9 Turbo-Growth Hedges for Privacy and Tranquility

Posted on 23/08/2025

9 Turbo-Growth Hedges for Privacy and Tranquility

Seeking fast-growing privacy hedges that create a peaceful sanctuary in your outdoor space? Whether you want to diminish street noise, obscure neighbors' view, or simply add a lush green wall to beautify your property, turbo-growth hedges offer nature's quickest privacy solution. Discover the top 9 hedge varieties that promise both privacy and tranquility in record time!

Why Choose Rapid-Growing Hedge Plants?

In today's bustling world, homeowners crave privacy and serenity. Quick-growing hedges are an eco-friendly alternative to fences, providing:

• Fast screening from nosy neighbors or busy roads
• Noise reduction and wind protection
• Natural aesthetic appeal that lasts year-round
• Wildlife habitat for birds and pollinators
• Increased property value

Let's explore these privacy solutions that combine rapid growth with lush beauty!

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

The Ultimate Fast-Growing Evergreen Hedge

The Leyland Cypress is renowned as one of the fastest-growing hedging options available, making it a go-to for instant privacy screens.

• Growth Rate: 3 to 4 feet per year
• Ideal Height: 20-50 feet (can be pruned to desired height)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Adapts well to various soils, prefers well-drained locations

With its feathery, dense foliage and upright habit, Leyland Cypress creates an impenetrable living wall for maximum privacy. Regular pruning is essential to keep this vigorous grower tidy and in bounds.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

A Lush and Elegant Tall Hedge Solution

For a formal, elegant hedge that grows at "turbo" speed, Green Giant Arborvitae is a top contender.

• Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-60 feet (can be kept shorter with pruning)
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Low Maintenance: Naturally pyramidal, maintains shape easily

This disease-resistant, deer-resistant privacy hedge holds its rich, evergreen color even in winter. The dense branching provides superb screening from sight and sound, delivering year-round tranquility.

3. Privet Hedge (Ligustrum spp.)

The Classic Foodproof Screening Shrub

Privet--one of the most popular fast-growing hedges for privacy--is a classic for good reason. It's vigorous, adaptable, and quickly forms a tight, friendly "green fence."

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-15 feet (or easily trimmed lower)
• Notable Species: Japanese Privet, California Privet, Common Privet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Once established, privet hedges thrive with regular pruning. Enjoy fragrant white spring blossoms and a classic, leafy backdrop that muffles noise and creates instant privacy.

4. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)

The Exotic, Ultra-Fast Privacy Hedge

For tropical flair and lightning-fast coverage, select a non-invasive clumping bamboo as a privacy screen. Unlike running types, clumping bamboos are easier to control and manage.

• Growth Rate: Up to 5 feet per year (from mature rootstock)
• Mature Height: 10-30+ feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Clumping bamboo forms a graceful, evergreen curtain that sways in the breeze, filtering noise and enhancing backyard zen. Top options include Bambusa multiplex and Fargesia species--ideal for environmentally friendly growth without aggressive spreading.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Shiny, Dense, and Year-Round Privacy

Cherry Laurel is beloved for its glossy, broad leaves and turbo-charged growth. This evergreen is excellent where privacy and a rich green backdrop are desired quickly:

• Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 15-20 feet (easily maintained shorter)
• Features: Fragrant white flower spikes in spring
• Sun Requirements: Tolerates both sun and full shade

This hedge variety is remarkably tough, thriving in urban soils and providing shelter for birds. Its lush foliage forms a nearly impenetrable barrier for instant privacy and peaceful living.

6. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')

Splash of Color with Super Speed

The stand-out Photinia hedge brings more than just privacy--it adds vibrant red foliage color to your landscape in spring and flushes throughout the year with new growth.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-15 feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Photinia's shiny leaves and colorful highlights make it a striking privacy barrier. Regular pruning encourages bushiness and fuller screening. Bonus: resistance to pests and drought make it a practical luxury.

7. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Fragrant, Fast-Growth Screening Shrub

If you're seeking a privacy hedge that not only grows speedily but also adds a lovely aromatic quality, wax myrtle is your plant. Native to the southeastern United States, this resilient shrub brings wildlife value and resilience like no other.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-20 feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Features: Attractive olive-green leaves releasing a spicy fragrance when crushed

This hedge is particularly tolerant of sandy or wet soils, salt spray, and coastal conditions. Its dense branching provides privacy, windbreak, and natural tranquility in just a couple of seasons.

8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Refined and Rapid-Growing Privacy Solution

For a more sophisticated take on the laurel hedge, Portuguese Laurel offers elegant, elongated leaves and fast establishment.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-18 feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to shade
• Features: Red stems and fragrant white flowers in summer

Portuguese Laurel is prized for its durability and disease resistance. It quickly forms a dense, neatly clipped hedge with a refined texture--ideal for formal privacy hedging.

9. Japanese Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)

Versatile, Fast Hedging for Mild Climates

If you want a privacy hedge that thrives in warm, coastal, or urban gardens, Japanese Pittosporum stands out for its quick, compact growth and glossy, leathery leaves.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-10 feet
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Features: Fragrant, citrus-scented white flowers in spring

This dense hedging plant tolerates drought, wind, saline soils, and pollution. With regular trimming, it forms a beautiful, uniform green screen perfect for urban tranquility.

Tips for Growing Your Turbo-Growth Privacy Hedges

• Soil Preparation: Enrich soil with compost and ensure drainage for healthy root growth.
• Watering: Keep newly planted hedges well-watered during the first two years.
• Spacing: Plant starter hedges according to mature width to avoid overcrowding.
• Pruning: Regular trimming (often after the first growing season) encourages bushiness.
• Mulch: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds around your hedge line.

*Proper care speeds up establishment and ensures your privacy screen will look lush and last for years.*

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Hedges

How quickly can I expect a privacy hedge to fill in?

Growth rates vary by species, climate, and care, but most turbo-growth hedges will begin to form a solid screen within 2-3 seasons. With optimal conditions, some like Leyland Cypress or Green Giant Arborvitae may reach full privacy in as little as 3 years.

Are there any fast-growing hedges that are also evergreen?

Yes! Many top turbo-growth hedges--including Leyland Cypress, Green Giant Arborvitae, Cherry Laurel, Photinia, Bamboo, and Pittosporum--are evergreens, providing year-round seclusion and color.

Which hedge is best for small gardens?

If space is limited, opt for denser, moderate-height selections like privet, Japanese Pittosporum, or smaller forms of clumping bamboo. These options deliver robust privacy in compact gardens without becoming unmanageable.

Conclusion: Choose Your Perfect Rapid-Growth Screen

Turbo-growth hedges are an unbeatable solution for anyone seeking fast and natural privacy, peace, and beauty. Each hedge on this list offers unique strengths--whether it's the towering coverage of Leyland Cypress, the tidy elegance of Portuguese Laurel, or the exotic grace of clumping bamboo. By choosing the right fast-growing hedges for privacy, you invest in a greener, quieter, and more tranquil home environment.

Transform your property with one of these 9 rapid-growing privacy screens, and enjoy a serene backyard retreat sooner than you ever imagined!

• Fast-growing privacy hedges offer quick solutions for privacy and beauty.
• From Leyland Cypress to Japanese Pittosporum, there's an option for every climate and garden style.
• Regular care and trimming are key to developing the green oasis of your dreams.

Ready to plant? Choose your favorite hedge for rapid privacy and transform your garden into your own personal sanctuary.