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Privacy hedges fail for one reason more than any other: buyers pick a pretty bush that never gets tall enough to block the neighbor’s window. The fix is choosing a plant whose mature height and growth speed match your yard’s reality before you dig the first hole. This guide compares the fastest-growing, densest evergreen screens you can order online, so you get a living fence that works in your lifetime.
I’m Rikta — the founder and writer behind FitlyFast. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
From towering Thuja Green Giants to fast-rooting willow cuttings, these are the bushes for privacy that turn an exposed yard into a secluded retreat while you wait for them to fill in.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Bushes For Privacy
The right privacy plant depends on three things: how tall you need it, how fast you need it, and how much winter cold your area throws at it. Get those locked in and the rest is mostly watering.
Match the Mature Height to Your Goal
A hedge that tops out at 10 feet won’t screen a two-story house. Measure what you’re blocking first — a ground-level window needs far less height than a neighbor’s deck. The tallest options here reach 60 feet at full maturity, while columnar varieties stay a manageable 14 feet tall, so you can match the plant to the view.
Know Your Hardiness Zone Before You Order
Every plant in this list carries a zone range, and that range tells you whether it survives your winters. The Thuja Green Giant grows in zones 5-9, while the Emerald Green Arborvitae pushes colder into zones 2-7. Planting a zone-tender tree in a zone-colder yard is the fastest way to turn a privacy hedge into compost.
Decide How Much Patience You Have
Growth speed is the biggest dividing line between these picks. Some evergreens add 3-5 feet per year once established, which makes a usable screen in a few years. Others root fast but need consistent care their first season. If you want instant coverage, willow cuttings sprout within a week; if you want a permanent evergreen wall, the arborvitae family is the long-term play.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Mature Height | Growth Rate | Hardiness Zones | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant (1 Gal)★ Best Overall | Fast evergreen screen | 50 ft | 3-5 ft/year | 5-9 | Amazon |
| Emerald Green ArborvitaeCold Hardy | Compact cold-hardy hedge | 14 ft | Fast | 2-7 | Amazon |
| 24 Hybrid Willow CuttingsBudget Champion | Instant cheap screen | 10 ft | Very fast | — | Amazon |
| 10 Thuja Green Giant | Multi-tree value pack | 40 ft | 3 ft/year | 5-9 | Amazon |
| Podocarpus Japanese Yew | Shade-tolerant hedge | — | Slow-moderate | — | Amazon |
| 50 Hybrid Willow Trees | Large property lines | 10 ft | 10 ft/yr | — | Amazon |
| Wax Myrtle (20 Plants) | Coastal climates | — | Fast | — | Amazon |
| Ligustrum Waxleaf Privet | Prunable formal hedge | 8-10 ft | Fast | — | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant (20 Plants) | Bulk mass planting | — | Fast | — | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae, 1 Gallon
Our pick — over 4★ from 300+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The fastest path to a tall evergreen screen, with a 50-foot ceiling that outgrows every other pick here.
If you want a living wall that actually reaches privacy height, this is the tree. The Thuja Green Giant adds 3-5 feet of growth per year once established, which means a row of these can close off a view in a handful of seasons. It tops out at 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide at full maturity, though you can prune it to whatever size you actually want.
The foliage is dense and dark green, and it smells like a Christmas tree when you break the leaves. It thrives in zones 5-9, which covers most of the United States, and once established it needs little to no maintenance. Buyers consistently call the plants healthy and well-rooted — the health of the arrivals is what people praise most, with quality close behind.
Two things win people over here: the value and the packaging. Shipped trees arrive in good shape even in July heat, with bamboo stakes protecting them in transit. Since this is the price leader at about per tree, it’s the classic choice for planting a young hedge where deer risk is acceptable. You’re buying small and growing your own screen rather than paying for a mature tree.
What wins people over
- Grows 3-5 feet per year once established
- Dense foliage that smells like a Christmas tree
- Thrives in zones 5-9, covering most of the US
The honest trade-offs
- Arrives small (1-2 feet tall) and needs years to become a screen
- Regular watering required while young
Reach for this if: you want the fastest-growing tall evergreen for zones 5-9 and are willing to plant small and wait.
Look elsewhere if: you need instant coverage this season — this is a grow-your-own-hedge project.
2. Perfect Plants Emerald Green Arborvitae
The narrow, upright evergreen that shrugs off the coldest winters of any pick on this list.
This is the arborvitae for cold climates. It thrives in hardiness zones 2-7, which makes it the hardiest privacy plant here — most evergreens tap out before zone 5. It holds its pristine green color through both winter and summer, so your screen doesn’t go brown when the snow flies.
The Emerald Green grows in a tidy columnar form, reaching 14 feet tall and just 4 feet wide at maturity. That narrow footprint is perfect for a hedge row where you don’t want trees bulging into the yard. It’s also deer resistant and drought tolerant once established, so it asks for very little upkeep after the first season.
Buyers report the trees arrive fresh and ready to plant, often taller than the expected 1.5 feet — some measured 2+ feet on delivery. The compact size makes it a smart choice compared to the wider Green Giant above if your planting strip is tight but you still want real screening height.
Why it stands out: you get a tall privacy screen that stays narrow, reaching 14 feet high without spreading wide, and it survives winters down to zone 2-7, so it suits cold-region buyers better than any other pick here.
Best for: northern gardeners in zones 2-7 who want a tidy, deer-resistant evergreen hedge that won’t outgrow a narrow planting bed.
The catch: one buyer felt the order didn’t match expectations on contents, so confirm what’s in the box before planting.
3. 24 Jumbo Hybrid Willow Tree Cuttings
Roots visible within a week, making this the fastest-starting privacy screen money can buy.
This is the pick for anyone who wants to see progress immediately. Each cutting measures about 10 inches tall with 5/8 to 1+ inch thick root stock, and owners mention the cuttings root successfully within 5 days of planting. Some owners saw blooms within a single week, even without first leaving them in water.
The willows grow into tall, elegant trees that reach 10 feet at maturity, making them ideal for property lines, wind blocks, and erosion control along roads and ditches. They’re GMO-free and prefer full sun with moderate watering. What people praise most is the growing vigor — this is a plant that visibly works.
The main thing to know is that willow cuttings are not the same as a tidy evergreen hedge. The growing performance gets mixed feedback, with some buyers enjoying great results while others lost a share of their cuttings. The good news: this pick is cheap enough that you can plant 24 of them and let the strongest survive, and the seller sends replacements for those that fail early.
Who it’s for: budget-conscious buyers who want a fast screen and don’t mind a bit of a survival-of-the-fittest approach to planting.
Go for it if: you want visible rooting in days and a fast 10-foot screen at the lowest cost per plant.
skip it if: you expect uniform, perfectly groomed evergreens — willows are fast but not formal.
4. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 inches Tall
Ten Green Giants in one box, giving you a full hedge row at a fraction of nursery prices.
This pack solves the math problem of planting a hedge: you need many trees, and buying them individually adds up fast. Here you get a 10-pack of Thuja Green Giants that ship as potted plants in their own soil and containers. Space them 6-7 feet apart and you have the start of a quick screen.
These trees grow about 3 feet per year and reach a mature height of 40 feet with a 15-foot spread. They’re hardy in zones 5-9, which covers a huge stretch of the country. What buyers single out is the health of the arrivals — the trees consistently show well-developed root systems and arrive in excellent condition.
The size story is the honest caveat: some buyers found the trees larger than promised while others felt they were smaller than advertised. The growth potential is proven though — one owner saw saplings grow from 8 inches to 3.5 feet in 16 months with full sun. This pick beats the single-gallon option above on sheer quantity if you’re planting a long border.
The value case
- 10 trees per order for a full hedge row
- Grows 3 feet per year up to 40 feet tall
- Well-developed root systems on arrival
What to watch
- Seedling size varies between orders
- Needs 6-7 feet of spacing per tree
Choose this if: you’re planting a long property line and want 10 healthy Green Giants in one economical shipment.
Think twice if: you only need a couple of trees — the multi-pack is built for a row.
5. Podocarpus Japanese Yew (10 Live Plants)
The adaptable evergreen that thrives in shade, where other privacy plants refuse to grow.
Most privacy screens demand full sun, but this one doesn’t. The Podocarpus Japanese Yew grows happily in both full sun and partial shade, making it the pick for a shady side yard where a Green Giant would sulk. It’s a versatile evergreen that works as a hedge, a topiary, or a standalone specimen.
The lush, dark green foliage provides year-round color, and the plant tolerates a range of well-drained soil types. Growth is slow to moderate, which is a trade-off for privacy seekers — you’re not going to get 3 feet of new growth every year. But customers note the plants keep putting on new growth and arrive very healthy and well-packaged.
One buyer’s note stands out: a 10-pack of “four-inch pots” actually contained nearly forty healthy specimens, so this pick can over-deliver on quantity. The slow-moderate growth rate means it’s best for gardeners who can wait for a denser, more refined hedge rather than an instant screen.
The real appeal: shade tolerance plus drought tolerance makes this the low-stress choice for tricky spots where other evergreens struggle.
Reach for it if: your planting strip is partly shaded and you want a low-maintenance evergreen hedge.
Be patient if: you need fast vertical growth — the slow-moderate pace won’t rush to block a view.
6. 50 Hybrid Willow Trees (Austree)
A 50-pack of the world’s fastest-growing trees, adding up to 10 feet of height per year.
If speed is everything, this is the extreme option. These Aussie Hybrid Willows are marketed as the fastest-growing trees in the world, adding up to 10 feet per year. The 50-pack gives you enough cuttings to line a long property boundary, and they take to rooting quickly in both soil and water.
The trees are also genuinely useful beyond privacy: they help with erosion control, dry up bogs, and filter the air while producing oxygen. They’re deer resistant, which is a real advantage if your yard is a buffet for local wildlife. CZ Grain backs every order with a guarantee and sends detailed instructions plus YouTube tutorial links.
Expect mixed results with rooting. Some reviewers point out nearly every cutting rooting — one owner lost only 5 out of 120+ across four batches — while others lost most of their order. The key to success appears to be starting them in water until roots form and keeping them well-watered the first year. Treat it as a numbers game: plant 50, expect some losses, and the survivors will outgrow everything else in this guide.
The defining trait: 10 feet of growth per year is in a different league from every evergreen on this list — you just have to accept a survival rate that isn’t perfect.
Best for: large properties where you want a fast, deer-resistant screen and can plant in bulk.
Not for: anyone who wants guaranteed uniformity — willow cuttings are vigorous but variable.
7. Wax Myrtle (20 Live Plants)
A fast-growing native that thrives in coastal air and poor soil where fussier plants give up.
The Wax Myrtle is the resilient workhorse of the privacy world. It’s a fast-growing shrub with aromatic evergreen foliage that stays green all year, and it adapts to diverse soil conditions including coastal environments. If you live near the ocean or have challenging ground, this native plant is built for you.
The 20-pack gives you solid coverage for a windbreak or natural screen, and it’s drought tolerant and low maintenance once established. Shoppers say the plants arrive healthy and thrive after planting — one owner saw theirs double in size within 3 months of repotting. It’s also described as a soil-healing native plant, adding ecological value beyond just blocking a view.
The recurring note is size: the plants arrive small, and several buyers were surprised at how little they were. The plant size is the most-discussed negative here, so go in knowing you’re buying small starts that will take time to fill in. Buyers consistently praise the plants’ health and quality above all else.
The honest read: this is a pick for people who want a resilient, fast-growing native screen and accept that the arrivals are small starts, not instant bushes.
Choose it if: you’re in a coastal or difficult-soil area and want a drought-tolerant, aromatic evergreen screen.
Manage expectations: the young plants are small on arrival and need a season or two to become a real screen.
