26 Best Evergreen Trees for Privacy and Screening

Privacy is priceless… until you price out a fence. The good news: a living screen can look softer than lumber,
outlast most “budget” panels, and make your yard feel like a cozy outdoor room instead of a bowling alley with
lawn chairs. The tricky part is choosing evergreens that won’t turn into a 70-foot surprise (or a 7-foot disappointment).
This guide breaks down the best evergreen trees for privacy and screeningfast growers, narrow options for tight spaces,
and rugged picks for wind, deer, heat, or coldplus the real-world lessons people learn after planting a “green wall.”

How to Choose the Right Evergreen Privacy Tree

1) Measure the job (not your hopes)

Start with the height you actually need. If your goal is to block a neighbor’s second-story window, a 12-foot hedge
won’t magically do it. A simple rule: aim for a mature screen that’s at least 2–3 feet taller than the line of sight you want to block.
Also measure the length of the runbecause “just plant a row” can turn into “why is my driveway now a tunnel?”

2) Match your USDA hardiness zone and your summer reality

“Evergreen” doesn’t always mean “happy everywhere.” Some conifers adore cold winters and cool summers but struggle in heat and humidity.
Others are champions in Southern sun but look offended by a Zone 5 winter. Pick plants suited to your climate first,
then choose the look you like.

3) Decide what matters most: speed, density, or low drama

• Fast privacy: Great for instant screeningbut often needs more pruning and more space.
• Dense, tidy screens: Usually slower, but easier to keep neat and narrow.
• Low drama: Typically native or well-adapted species, planted with good spacing and soil drainage.

4) Avoid monoculture (aka “all my trees got the same problem”)

A single-species wall can look uniform, but it can also fail uniformly. Mixing 2–4 compatible evergreens can reduce
the odds that one pest, disease, or weather event wipes out the whole screen. Think of it like a playlist:
one genre is fineuntil you realize you’ve listened to the same song 42 times.

Planting a Privacy Screen That Actually Works

Spacing: the unglamorous secret to a healthy hedge

Crowding is the #1 reason privacy screens turn into a brown, patchy regret. Tight spacing limits airflow,
increases disease pressure, and forces trees to compete for water. The result: stressed plants that look thin exactly
where you want them thick. Follow spacing guidance for each tree (and when in doubt, give them room to breathe).

One row or two?

• Single row: Best for narrow yards and smaller evergreens. Choose naturally dense plants.
• Staggered double row: Best for windbreaks, big properties, and maximum privacy. A staggered pattern fills gaps faster and looks more natural.

Soil and water: boring, vital, and 100% connected to “why is it browning?”

Most privacy evergreens want well-drained soil. Poor drainage can invite root rot; drought stress can invite pests and dieback.
Before planting a long row, do a quick drainage test: dig a hole, fill it with water, and see how long it takes to drain.
If it stays soggy for hours, choose species that tolerate heavier soilsor improve drainage before you plant.

26 Best Evergreen Trees for Privacy and Screening

Below are standout options used across the United States. Heights and growth rates vary by cultivar, site, and care,
so treat numbers as practical rangesnot a promise from the universe.

1) ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata)

A classic “fast privacy” tree with thick, soft foliage and strong screening power. Best for homeowners who want tall coverage
and have room to manage size over time. Plant with enough spacing so air can move through the row, and plan for occasional trimming if you want a hedge look.

2) ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)

Narrow, tidy, and popular for suburban yards where width matters. It’s slower than the fastest giants but keeps a neat column
that’s easy to maintain. Great for a formal lookjust protect from deer browsing in areas where deer treat arborvitae like a salad bar.

3) ‘American Pillar’ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’)

When you need privacy but don’t have much side-to-side space, this is a strong contender. It’s notably narrow and can put on fast growth in good conditions.
Ideal for tight property linesjust don’t plant so close that the trunks end up competing like siblings in the front seat.

4) ‘Techny’ Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Techny’)

A tougher arborvitae option often chosen for cold climates and wind exposure. It’s a solid pick for a dense screen without the “rocket to the sky” growth habit.
If you want privacy with fewer “surprise pruning weekends,” Techny is worth a look.

5) Leyland Cypress (×Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Famous for speed and heightexcellent when you need a tall screen fast and have the room. The catch: it can face disease and pest issues,
especially when planted too close together. Give generous spacing for airflow and avoid stressing it with drought or poor drainage.

6) Arizona Cypress ‘Carolina Sapphire’ (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra)

A blue-toned evergreen prized for color and drought tolerance once established. It’s often used as a privacy screen where summers are hot and bright.
Provide full sun and well-drained soil, and expect a looser, more natural look compared with arborvitae.

