Curated by real gardeners
Plants for Privacy Screens
A living screen beats a fence: it gets taller, softer, and better every year. These shrubs and trees reach screening height (6′+) and hold their shape.
The 24 most-saved picks
#1 most savedTrio Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Trio'
#2 most savedJoseph's Coat Rose
Rosa x floribunda 'Joseph's Coat'
#3 most savedPawpaw
Asimina triloba
Limelight Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Green Giant'
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'
Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
Orangeola Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd Emerald'
Snowflake Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake'
Lavender Twist Redbud
Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist'
Butterfly Bush Purple Prince
Buddleia davidii 'Purple Prince'
Honeycomb Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii 'Honeycomb'
Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii
American Pillar Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'
Crimson Queen Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'
Eastern Redbud Forest Pansy
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
Goldflame Honeysuckle
Lonicera x helleri 'Goldflame'
Hydrangea Quick Fire Fab
Hydrangea x hybrida 'Quick Fire Fab'
Weeping Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Shidare'
Butterfly Bush Sky Blue
Buddleja davidii 'Sky Blue'
Deluxe Butterfly Bush
Buddleja davidii 'Deluxe'
Butterfly Bush
Buddelia x weyeriana
River Birch
Betula nigra
Privacy questions
What’s the fastest way to a living privacy screen?
Plant larger stock of fast growers (arborvitae, viburnum, ornamental grasses as a stopgap) at proper spacing — cramming plants closer buys a year now and costs the screen later when they crowd out.
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Find the right privacy plants for YOUR yard
Sow matches plants to your zone, sun, and style — then designs the bed and reminds you how to care for it.
