When looking for privacy its always nice to get it quickly which is why fast growing shrubs are a great option.
We showcase 34 beautiful rapid growing shrubs perfect for creating privacy in your front or backyard.
Whether it is evergreen or flowering shrubs you are looking for, we have you covered.
Explore 34 Shrubs That Grow Quickly and Provide Privacy
1. Arborvitae
Offering a lush, evergreen screen year-round, Arborvitae is a popular choice for creating dense privacy hedges.
Its soft, feathery foliage can grow quickly under the right conditions, making it ideal for suburban landscapes.
Easy to maintain, it also tolerates a range of soil types and climates.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-7
- Average Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 5 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Non-flowering
- Botanical Name: Thuja spp.
2. Privet
Rapid growth and dense foliage make Privet an excellent choice for privacy screens.
This deciduous shrub can also be evergreen in warmer climates, adding versatility to its use.
It’s often seen flowering in the summer, offering a sweet scent and adding a touch of charm to its practicality.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide
- Type: Semi-Deciduous or Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring to Summer
- Botanical Name: Ligustrum spp.
3. Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel is an attractive evergreen shrub known for its clusters of pink or white flowers in late spring.
It thrives in woodland settings, preferring acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade.
This shrub is excellent for adding structure and decorative interest to shaded areas of the garden.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Kalmia latifolia
4. Chinese Fringe Flower
Known for its vivid purple foliage and striking pink flowers, Loropetalum adds a splash of color to any privacy hedge.
It grows quickly and densely, providing an effective screen while maintaining year-round interest.
This shrub prefers acidic soil and partial shade, making it ideal for certain landscape styles.
- USDA Growing Zone: 7-10
- Average Mature Size: Up to 6 feet tall and wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinense
5. Cherry Laurel
Cherry Laurel quickly grows into a lush, thick hedge with its glossy evergreen leaves that can hide any unsightly views.
Its spring flowers are fragrant and add a brief but welcome diversion to its mainly utilitarian use in the garden.
It prefers moist, well-drained soils and offers excellent noise reduction.
- USDA Growing Zone: 6-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 30 feet tall and 8 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Prunus laurocerasus
6. Mock Orange
Bursting with fragrant white flowers each spring, Mock Orange is a fast-growing shrub that offers both privacy and sensory delight.
It’s perfect for creating a natural screen that doesn’t just block views but also enchants with its citrus-like scent.
Adaptable to a variety of conditions, it’s a low-maintenance choice for many gardens.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Philadelphus spp.
7. Rhododendrons and Azaleas
With their spectacular blooms and broad evergreen leaves, Rhododendrons and Azaleas offer dense foliage and striking spring beauty.
Perfect for partial shade, they thrive in acidic, well-drained soil, creating vibrant privacy screens.
These shrubs are ideal for adding color and texture to shaded garden areas.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9 depending on the species
- Average Mature Size: Up to 25 feet tall and wide depending on the species
- Type: Mostly evergreen, some deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Rhododendron spp.
8. Lilac
Famed for its sweet-smelling spring blossoms, Lilac can grow quickly to form a solid and visually appealing hedge.
Its vibrant flowers not only add privacy but also attract pollinators, making it a dual-purpose plant.
Lilacs perform best in full sun and well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-7
- Average Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Syringa spp.
9. Forsythia
One of the first to bloom in spring, Forsythia’s bright yellow flowers are a welcome herald of warmer weather.
This fast-growing shrub creates a vibrant privacy screen that is both effective and low maintenance.
It can thrive in a range of soils and conditions, adding flexibility in garden planning.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Forsythia spp.
10. Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster offers a dense form with small, glossy leaves and produces attractive red berries in the fall.
It’s an excellent choice for a privacy screen that also serves as a haven for wildlife, providing food and shelter.
This shrub is adaptable and handles pruning well, allowing for a tidy, structured hedge.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-7
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide
- Type: Semi-Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring to Summer
- Botanical Name: Cotoneaster spp.
11. Beautyberry
Beautyberry has striking purple berries that cluster around its branches in fall and winter, offering a stunning visual display.
