Adopting privacy with a hedge plant is the best natural way to enhance your home’s outdoor space. So, here is that list of hedge plants that not only provide privacy, when you sow it but also add beauty to your home yard and surroundings.
1. Leyland Cypress
X Cupressocyparis leylandii is the scientific name of Leyland Cypress, this plant is a fast-growing tree that can reach up to 50 to 70 Feet tall inch. Pruning should be done regularly, to maintain its shape and size and it also can grow several feet per year.
This tree can live for about 10- 20 years. While sowing the Hegde plants also consider how much sunlight the area receives by a hedge plant, usually, some plants prefer full sun while others prefer partial shade.
2. American Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis is the scientific name of American Arborvitae this tree is the best choice for sowing the hedges. These plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they are low maintenance and pruning can also be done easily, This is a slow-growing plant that grows at a moderate pace of 1-2 feet per year. Some of the popular specifics that people sow are:
- Green Giant Arborvitae: Grows 50-60 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide,
- Emerald Green Arborvitae: Grows 10-15 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide
- Thuja occidentalis nigra (Nigra Arborvitae): Grows 10-15 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide
3. Holly
Ilex spp is the scientific name of the Holly, this plant has glossy, spiky leaves and also often produces colorful berries in the winter. So, this hedge plant also can be a fantastic and wildlife-friendly choice for a privacy hedge. These trees are generally low-maintenance and moderately drought-tolerant and require minimal pruning to maintain their shape.
Talking about its species, this plant has around 400 species, while some of the popular choices for your home privacy hedge plants are,
- American Holly (Ilex opaca): 50 feet tall
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra): 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide
- Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata): 3-10 feet tall and wide
4. Japanese Laurel
Aucuba japonica is the scientific name for Japanese Laurel, this tree would be a great choice for a privacy hedge for your home. This plant has a broadleaf evergreen shrub with large, glossy leaves that make a dense, year-round privacy screen.
In a year, this plant can grow up to a moderate pace of 12-18 inches. Pruning can be done with the desirable height when it grows up to 10 feet tall. While sowing the Japanese laurel you need to space them 3-5 feet apart for a solid hedge. You can fertilize the Japanese Laure in the early spring with a balanced fertilizer.
5. Lilac
Syringa vulgaris is the Scientific name for Lilac, this shrub can grow easily up to 8 to 12 tall. During the springtime, this shrub gives fragrant purple flowers and green leaves throughout the summer.
This plant is also low maintenance but to maintain its shape pruning should be done regularly. Lilacs prefer full sun to partial shade and moisture and this shrub needs. This tree can give aesthetic value to your yard or garden.
6. Beech
Fagus spp is the scientific name for Beech, a large tree that can grow up to the feet of 80 and wide of 50. This Tree has glossy green leaves which turn golden-grown in the fall.
Beech trees are considered slow-growing plants and grow 1-2 feet per year. This tress soil has slightly different conditions, it prefers well-drained soil with slightly acidic soil. Beech trees can tolerate full sunlight.
7. American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana is the scientific name for the American Hornbeam, the shrub can be called a small tree that grows up to 20 to 30 feet tall and about 15 to 20 feet wide. During the summertime, this tree’s leaves are green and turn yellow, orange, and red in the fall.
In this small tree, pruning can be done easily and this is also a low-maintenance shrub. American Hornbeam has very dense foliage so it can provide good privacy. As talking about the growth rate, it has a very moderate to fast growth rate, which can reach 1-2 feet per year. Overall Sowing American Hornbeam would be the best option for a privacy hedge at home
8. Privet
Ligustrum spp is the scientific name for Privet Shrub, this small tree is a very fast-growing evergreen shrub that can grow up to the feet of 15-20 tall. During the springtime, this tree gives you white flowers and during the fall it gives you black berries. Privets also have dense foliage that good good enough privacy throughout the year.
It requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape, and it can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, which includes clay and well-drained soils. However, this small tree, Privet comes in a variety of species, with a mature height and wide. Some of the common species that we can usually see in people’s yards or gardens are,
- Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare): Grows 15-30 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide
- California Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium): Grows 10-20 feet tall and 8-12 feet wide
- Amur Privet (Ligustrum amurense): Grows 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide
Overall, for the fast-growing private hedge Privet shrub would be the best option for you, also it comes with a variety of sizes and foliage. Sow the plant according to your space size.
9. Northern White Cedar
Thuja occidentalis is the Specific name for Northern White Cader, this is an evergreen shrub with can grow up to 10-15 feet tall and with a width of 8 to 12 feet. Northern White Cedar is considered one of the perfect hedges for your yard or garden because this tree has very dense foliage with a fragrant cedar scent.
However, this shrub is a slower-growing tree it grows at a moderate pace of 12 per year. Northen White Cedar has a boast thick emerald green foliage which provides year-round privacy.
10. Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja standishii x plicata is the scientific name for Green Giant Arborvitae, this tree is one of the fast-growing evergreen trees that can reach up to 50 to 60 feet tall and with wide of 12 to 15.
This tree has very dense and green foliage also this tree can be pruned into a formal hedge. Overall, Green Giant Arbovitae is the best choice for those homeowners, who are seeking a fast-growing, low-maintenance, and ultimately very effective privacy hedge.
FAQs
Q. How can I care for my privacy hedge?
For a healthy and attractive hedge regular maintenance is the most, with watering, fertilizing, pruning, and monitoring for pests and diseases.
Q. Which are the best hedge plants for privacy?
However all of these plants are best as hedge plants but Leyland Cypress, American Arborvitae, Boxwood, Privet, and Holly plants have dense foliage and can be easily shaped to create an effective privacy screen.
Q. How many types of Holly Shrubs are there?
Altogether there are 400 species of holly shrubs are found, besides this, American Holly (Ilex opaca) Inkberry (Ilex glabra) Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata) and Wildlife Friendly are popular choices for people
Also Read: Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) Step-by-step: Planting, Growing, and Caring