7) Japanese Cedar ‘Radicans’ (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Radicans’)

A strong alternative to “typical hedge conifers,” with soft texture and a narrow-to-moderate spread. ‘Radicans’ is often used for tall hedging,
and it can look lush without the stiff, formal vibe. Best results come from moist, well-drained soil and sun to part shade.

8) Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

A rugged, native evergreen for much of the countrygreat for windbreaks, wildlife cover, and low-maintenance screening on larger properties.
It tolerates tough conditions better than many “nursery favorites.” Its berry-like cones also support birds, which is a nice bonus if you enjoy backyard wildlife.

9) ‘Spartan’ Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’)

An upright evergreen with a clean silhouette, often used for formal screens or as vertical accents in a mixed privacy planting.
It handles pruning well and can be a good choice in drier sites once established. Give it sun and avoid wet, poorly drained soil.

10) ‘Blue Arrow’ Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’)

Skinny, striking, and ideal for narrow side yards where you need height without a wide footprint. The bluish foliage adds color contrast
in a green-heavy screen. Works well as a “living fence post” treeplant in repetition or weave into a mixed planting for texture.

11) Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

A classic large evergreen with dense branching and strong windbreak potential. It’s a great choice for big screens in cooler climates,
especially where you want a natural, layered look. Give it roommature trees can be broad, and tight spacing invites thinning and stress.

12) Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)

A more refined spruce with a narrower profile than Norway spruce. It’s excellent when you want tall screening but don’t want a massive wall of width.
The two-tone needle effect (dark above, lighter beneath) adds depthlike your screen is wearing subtle highlight makeup.

13) Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Loved for its blue needles and bold presence. It can be used in screens, especially in cooler climates, but it may struggle in regions with heat and humidity.
If you’re in a warmer zone, consider using it as a specimen or mixing it sparingly rather than planting a full row.

14) Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Densata’)

A dense, cold-hardy evergreen with a classic “holiday tree” shape and strong screening value in cool climates.
It’s typically slower-growing than the fastest privacy trees, but it rewards patience with thick branching and reliable structure.

15) Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Soft, airy, and fast enough to be satisfyingwhite pine makes a beautiful, less rigid privacy screen where you have space.
It’s especially nice for naturalistic borders and windbreaks. Expect some needle drop (it’s normal), and avoid planting where salt spray or harsh urban conditions dominate.

16) Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)

Tough, adaptable, and often used where soils are less-than-perfect or conditions are urban.
It can form a substantial screen on larger properties and tolerates wind and dryness once established. Like many pines, it prefers sun and decent drainage.

17) Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

A Southern workhorse for fast height and windbreak function. It’s best suited to warmer regions and larger spaces,
where it can grow into a tall, dominant screen tree. Use it for big privacy goalsthink acreage borders and backyard “forest edges,” not tiny lot lines.

18) Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)

A true cedar with graceful, sometimes slightly weeping form and dense foliage when youngexcellent as part of a screen in milder climates.
It’s a standout for elegance and year-round interest. Give it full sun and room to mature; it’s not a “stay small forever” kind of tree.

19) Eastern (Canadian) Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

A shade-tolerant evergreen with fine textureone of the best choices for privacy where you have partial shade and consistent moisture.
It can be pruned and shaped over time, making it useful for living screens. Avoid hot, dry sites; hemlock prefers cooler, protected conditions.

20) ‘Hicksii’ Yew (Taxus × media ‘Hicksii’)

A go-to for privacy in shade or sun, especially where you want a trim, formal hedge that thickens with pruning.
Yews like good drainage and respond well to shaping. If you want a screen you can “haircut” into a clean wall, yew is a top-tier option.

21) American Holly (Ilex opaca)

A native broadleaf evergreen that brings year-round screening plus winter berries (on female plants, with a male nearby for pollination).
It’s naturally pyramidal and can be used as a screen or mixed into a privacy planting for wildlife value and seasonal interest.

22) ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly (Ilex × ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)

A popular privacy holly that grows into a dense, glossy evergreen screen with a more formal look than many natives.
It’s widely used in the South and Mid-Atlantic for hedges and perimeter planting. Bonus: it can be trained into a small tree form if you want trunks underneath.

23) Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)

A heat-tolerant evergreen shrub/small tree that’s fantastic for Southern screensespecially near the coast, where wind and salt can be real issues.
Female plants produce berries that birds appreciate. It also tolerates pruning well, so you can keep it hedge-like or let it naturalize.

24) Southern Magnolia ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ (Magnolia grandiflora)

Big, glossy leaves and fragrant white blooms make this an evergreen screen that also feels luxurious.
‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ is often chosen for improved cold tolerance compared with some magnolias. Use it where you want privacy with a side of “wow.”

25) Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

A fast-growing native shrub/small tree used for screening in warmer regions. It’s adaptable, aromatic, and can create a dense living wall,
especially when planted in groups. Great for natural-looking privacy with wildlife benefitsjust expect a looser form unless you prune.

