14 Fast-Growing Trees For A Natural Privacy Screen In Your Yard

If you've ever looked out your back window and wished you had a little more peace, quiet, and seclusion from the outside world, a natural privacy screen is one of the prettiest ways to add a resort-like seclusion to your space. Instead of staring at fences or walls, you can surround yourself with lush greenery that serves double duty by blocking unwanted views while attracting pollinators, muffling noise, and providing a shaded canopy to your entire space. You don't have to wait decades to make it a reality. Fast-growing trees, which grow 24 inches or more a year, can add a living barrier to your yard and completely change the aesthetic.

Whether to block a busy street, an unpleasant view of the neighboring property, or to create a relaxing private spot, there's a fast-growing tree for that. Evergreens like Thuja "Green Giant" and Leyland cypress trees provide year-round coverage, so your backyard feels tucked away even in the middle of winter. If you prefer trees with seasonal drama, deciduous varieties like the red maple or tulip tree put on show-stopping displays of color while giving you shade and summer privacy. For something more unique, flowering trees like Eastern redbud or Southern magnolia bring bursts of bold color and fragrance, proving that privacy screens can be both functional and gorgeous.

From evergreens to leafy shade trees, these fast growers turn your outdoor space into a private, inviting escape with a quiet living canopy filled with natural shade.

If you're looking for a tree that delivers fast, lush privacy without a lot of fuss, 'Green Giant' arborvitae (Thuja 'Green Giant') is hard to beat. The 'Green Giant' cultivar is an evergreen that grows up to 3 feet per year, quickly forming a dense, vibrant wall of greenery. Thriving in USDA zones 5 through 8, its feathery, rich green foliage stays full and fresh-looking all year long, giving you reliable coverage in every season. At maturity, it reaches between 40 and 60 feet tall and up to 18 feet wide.

Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a fast-growing, eye-catching tree that doubles as a natural privacy screen and a conversation starter. Famous for its huge, heart-shaped leaves and clusters of showy white, orchid-like flowers, it creates lots of shade and coverage in no time. Southern catalpa trees are hardiest in zones 5 through 9,  bringing both privacy and a touch of whimsy. It's also one of the beautiful trees that naturally invite hummingbirds to your yard.

For a bit of jolly year-round, 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly (Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens') has you covered. In zones 6 through 9, this fast-growing broadleaf evergreen can reach up to 30 feet and an impressive width of 8 to 25 feet, forming a dense, lush wall of glossy green leaves. It's perfect for keeping potential peepers at bay. In spring, it produces small white blooms, with clusters of bright red berries in fall and winter that add cheerful color and attract birds.

If you want quick, reliable privacy, the Leyland cypress (×Hesperotropsis leylandii) tree is a superstar. This fast-growing evergreen can shoot up as much as 3 feet a year, creating a thick, soft wall of blue-green foliage in record time. Leland cypress is hardiest in zones 6 through 10, with feathery branches that form a natural privacy screen that's perfect for carving out a backyard escape.

Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) trees are a fast-growing, versatile evergreen that is perfect for creating a natural privacy screen with a softer, more relaxed look. Its slender, aromatic leaves stay green year-round, while its dense branches offer quick coverage without feeling too heavy. These shrub-tree combos grow 3 to 5 feet every year in zones 7 through 11 and produce small, waxy berries that are like candy for birds and pollinators.

The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) tree brings classic drama to your yard. Known for its massive size and unique mottled bark that peels away to reveal creamy white and gray patches, it adds character to any landscape. This tree needs quite a bit of space when planted since it can reach up to 100 feet and 10 feet in diameter, gaining over 2 feet per year. Hardiest in zones 4 through 9, the American sycamore delivers both beauty and privacy on a grand scale if you have the space to spare.

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) trees have glossy, evergreen leaves and fragrant, creamy-white blooms that can reach dinner-plate size during the summer in zones 6 through 10. It's one of those trees that feels instantly elegant. The rusty brown undersides of its leaves give it an extra layer of texture and color, so it always looks lush, making it a great choice for privacy, shade, and year-round coverage. It's ideal if you want a speedy privacy screen, gaining 1 to 2 feet in height per year.

Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are flowering trees that are the showiest of them all. Bursting with the prettiest shades of pink in early spring, this ornamental tree can tolerate full sun to part shade and can be grown in zones 4 through 9. The pollinator favorite ditches the flowers in favor of heart-shaped green leaves, forming a soft canopy that provides seasonal shade and a fast-growing privacy screening.

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees are fast-growing and will make your yard a pollinator haven, but their appeal goes well beyond that. The tree is best known for its smorgasbord of uniquely shaped leaves on the same tree — some are oval-, mitten-, and three-lobe-shaped, giving it a truly whimsical look. Sassafras forms a dense, leafy canopy that can provide seasonal privacy and plenty of shade for those living in zones 4 through 9.

The Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) tree is a graceful evergreen that brings year-round privacy and softness to any landscape. Its feathery, deep green needles and droopy branches create a lush, layered look that feels like a fairytale set in the woods. It grows about 1 to 2 feet per year and offers dense foliage coverage. Eastern hemlock trees thrive in cooler temperatures, like those found in zones 3 through 7.

Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a fast-growing shrub or small tree that brings beauty and privacy together in one really pretty package. Known for its large, cone-shaped clusters of flowers, it puts on a spectacular show from midsummer into fall. Growing up to 25 feet high, panicle hydrangea can be planted in groups to form a dense, flowering screen that feels lush and welcoming. It thrives in sunny spots in zones 3 through 8.

Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) trees are bold, fast-growing evergreens that make an impressive natural screen. With their rich green foliage and distinctive, windswept shape, they quickly create privacy while adding some structured character to your landscape. This tree thrives in coastal areas, growing naturally on the central California coast, where salty air and strong breezes can challenge other species, making it a favorite along shorelines, but still capable of thriving in zones 7 through 10

True to its name, the red maple (Acer rubrum) tree puts on a spectacular show each fall, with fiery red, orange, and even yellow foliage that will light up your landscape with dramatic color. It's an adaptable tree that brings both privacy and four-season beauty to your yard, especially if you live in zones 2 through 9. In springtime, tiny red flowers and winged seeds add another splash of color, while its dense canopy offers a place to cool all summer long.

The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is an exceptionally fast grower, often shooting up between 2 and 3 feet a year in ideal conditions. It's also one of the prettiest, living up to its name, with 2.5-inch tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers that attract pollinators and add a splash of color to your landscape in spring. By fall, its bright golden leaves put on a dazzling show. The tulip tree is hardiest in zones 4 through 9.