This deciduous shrub grows quickly and is perfect for adding both privacy and a splash of color to any landscape.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Callicarpa spp.
12. Ninebark
Featuring arching branches and exfoliating bark, Common Ninebark quickly forms a dense, layered look that is perfect for creating private spaces in the garden.
This hardy shrub is known for its durability and minimal care requirements, thriving in many environments and providing year-round interest with its foliage and bark.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Physocarpus opulifolius
13. Burning Bush
Distinguished by its fiery red fall foliage, Burning Bush provides a spectacular seasonal display while offering privacy.
It grows rapidly and adapts to a variety of soil conditions.
The dense, bushy form makes it an effective screen and a dramatic focal point in the landscape.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Euonymus alatus
14. Butterfly Bush
Attracting butterflies and other pollinators with its long, fragrant blooms, Butterfly Bush transforms any garden into a wildlife haven. I
t grows quickly and can provide a lovely, informal privacy hedge that bursts with color from summer to fall.
This shrub is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in full sun.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer to Fall
- Botanical Name: Buddleja davidii
15. Holly
Known for its glossy leaves and bright red berries, Holly adds a decorative element to privacy hedges, especially during the winter months.
This evergreen can be pruned into a dense, protective barrier that is as beautiful as it is functional.
It tolerates partial shade and prefers well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Ilex spp.
16. Hydrangea
Celebrated for its large, showy blooms that vary in color based on soil pH, Hydrangea is a stunning addition to any privacy planting.
It grows quickly and prefers partial sun, thriving in rich, moist soil. While primarily used for its aesthetic appeal, it can provide a moderately dense screen in the right conditions.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Hydrangea spp.
17. Dappled Willow
Celebrated for its striking variegated foliage and pink stems, Dappled Willow quickly grows into a vibrant, eye-catching screen.
This shrub thrives in moist conditions and can be pruned heavily to maintain any desired size or shape, making it highly adaptable for garden hedges and borders.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’
18. Panicle Hydrangea
With its large, cone-shaped flower clusters that bloom from summer to fall, Panicle Hydrangea provides a stunning visual display as well as privacy.
This robust shrub is easy to grow in a range of soil types and is more sun-tolerant than other hydrangeas, making it a versatile choice for any garden.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer to Fall
- Botanical Name: Hydrangea paniculata
19. Skip Laurel
Offering glossy evergreen leaves and clusters of white spring flowers, Skip Laurel forms a dense, lush hedge that is excellent for privacy and noise reduction.
This shrub is particularly shade-tolerant and drought-resistant once established, requiring minimal maintenance while providing year-round coverage.
- USDA Growing Zone: 6-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’
20. Photinia
Famous for its vibrant red young leaves, which fade to dark green, Photinia offers a colorful approach to privacy screens.
This fast-growing shrub also produces white flowers in the spring, adding to its ornamental value.
It thrives best in full sun and can be pruned to maintain a tidy hedge.
- USDA Growing Zone: 7-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Photinia × fraseri
21. Weigela
Weigela is a dynamic choice for gardeners looking for both decorative flowers and effective screening.
Its trumpet-shaped blooms, which appear in spring, attract hummingbirds and add a burst of color to any privacy planting.
This shrub prefers full sun and responds well to pruning, allowing for easy shape maintenance.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 6 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Weigela florida
22. Viburnum
Viburnum offers year-round interest with its solid form, beautiful foliage, and attractive berries.
This diverse genus includes varieties that bloom from winter through fall, providing not only privacy but also a scenic backdrop for any garden.
It adapts well to different environments and soil types.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-9 depending on species
- Average Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall and wide
- Type: Mostly deciduous, some varieties evergreen
- Flowering Season: Varies by species
- Botanical Name: Viburnum spp.
23. Firethorn
Pyracantha has dense growth and vibrant displays of orange-red berries in fall and winter, creating a lively privacy screen.
Known for its thorns, it also serves as a deterrent barrier. This hardy shrub flowers in late spring and prefers full sun to partial shade.
- USDA Growing Zone: 6-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide
- Type: Evergreen
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Pyracantha coccinea
24. Spirea
Spirea is loved for its showy flower clusters and fast growth, making it a favorite for informal privacy hedges.
