Gardening Ideas Gardening & Landscaping Ideas Garden Design 18 Best Plants To Add Privacy To Your Yard Create a sense of solitude with fast-growing plants that screen views while enhancing the garden. By Kim Toscano Kim Toscano Kim Toscano has provided gardening expertise for over 20 years through her writing, videos, and garden designs. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 2, 2024 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian is a freelance writer, editor and fact-checker with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. In addition to fact-checking for Southern Living, Jillian works on multiple verticals across Dotdash-Meredith, including TripSavvy, The Spruce, and Travel + Leisure. brand's fact checking process Close Photo: Getty Images Fences might make good neighbors, but they render a boring view. When it comes to creating privacy, why not go green? Plants are perfect for space-making in the landscape, whether you want to establish a solid wall of separation or create a more subtle sense of seclusion. And unlike fences, plants have a soft touch in the landscape, adding texture and color to your garden rooms. The best plants for privacy include a mix of small trees, shrubs, vines, and tall grasses that complement your garden aesthetics while screening views. When it comes to planting up privacy, you have options. You can plant a traditional hedgerow of a single shrub or mix things up by intermingling different plant materials in a creative ensemble. In addition to a variety of shrubs available for screening, grasses add interesting texture and architecture to privacy plantings. Trellises and arbors supporting vines also contribute to a sense of intimacy and seclusion. You can adjust the height and density of our favorite plants for privacy depending on how much enclosure you desire, from a living wall to a thin veil of seclusion. Read on for 18 of our favorite privacy plantings for Southern yards. 01 of 18 Oakland® Holly Southern Living Plant Collection Botanical Name: Ilex hybrid 'Magland'Sun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic (5.2-6.8) With dark green foliage and a dense, pyramidal habit, Oakland® holly is a gorgeous evergreen for planting as a privacy hedge or as an accent in a mixed border. Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, Oakland holly makes a sizable planting. Plants are self-fruitful (meaning they don’t require a different pollinator) and produce red berries that attract winter songbirds. 02 of 18 Cleyera Getty Images / Caner CIFTCI Botanical Name: Cleyera japonicaSun Exposure: Full shade to full sunSoil Type: Well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic (5.0-6.5) Cleyera is a classic evergreen shrub for screening, with many varieties growing 10 to 15 feet tall. Dark evergreen foliage is shiny and smooth and light to dark green or variegated. Cleyera can be grown in Zones 6 to 9, but benefits from afternoon shade in hotter locales and tolerates heavy shade. Plant as a hedge or to provide contrast in mixed borders. Cleyera is drought-tolerant once established. 03 of 18 Crossvine Getty Images Botanical Name: Bignonia capreolataSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Dry to moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0-8.0) This tropical-looking vine is native to eastern woodlands where its stunning red-orange blooms provide an early source of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Crossvine is an aggressive grower, making it ideal for screening. It requires sturdy support and is great for covering fences and arbors. This hardy vine tolerates heat, drought, and heavy shade, though it flowers better with more sun. Crossvine is fast-growing and will scramble up trees if you let it. The vines bloom on new growth. To keep it within bounds, prune it back to the desired size after it blooms in spring. 04 of 18 Camellia Getty Images Botanical Name: Camellia spp.Sun Exposure: Partial, full shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic (5.8-6.5) Camellias enchant the winter garden with vibrant red, pink, or white blooms that open when the rest of the garden sleeps. Glossy, evergreen foliage provides year-round screening and a gorgeous backdrop to other flowering plants. Camellias can be grown in Zones 7 to 9 and are worth the effort for those rose-like blooms. Learn More 05 of 18 Climbing Hydrangea Getty Images Botanical Name: Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolarisSun Exposure: Partial, full shadeSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic (4.5-6.5) Climbing hydrangea is a woody vine that looks rather shrub-like when young, but once established grows quickly to over arbors, gazebos, or fences. Though an aggressive grower, climbing hydrangea has an elegant appearance and can easily be pruned to maintain the desired size. Summer brings a blanket of fragrant white blooms perfect for cutting and drying. Plants tolerate shade, but bloom best with some sun. Climbing hydrangea can be grown in Zones 4 to 8. Learn More 06 of 18 Carolina Yellow Jessamine Getty Images / ValerijaP Botanical Name: Gelsemium sempervirensSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5 to 8.0) This Southeast native vine shines with an abundance of fragrant, golden yellow blooms opening late winter to early spring against glossy evergreen foliage. Carolina yellow jessamine is not overly aggressive, making it a good choice for screening porches and other areas close to masonry and siding, where other vines may be destructive. The thin, wiry stems climb by twining to cover a trellis, arbor, or fence. 07 of 18 Podocarpus Getty Images Botanical Name: Podocarpus macrophyllusSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (4.5-7.5) Known as Japanese yew or Southern yew, podocarpus is a narrow, conical evergreen perfect for growing as a manicured hedge or integrated into mixed plantings as a vertical accent. Thick, but soft textured needles are deep green and arranged in a spiral pattern along branches. Podocarpus tolerates heavy pruning and can be shaped to suit your needs. Plants do not tolerate wet soil. It performs well in the Middle to Coastal South and is heat and drought tolerant once established. Learn More 08 of 18 Fringe Flower Getty Images /Elizabeth Fernandez Botanical Name: Loropetalum chinenseSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Acidic (4.5-6.5) With gorgeous purple foliage and fuchsia blooms, fringe flower adds pizzazz to privacy plantings. A variety of purple-leafed cultivars are available, ranging in size from just 2 feet to over 10 feet tall. Fringe flower tolerates shaping and pruning to maintain desired size. These low-maintenance beauties are drought-tolerant once established and are not bothered by deer. Fringe flower is hardy in Zones 7 to 9, with some cultivars suitable in Zone 10. Learn More 09 of 18 'Taylor' Juniper John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor'Sun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Dry to average, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.7 to 7.8) Growing 20-25 feet tall and just 3-4 feet wide, 'Taylor' juniper provides privacy in tight spaces. This columnar evergreen is incredibly versatile, equally at home in formal settings and as an accent in cottage gardens. Prized for its blue-green foliage and narrow habit, 'Taylor' juniper is easy to grow throughout the South in a variety of soils, including dry, clay, compacted, and nutrient-poor sites. Plants are drought tolerant once established. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is one tough tree—it can handle wind, road salt, and damp or dry soil. The one thing it doesn't tolerate is poorly drained, wet soil. 10 of 18 'Janed Gold' Arborvitae Getty Images Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis 'Janed Gold'Sun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0 to 8.0) Arborvitae has long been grown as a screen or hedge, but old standard varieties grow quite large. Not so for 'Janed Gold'. With a slender profile of just 4-5 feet wide, this pyramidal evergreen provides privacy in the tightest of spaces. Its vibrant, golden foliage brightens gardens all year round. This American native can be grown in Zones 5 to 8 and tolerates a range of growing conditions, including clay, wet soils, black walnuts, and air pollution. 11 of 18 Bright 'N Tight™ Carolina Laurel Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Prunus caroliniana 'Monus'Sun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Moist, well-draining, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5-8.0) This gorgeous broadleaf evergreen provides privacy and so much more. Fragrant spring blooms attract butterflies and native bees, while shiny black fruits draw hungry songbirds. The lustrous foliage resists deer browsing. Bright 'N Tight™ is a compact variety of this stunning native selected for its landscape-friendly size of 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Established plants have good drought and salt tolerance. Grow in Zones 7-10. 