8. Ligustrum Waxleaf Privet (20 Live Plants)
The glossy-leaved fast grower that shears into a crisp, formal privacy hedge.
If you want a hedge that looks manicured rather than wild, the Ligustrum Waxleaf Privet is the one. It’s a fast grower that reaches 8-10 feet high with dense, bushy growth ideal for a privacy screen, wind screen, or formal hedging. The glossy foliage responds beautifully to pruning, and it can even be shaped into topiary or a small standard tree.
The 20-pack is a strong value for a full hedge row. It puts on white blooms in profusion, adding a seasonal show on top of its screening duty. It performs well in containers too, which is unusual for a privacy plant. Buyers report the arrivals are healthy, well-packed, and often larger than expected with strong root systems — Buyers consistently praise the plants’ health above all else.
Genuine mixed feedback shows up on size: some buyers found the plants bigger than expected while others felt they were incredibly small. This is a case where arrival size varies by order. The plant also asks for regular watering while establishing and benefits from shearing 2-3 times per year to hold its shape — real upkeep, but the payoff is a crisp formal hedge.
Why it stands out: the glossy foliage and pruning response make this the best pick here for a groomed, formal look rather than a natural screen.
Pick this if: you want a fast-growing 8-10 foot hedge that you’re happy to shear into a tidy shape.
Look past it if: you’d rather have a no-pruning evergreen — this one rewards regular maintenance.
9. Thuja Green Giant (20 Live Plants)
Twenty Green Giants for the biggest privacy projects, at the best per-tree cost in the guide.
This is the bulk play for serious planting projects. The 20-pack of Thuja Green Giants is built for large landscapes — think long driveways, backyard borders, or a full property-line screen. The trees grow in full sun to partial shade across a variety of soil types with minimal care, and their feathery green foliage stays lush year-round.
What wins buyers over is the value. Buyers consistently praise the arrivals’ health, noting strong roots and sturdy, mold-free specimens. For mass planting, this is the economical way to build a dense natural screen.
The caveats are real. Size gets mixed feedback — the trees are healthy but on the smaller side, so don’t expect instant height. Shipping is rough on bulk orders, and buyers advise accounting for some losses in transit. One owner saw most of their 40 trees fail despite good care, so this pick rewards attentive watering in the critical first month and possibly a greenhouse start in cold climates.
The bulk advantage
- 20 trees at the lowest per-plant cost here
- Strong roots and healthy specimens on arrival
- Year-round planting period for flexibility
Know before you buy
- Trees arrive small and need years to screen
- Requires consistent watering in the first month
Best for: large properties where you’re planting a full screen and want the most trees per dollar.
Think twice if: you can’t commit to watering a big batch through their first critical month.
Understanding the Specs
Mature Height
This is the ceiling your plant will eventually hit, usually over many years. The Thuja Green Giant tops out around 50-60 feet, which gives you options to prune or just let it tower. Columnar varieties like the Emerald Green stop at a tidy 14 feet, so they never overwhelm a smaller yard. Always match the mature height to what you’re actually trying to block.
Hardiness Zones
This numbered range tells you which winter temperatures a plant survives. A Green Giant growing in zones 5-9 handles most of the US, while the Emerald Green pushes colder into zones 2-7. If you plant outside your zone, the tree may not survive its first winter. Check your zone before ordering anything.
FAQ
What is the fastest growing bush for privacy?
Will Thuja Green Giant survive in my zone?
How far apart should I plant privacy bushes?
How tall do bushes get for privacy?
Do privacy bushes need full sun?
What is the difference between Green Giant and Emerald Green arborvitae?
Are privacy bushes deer resistant?
How much water do privacy hedges need when young?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the winner is the Thuja Green Giant because it pairs the fastest evergreen growth with the widest range of zones and the best price per tree. If you need a narrow, cold-hardy hedge for a tight space, grab the Emerald Green Arborvitae. And for the fastest possible screen on a budget, the 24 Hybrid Willow Cuttings will show visible roots within a week.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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