Available in a variety of sizes and colors, it blooms profusely in spring or summer based on the species.
This easy-to-grow shrub prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring or Summer depending on species
- Botanical Name: Spiraea spp.
25. Crape Myrtle
Famous for its long-lasting summer blooms and striking bark, Crape Myrtle provides a colorful and effective screen.
This heat-tolerant shrub can be pruned to maintain a desired size and shape, fitting various landscape designs.
It prefers full sun and well-drained soil to thrive.
- USDA Growing Zone: 6-10
- Average Mature Size: Up to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide depending on variety
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia spp.
26. Serviceberry
Ideal for smaller spaces, Serviceberry provides multi-season appeal with its delicate white spring flowers, edible summer berries, and vibrant fall foliage.
This shrub grows moderately fast and offers a natural, airy form, making it an attractive option for both privacy and landscape beauty.
It thrives in both sun and partial shade.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Amelanchier spp.
27. Rose of Sharon
This hardy shrub is known for its large, hibiscus-like flowers that bloom profusely from summer to fall.
Rose of Sharon grows quickly and forms an upright, dense barrier that adds a tropical flair to temperate gardens.
It tolerates a variety of conditions, including urban pollution and different soil types.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer to Fall
- Botanical Name: Hibiscus syriacus
28. Ruby Spice Summersweet Shrub
Famed for its fragrant pink flowers that bloom in late summer, Ruby Spice Summersweet is ideal for attracting pollinators while offering privacy.
This shrub thrives in moist, well-drained soils and is particularly suitable for wetter areas of the garden, providing consistent color and coverage.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 6 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’
29. Miss Molly Butterfly Bush
Miss Molly stands out with its richly colored, magenta flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds throughout the summer.
This compact Butterfly Bush variety grows quickly and provides a vibrant visual screen or accent in any garden setting.
It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 5 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer to Fall
- Botanical Name: Buddleja ‘Miss Molly’
30. Kousa Dogwood
Known for its distinctive, star-shaped flowers and edible fruits, Kousa Dogwood is more disease-resistant than its native cousin.
This ornamental tree offers a stunning floral display in late spring, followed by unique raspberry-like fruits.
It’s perfect for adding height and visual interest to privacy plantings.
- USDA Growing Zone: 5-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 30 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Late Spring
- Botanical Name: Cornus kousa
31. Elderberry
Known for its medicinal berries and fragrant summer blossoms, Elderberry grows quickly, forming a lush, informal hedge.
This versatile shrub is not only functional for privacy but also attracts wildlife and offers edible fruit.
It thrives in a variety of conditions and is tolerant of wet soil.
- USDA Growing Zone: 3-9
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Sambucus spp.
32. Red Osier Dogwood
Known for its vibrant red stems that brighten winter landscapes, Red Osier Dogwood is an excellent choice for year-round interest.
This deciduous shrub is not only great for privacy but also for adding color and contrast to any garden setting.
It thrives in wetter areas, making it suitable for riparian plantings.
- USDA Growing Zone: 2-7
- Average Mature Size: Up to 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring to Summer
- Botanical Name: Cornus sericea
33. Bottlebrush Buckeye
Characterized by spectacular long white flower spikes during summer, this large shrub attracts a variety of pollinators.
It’s perfect for adding a dramatic backdrop to gardens or for naturalizing areas, with minimal upkeep required once established.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 12 feet tall and wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Botanical Name: Aesculus parviflora
34. Pussy Willow
Celebrated for its soft, fuzzy catkins that appear in early spring, Pussy Willow is a fast-growing shrub that provides a whimsical touch to privacy screening.
It thrives in moist conditions and can grow in a variety of soil types, making it a flexible choice for different landscape needs.
- USDA Growing Zone: 4-8
- Average Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide
- Type: Deciduous
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Botanical Name: Salix discolor
Want More?
I hope you’ve found the ideal shrub for your privacy needs!
For more privacy tree options, check out our articles on the world’s fastest growing trees, tall skinny privacy trees, evergreen trees for privacy, and fast-growing privacy trees perfect for fence lines.