12 of 18 'Cloud Nine' Switch Grass John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Panicum virgatum Sun Exposure: Full SunSoil Type: Average to moist, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5-8.0) Switch grass is a native clump-forming grass that dominates tall-grass prairies, though it is also common along roadsides and stream banks, as well as in open woods. You can grow it in Zones 5 to 9. 'Cloud Nine' is a stunning variety, among the tallest of switch grasses reaching a height of 5 to 7 feet in bloom. The cultivar is named for its airy flower heads, that top the blue-green foliage in a cloud-like effect. The seeds provide food for wintering songbirds. Switch grass tolerates both wet and dry conditions, salt spray, and is drought tolerant once established. 13 of 18 Anise Tree John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Botanical Name: Illicium spp.Sun Exposure: Partial, full shadeSoil Type: Moist, richSoil pH: Slightly acidic (5.5-6.2) This dense, evergreen shrub is native to the Southeast where it grows in moist woodlands. Multiple species and varieties are available, depending on the desired ornamental traits. Florida anise tree, I. floridanum, produces star-shaped crimson blooms against attractive olive-green foliage. The small anise tree, I. parviflorum, is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, with several cultivars available sporting golden foliage. Despite its name, it grows 15 to 20 feet tall. 14 of 18 Indiangrass Getty Images Botanical Name: Sorghastrum nutansSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Dry to average, well-drainingSoil pH: Acidic to slightly alkaline (4.8 to 8.0) With vertical stems that stand 5 to 7 feet tall, Indiangrass makes a stately addition to mixed privacy screens. It can also be used for lining sidewalks or other narrow spaces. Several varieties are available with vibrant green to blue-green foliage. Golden plumes emerge on sturdy stems in late summer and remain attractive throughout winter. Cut plants to the ground in late winter before new growth emerges. 15 of 18 Wax Myrtle Diana Kirby Botanical Name: Myrica ceriferaSun Exposure: Full, partial, dappledSoil Type: Moist, sandySoil pH: Acidic (3.7-6.5) Wax myrtle grows in wet areas throughout the Southeast and west into Texas. While it can grow to 25 feet tall in the wild, Southern wax myrtle is easily sheared into a dense hedge in Southern gardens. Also known as bayberry for its spicy scented berries, it does very well in waterlogged soils, sun or shade, and coastal gardens. It can be grown in Zones 7 to 11. 16 of 18 Yaupon Holly John Dreyer / Getty Images Botanical Name: Ilex vomitoriaSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained but moistSoil pH: Acidic (3.7-6.8) This native tree or shrub that grows in coastal woodlands and from southern Virginia to central Texas. The small, oval, densely packed leaves can be clipped into any shape you desire. Female plants bear bright red berries in fall and winter, but a male must be growing in the area for successful pollination. The trees grow to 20 feet, but there are compact cultivars of Yaupon holly with a mounded form that top out at 3 to 5 feet tall. Yaupon holly adapts to dry soil but should be watered regularly until established. 17 of 18 Tea Olive Zhaojiankang/Getty Images Botanical Name: Osmanthus fragransSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Moist, well-drainedSoil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.0-7.5) Glossy leaves and small white blooms make the tea olive tree attractive, but the strong apricot fragrance is what many gardeners love. Tea olive can be grown as a 10-20 foot shrub or tree, blooming in spring, summer, and sporadically throughout the year. Tea olives tolerate Southern heat and humidity and adapt to any soil, even clay. They can withstand heavy pruning and drought; avoid planting it in soggy soil, which can cause root rot. Grow tea olive in Zones 8 to 11. Learn More 18 of 18 Aucuba DEA / S. MONTANARI / Getty Images Botanical Name: Aucuba japonicaSun Exposure: Partial, dappled, deep shadeSoil Type: Well-drained but moistSoil pH: Acidic to mildly alkaline (4.5-8.0) In a shady spot, Japanese aucuba can fill in where other evergreens won't grow. Gold-speckled or variegated cultivars light up dim areas and bear bright red berries in fall. This shrub likes to grow in moist, organically rich soil, but also tolerates poor sandy soils and occasional dryness. Aucuba can be pruned or left to grow to 10 feet tall, though there are more compact varieties. Aucuba is hardy in all but the Upper South. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit