Whether you already have a traditional fence or want to create a gorgeous green privacy fence made of trees, there are many beautiful coniferous, broadleaf evergreen, or deciduous trees to choose from.
To use trees on your fence line, you typically want a tree with a narrow footprint so you can plant them close together or close to your fence without them taking over.
Let’s take a look at seven privacy trees that are ideal for your fence line!
1. Thuja Green Giant – Thuja plicata x standishii ‘Green Giant’
Thuja Green Giant is the perfect privacy tree for your fence line. Even if your neighborhood prevents having fences over a certain height, you can plant these fast-growing (3 – 5 ft per year) beauties in front of your fence to create a tall, lush, emerald-green living fence in no time!
You can let Thuja Green Giant grow naturally up to 50 feet tall, but at a maximum of only 15 feet wide, they’re perfect for planting in rows to create a lush border that takes up little space. Alternatively, you can prune them to any height or shape you want.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 50 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Thuja Green Giant - 1 Gallon 5-Pack
- Premier fast-growing privacy tree
- Dense, dark green, fragrant foliage
- Thrives in zones 5-9, low maintenance
2. American Holly – Ilex opaca
The lovely native American Holly is a gorgeous broadleaf evergreen with glossy green, leathery, spine-tipped leaves that contrast beautifully with the small cream-colored flowers native pollinators love. Later, female trees produce gorgeous bright red berries that birds will love all winter.
Tall enough to block out unsightly views but small enough not to get out of control in your yard, this hardy tree can be left to grow naturally or pruned to any shape you want.
Being native, American Holly is a perfect alternative to the invasive English Holly; use cut branches from these for your holiday decorations instead!
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 50 ft tall, 15 – 30 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Flowers bloom mid-spring; if male and female trees are present, female trees produce berries in fall that persist through winter
Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees
3. Columnar Blue Spruce – Picea pungens var. glauca ‘Fastigiata’
The Columnar Blue Spruce is a gorgeous upright, fastigiate form of our beautiful native Colorado Blue Spruce with strongly ascending branches.
Since it only grows 8 feet wide, you can plant them close together to make a gorgeous fence line tree with a bold and colorful impact thanks to its dramatic silver-blue leaves that retain their color all year.
Easy to grow with no pruning or maintenance, Columnar Blue Spruce is also fairly drought-tolerant once established. It’s also cold-tolerant and will grow in almost any soil except permanently wet.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 7
- Average Size at Maturity: 20 – 40 ft tall, 6 – 8 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
4. Cryptomeria Radicans – Cryptomeria japonica ‘Radicans’
The lovely Cryptomeria Radicans is a gorgeous cultivar of the Japanese Cedar tree with beautiful feathery emerald green leaves that give it a soft and delicate look.
But don’t be fooled by the delicate appearance; these fast-growing trees (3 – 4 ft per year) are tough and highly adaptable to any soil type, even compact clay, and will grow in full sun or partial shade and are drought-tolerant once established.
You can plant Cryptomeria Radicans along your fence or use them instead of a traditional fence to create a lush emerald-green border that blocks out unsightly views quickly.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 30 – 40 ft tall, 15 – 20 ft spread
Radicans Cryptomeria Tree - Live Plant - (1 QT)
- Tall, slender, dense evergreen for privacy
- Quick grower, reaching 35-40 feet high
- Thrives in sun to partial shade, versatile
5. Wax Myrtle Tree – Myrica cerifera
The lovely Wax Myrtle is a native broadleaf evergreen tree with small fragrant leaves and waxy blue berries to delight the senses.
These make a perfect fence line tree for smaller landscapes in the warmer south, where it tolerates heat and drought as well as sandy soils, poorly drained soils, and salt spray.
Wax Myrtle takes well to pruning as a formal hedge or can be allowed to grow naturally as a small compact tree that requires little to no maintenance.
Planting trees like these around your property is a proven way to increase your property value with little effort.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 – 11
- Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous fragrant flowers appear in catkins in spring; female trees produce blue berries in summer that persist all winter.
Wax Myrtle Tree - 3 Live Gallon Size Plants
- Aromatic foliage adds pleasant fragrance
- Year-round greenery, lush in all seasons
- Rapid growth for hedges or features
6. Spartan Juniper – Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’
The Spartan Juniper is one of the most popular upright juniper trees available today for its beauty, fast growth, and low maintenance.
Their upright, compact form requires no pruning; however, it takes very well to pruning if you want a formal hedge or even a sophisticated topiary. Spartan Junipers are also perfect for planting in rows along your fence line as a privacy screen or windbreak.
Spartan Juniper is highly tolerant to heat, cold, drought, and salt and will tolerate nearly any soil type. You really can plant this tree and forget about maintenance!
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 4 – 5 ft spread
Spartan Juniper - 10 Live Trees
- Fast-growing, dense, columnar evergreen
- Versatile for screens, topiaries, and windbreaks
- Tolerates heat, cold, and drought
7. Armstrong Gold Maple – Acer rubrum ‘JFS-KW78’ PP25301
If you want a deciduous tree for spring-to-fall privacy but want to let light in your property in winter, Armstrong Gold Maple’s unique columnar shape makes a perfect tree for planting in rows along your fence line.
In the spring, you will be greeted by small red flowers and bright red winged seeds (samaras), later followed by light green leaves that pop out against its gray bark and red branches.
In the fall, the fantastic gold-orange maple tree foliage really stands out. In the winter, its elegant, upright branches look beautiful when highlighted by the snow.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 35 – 40 ft tall, 10 – 12 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Small red flowers appear in spring, followed by red samaras in early summer
Available at: Nature Hills & Fast-Growing-Trees
Quick Overview
| Tree Name | Description | USDA Growing Zones | Average Size at Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant | Fast-growing, narrow footprint, emerald-green foliage. | 5 – 8 | 30 – 50 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread |
| American Holly | Broadleaf evergreen with glossy green and bright red berries. | 5 – 9 | 30 – 50 ft tall, 15 – 30 ft spread |
| Columnar Blue Spruce | Upright, dramatic silver-blue leaves. | 4 – 7 | 20 – 40 ft tall, 6 – 8 ft spread |
| Cryptomeria Radicans | Feathery emerald green leaves. | 5 – 9 | 30 – 40 ft tall, 15 – 20 ft spread |
| Wax Myrtle | Fragrant leaves and waxy blue berries. | 7 – 11 | 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread |
| Spartan Juniper | Upright, compact and requires no pruning. | 5 – 9 | 15 – 20 ft tall, 4 – 5 ft spread |
| Armstrong Gold Maple | Deciduous, columnar shape with gold fall foliage. | 4 – 9 | 35 – 40 ft tall, 10 – 12 ft spread |
Beautiful Privacy Trees to Plant Along Your Fence Line
Choosing columnar trees or others with a narrow footprint will allow you to plant them close together and close to your fence.
Before buying your tree(s), know your USDA Planting Zone so your tree will thrive in your climate. Additionally, check out our article on how to select a tree for your yard for more details on choosing the right tree for your conditions.
Spending a little time planning the right tree will reward you with a lifetime of privacy and beauty!
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