Fences provide structure and boundary, but they don’t always give the natural privacy homeowners want. That’s where trees come in. Planting privacy trees along your fence creates a living wall that not only blocks unwanted views but also adds greenery, shade, and curb appeal. Compared to artificial screens, trees offer environmental benefits like filtering air, reducing noise, and attracting birds.
From fast-growing evergreens to ornamental trees that double as landscape highlights, the right selection will depend on your climate, space, and design goals. Below are eighteen excellent privacy trees you can grow along your fence for beauty and seclusion.
Arborvitae
Arborvitae is one of the most popular choices for natural privacy. Known for its dense, evergreen foliage, this tree grows in a columnar shape that fits perfectly along property lines. Varieties like ‘Green Giant’ can reach impressive heights quickly, offering full coverage within just a few years. They thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun, making them versatile for many backyards.
Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress is a fast-growing evergreen often planted for quick privacy. Its feathery, soft-textured foliage forms a dense barrier that can grow over 50 feet tall if left untrimmed. It tolerates various soil types and adapts well to different climates. However, spacing and airflow are important to prevent disease. When maintained, Leyland Cypress delivers a striking wall of greenery.
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar is an excellent choice for homeowners wanting both privacy and resilience. It tolerates poor soil and dry conditions, thriving where other trees struggle. Its scale-like evergreen foliage stays full year-round, while its dense form blocks both noise and wind. Birds also love its bluish berries, making it a functional and wildlife-friendly option.
American Holly
American Holly adds privacy while offering seasonal beauty. Its glossy evergreen leaves remain dense, while red berries provide winter interest and feed birds. Hollies can be pruned into hedges or grown taller for a natural screen. They adapt well to shaded areas, making them suitable where other privacy trees may not thrive.
Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)
While technically a grass, bamboo can form one of the most effective natural fences. Clumping varieties like Bambusa are non-invasive and grow tall with dense canes. Their fast growth and exotic look create instant privacy. They also sway beautifully in the breeze, adding movement and sound to the garden.
Thuja Green Giant
Thuja Green Giant is prized for its rapid growth, disease resistance, and ability to form a thick evergreen wall. It reaches heights of 30–40 feet quickly and maintains a pyramidal shape. Once established, it requires minimal care, making it a favorite for homeowners seeking reliable privacy without constant pruning.
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce grows tall and wide, making it an ideal long-term privacy tree. Its dense branches spread outward, covering large areas. This tree adapts well to cold climates and offers year-round coverage. Beyond privacy, it also serves as a windbreak and adds a stately look to large yards.
Italian Cypress
Italian Cypress trees add elegance while providing vertical privacy. Their tall, narrow shape makes them perfect for lining fences where space is limited. These evergreens thrive in warm, dry climates and are commonly used in Mediterranean-style landscapes. Their architectural form instantly elevates curb appeal.
Cryptomeria (Japanese Cedar)
Cryptomeria, also called Japanese Cedar, is a graceful evergreen with soft, feathery foliage. It grows in pyramidal form and adds a unique texture compared to traditional evergreens. Its foliage can take on bronze tones in winter, adding seasonal interest. This tree works well as both a hedge and a standalone screen.
Southern Magnolia
Southern Magnolia is not just for the South—it thrives in various climates when properly cared for. Known for its glossy leaves and large white flowers, it provides dense evergreen privacy and year-round beauty. Its fragrant blooms add elegance in spring and summer, while its foliage remains a reliable screen in colder months.
Privet
Privet grows quickly and can be shaped into formal hedges or left natural. Its dense foliage makes it a strong choice for fence-line planting. Some varieties produce fragrant flowers followed by berries, adding both beauty and ecological value. Regular trimming keeps privet looking neat and structured.
Japanese Maple (Tall Varieties)
While not evergreen, tall Japanese Maple varieties provide seasonal beauty and partial privacy. Their stunning fall foliage in red, orange, and gold transforms the garden. Planted strategically with evergreens, they add depth, contrast, and ornamental value to a fence line.
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar offers durability, fragrance, and thick evergreen growth. Its soft, aromatic foliage grows dense enough to block unwanted views. It’s resistant to pests and adapts well to various soils. This tree is ideal for long rows along fences where natural screening is the main goal.
Cherry Laurel
Cherry Laurel is a fast-growing evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves. It tolerates pruning well and forms a dense hedge when planted along fences. In spring, it produces fragrant white flowers, followed by small black fruits that attract birds. It’s hardy, adaptable, and effective for privacy.
Red Maple
Red Maple offers both privacy and seasonal spectacle. While not evergreen, its broad canopy blocks views during spring and summer. In autumn, it dazzles with vivid red foliage. Planting them along fences creates shade, beauty, and partial screening that complements evergreen companions.
Hornbeam
Hornbeam is a versatile tree that adapts well to pruning, making it a perfect choice for hedging along fences. Its dense leaves form a thick screen in spring and summer, while golden foliage in autumn adds seasonal charm. Even in winter, its dry leaves often cling, providing some screening year-round.
Hybrid Poplar
Hybrid Poplar is among the fastest-growing trees, capable of shooting up several feet per year. While it doesn’t provide dense year-round coverage like evergreens, it creates a tall, leafy screen during spring and summer. Its speed makes it useful when immediate privacy is needed.
Meet Tomas Clayton, a seasoned plant gardener who has been passionate about horticulture since he was a child. Tomas John developed a love for the natural world and a strong appreciation for the beauty of plants while growing up on a farm.
