaces. Its feathery, fern-like foliage turns a striking rust color in fall.

Tolerant to wet soils, yet resilient in drought, bald cypress’ adaptability and vigorous growth make it a prized ornamental. Its loosely open form provides dappled shade rather than a dense screen.

Growing Privacy Trees in Your Own Backyard

Want to enjoy seclusion in your outdoor space within just a few seasons? Planting fast-growing trees is a great solution for creating living walls and fences that block views and noise from neighbors or streets. With the right care and conditions tailored to your yard, you can have lush privacy screening faster than you may think.

When selecting a spot to plant your privacy trees, make sure to leave plenty of room for them to reach their mature heights and spreads. Give them enough distance from buildings, pipes, power lines, and property boundaries so their extensive root systems don’t cause issues.

Improve your soil by mixing in organic compost or nutrient-rich topsoil to help your trees establish quickly and fuel rapid growth. Dig nice wide holes for planting to give young roots ample room to spread out. Be sure to water thoroughly after planting and continue deep watering regularly for the first couple of years.

As your privacy trees start taking off, you may need to occasionally fertilize, prune back wayward branches, and train central leaders with ties or stakes. This encourages them to grow tall and full. Keep an eye out for pests or diseases and address any issues promptly to maintain vigorous growth.

Caring for Fast-Growing Privacy Trees

To support speedy growth for privacy trees and trees for privacy, fast-growing evergreen trees need:

• Plenty of space for roots to reach their mature height of 40-60 feet tall without interrupting traditional fencing

• Frequent watering, especially while young low maintenance trees are establishing a privacy screen

• Annual pruning and training to maintain their rapid growth rate of 5-8 feet per year

• Occasional fertilization to nourish fast growth in full sun

• Proper placement away from structures for low maintenance and privacy

• Choose fast growing varieties from your local nursery for the quickest privacy screen.

With the right growing conditions and care, your fast-growing Leyland cypress, arborvitae, poplars, or other privacy tree varieties will soon be towering overhead, giving your outdoor living space the beauty and seclusion you desire. In just a few seasons, you can transform your backyard into a peaceful private oasis.

Conclusion

If you want to create a tall, dense screen for privacy within a few seasons, fast growing trees are the way to go. Many evergreen privacy trees will shoot upward at rates of 3-8 feet per year with the right care and conditions, quickly reaching mature heights to block unwanted views.

Choose low maintenance trees that thrive in your growing zone and site conditions to in full sun or partial shade. With so many trees to select from, you can find the perfect fast-growing varieties to create outdoor seclusion.