26) Carolina Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana)

A broadleaf evergreen often used as a tall hedge or screen, especially in the Southeast. It has glossy leaves, spring blooms, and dense growth
that responds well to pruning. It’s a strong option when you want quick coverage and a “leafy” look rather than needles.

Maintenance Tips That Keep Screens Green (Not Grumpy)

• Mulch wisely: A 2–3 inch mulch ring helps conserve water and protect roots. Keep mulch off the trunk (no “mulch volcanoes”).
• Water for roots, not vibes: Deep, infrequent watering beats daily sprinkles. New plantings need consistent moisture the first year.
• Prune with a plan: For hedges, trim lightly and regularly rather than “panic pruning” every three years.
• Give air and light: Especially with fast growerscrowding is an open invitation to disease issues.
• Mix species when possible: A blended screen can be healthier and more interesting than a single-species wall.

Real-World Experiences: Lessons People Learn After Planting a Privacy Screen (500+ Words)

Ask ten homeowners about planting a living privacy screen and you’ll hear the same plot twistsjust with different villains.
The villain is rarely “the tree.” It’s usually expectations, spacing, water, or the thrilling moment someone realizes a “privacy hedge”
is made of living things that do not read your mind.

The “I planted them too close” phase

This one is incredibly common because spacing feels like the enemy of fast privacy. People line up trees like they’re placing dominoes,
trying to eliminate every gap from day one. It looks amazing for about a year. Then the plants start competing for water and nutrients,
airflow drops, and the inner foliage thins. By year three, the hedge is either patchy, stressed, or demanding constant irrigation.
The lesson most people share: it’s better to start with proper spacing and use temporary solutions (a trellis, tall planters, outdoor curtains)
while the screen fills inrather than creating a long-term health problem because you wanted instant results.

Winter teaches the harshest (and most useful) truths

The first winter is where reality sends its invoice. In deer-heavy areas, arborvitae can become a buffetespecially during snow season.
Homeowners who didn’t plan deer protection often end up with a “privacy screen” that looks like it lost a fight with a lawnmower.
People who succeed tend to do one of three things: choose deer-resistant species (junipers, some hollies), use physical barriers (fencing or netting),
or apply repellents consistently. Another winter surprise: wind burn. Sites exposed to winter winds can dry needles and broadleaf evergreen leaves,
so planting on a protected lineor using burlap windbreaks for the first year or twooften makes a visible difference.

The “my yard is smaller than the mature size tag” moment

Fast growers are tempting, and they can be the right choicebut homeowners frequently underestimate mature width.
A tree that matures at 12–18 feet wide doesn’t politely stay at 6 feet because your property line is nearby.
The practical experience many people report is that the best privacy screens are chosen backward: start with your maximum acceptable width
(including clearance from fences, driveways, and sidewalks), then choose species/cultivars that fit. If you only have a narrow strip,
columnar options like ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae, ‘American Pillar’, and upright junipers can prevent the “my hedge ate my walkway” problem.

Mixed screens feel more naturaland often age better

A single-species row looks crisp, but mixed plantings often win long-term. Homeowners who blend texturessay, a few hollies for broadleaf density,
some conifers for height, and a couple of accent evergreens for colortend to report fewer “all at once” failures and more visual depth.
Mixed screens also hide the occasional imperfection. If one plant struggles, the entire screen doesn’t look like it’s missing a tooth.
People also love the wildlife side effect: berries on hollies, cover in junipers, and shelter in dense conifers can bring birds to the yard year-round.

Watering strategy beats watering effort

Many people start strongthen gradually water less, assuming the screen is “established” after a few weeks.
Successful screens usually come from a steady first-year routine: deep watering, a wide mulch ring, and fewer turf grasses competing at the base.
Homeowners with the healthiest screens often describe the same habit: they check soil moisture, not the calendar.
If the top inch is dry but the root zone is still moist, they wait. If the soil is dry deeper down, they water deeply. This avoids the two extremes:
chronic sogginess (root problems) and repeated drought stress (pest and dieback issues).

The best screens become part of the landscapenot a green brick wall

A final “experience lesson” is about aesthetics. Many homeowners begin with the idea of a perfectly flat green wall.
Over time, they often prefer a softer approach: gentle curves, staggered spacing, and seasonal layers in front (ornamental grasses,
perennials, or low shrubs). The result still blocks viewsbut also looks like a designed landscape, not a hedge-shaped obligation.
Privacy is great. Privacy that looks intentional is even better.

Conclusion

The best evergreen privacy screen is the one that fits your climate, your space, and your tolerance for maintenance.
Choose for mature size and site conditions first, then pick the look you love. Space plants properly, water deeply in the first year,
and consider mixing species for resilience. Do that, and you’ll get a living screen that grows into a greener, quieter, more private yardwithout turning into a weekly rescue mission.