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The quickest way to turn a wide-open backyard into a private retreat is a row of evergreens that grow tall and dense on their own. The real question is which one will actually survive your winters, fill in fast enough to matter, and not arrive as a dead stick in a box. This guide sorts through the best evergreen shrubs for privacy, focusing on the two heavyweight families — hollies and Thuja arborvitae — and what you can honestly expect from each before you order.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind WellFizz. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
If you want a fast-growing, dense screen that blocks the view from neighbors, these evergreen shrubs for privacy are worth a look, with real advantages and a few honest trade-offs.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Evergreen Shrubs For Privacy
Before you buy a privacy hedge, you need to know three things: its mature height, its growth speed, and its cold hardiness. Nail those, and the rest is just watering and patience.
Match the mature size to your space
A shrub that tops out at 12 feet blocks a one-story neighbor’s view but won’t hide a two-story house. Always check the mature height and width before planting — a 40-foot giant spaced too close becomes a pruning nightmare, while a short holly leaves you exposed. The numbers below show you exactly what each shrub will become.
Check your growing zone first
Hardiness zones tell you the coldest climate a plant can survive. A Thuja rated for zones 5-9 will shrug off a Missouri winter, but the same tree planted in a zone 3 deep-freeze may not make it to spring. Always confirm your zone against the plant’s range before ordering.
Understand the growth-rate reality
Fast-growing evergreens are the crowd favorites for privacy, but “fast” still means a few feet per year, not a full screen in one season. A 3-foot-per-year Thuja takes several years to block a two-story view. Budget that timeline in and you won’t be disappointed.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Mature Height | Growth Rate | Hardiness Zones | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Princess Holly★ Best Overall | Berry color + screening | 12 ft | — | 5-8 | Amazon |
| Florida Foliage Thuja (3-Pack)Fast Screen | Fast tall screen | — | — | — | Amazon |
| Brighter Blooms ThujaNo-Prune Pick | Low-prune hedge | — | 3-5 ft/year | — | Amazon |
| Sky Pencil Holly | Narrow vertical accents | 8-10 ft | — | — | Amazon |
| Thuja 10-Pack (7-10″) | Dense multi-plant screen | 40 ft | 3 ft/year | 5-9 | Amazon |
| Sandys Nursery Thuja (10-Pack) | Established root systems | 30-50 ft | 2-3 ft/year | 5-8 | Amazon |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae | Compact tall hedge | 18-20 ft | — | 3-8 | Amazon |
| Perfect Plants Thuja (5-Pack) | Large-scale privacy | 60 ft | 3-5 ft/year | 5-9 | Amazon |
| Thuja 25-Pack (8-14″) | Long fence lines | 40 ft | 3 ft/year | 5-9 | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Ilex X meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ (Blue Holly) Evergreen, #2 Container
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 500+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
A glossy, berry-covered holly that arrives healthy enough to plant the same day it lands on your porch.
What wins people over with the Blue Princess is the condition it arrives in — nearly a two-foot bush, thick and bushy, with glossy evergreen leaves and red berries already showing. Buyers talk about planting it the moment it arrives because it looks that good straight from the start. It reaches a mature height of 12 feet with a 9-foot spread, which makes it a genuinely useful screen rather than a decorative accent.
This holly does its best work in zones 5-8, and it grows happily in full sun or partial shade. The berries appear in late fall and early winter, creating that classic red-on-green holiday look while still doing the privacy job. There is one catch: this is a female plant, so you need a male pollinator nearby for those berries to form — without a Blue Prince holly close by, you get the foliage but not the fruit.
Buyers repeatedly point to how the plant outperforms what they find at local nurseries, often for less money. The health and appearance of this holly are the most-praised traits by a wide margin, with hundreds of owners calling out how vigorous and lush it looks on arrival. That level of consistency is rare for a mail-order shrub.
What wins owners over
- Arrives fully rooted and ready to plant immediately
- Glossy dark green foliage with red berries in late fall
- Grows to 12 ft tall with a 9 ft spread for real screening
- Thrives in full sun or partial shade
Know before you buy
- Needs a male Blue Prince pollinator for berry production
- Best performance limited to zones 5-8
Reach for this if: you want a privacy shrub that doubles as a winter decoration with bright red berries against dark green leaves.
Look elsewhere if: you need a towering 40-foot screen — this holly stops at 12 feet.
2. Thuja Green Giant | 3 Live Trees | Thuja standishii x plicata
A deer-resistant trio that buyers praise as the smarter stand-in for short-lived Leyland cypresses.
The Thuja Green Giant earns its keep as a rapid grower that fills into a tall, dense evergreen — exactly what a privacy line needs. This 3-pack is described by buyers as the better alternative to Leyland cypresses, which conked out on them after about 15 years. The trees arrive healthy and green, with several owners noting the packaging keeps every stem intact.
These are young plants, so growth takes a season to show, but buyers report healthy first-year growth once they’re in the ground. The shrub stays evergreen year-round, keeps its rich green color through all four seasons, and needs minimal pruning to hold a formal shape. It’s adaptable to different soils, which removes a lot of guesswork for first-time hedge planters.
The honest caveat from the review pages: not every tree in a batch pulls through. One buyer reports half of a shipment didn’t survive. The ones that do take root, though, are described as doing very well — so this pick rewards a little care in the first season.
Why it stands out: 3-count value and deer resistance make it a low-fuss start to a tall privacy screen.
The trade-off: young seedlings mean some losses are possible; plant extras if you want a guaranteed full line.
Best suited for: homeowners wanting a fast, tall evergreen hedge without the short lifespan of Leyland cypress.
Think twice if: you have no patience for first-year losses — buy more than you need.
3. Brighter Blooms Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae, 2-3 ft
A privacy screen that sprints upward 3-5 feet per year once it settles in, with zero pruning needed.
If the biggest headache is standing outside with hedge trimmers, this Thuja is the answer. Brighter Blooms pitches these as the evergreens that sprint skyward at 3-5 feet per year once established, turning an open yard into a private space fast. Buyers confirm the plants arrive with damp soil and green foliage, looking better than expected straight from the start. Plant them in a straight line or a staggered row — either way they form that uniform, classic look on their own.
The warranty is a genuine safety net: if anything happens during delivery, the seller covers it and guarantees the plants are true to type and healthy. Damaged leaves are excluded as a cosmetic issue, but the overall setup is reassuring for anyone nervous about ordering live plants. The arborvitae is also deer resistant, which matters if your yard is a local deer highway.
The mixed feedback here centers on size and survival. Some owners find the plants larger than expected, while others report them running smaller than the advertised 2-3 feet. A few recount real struggles with long-term survival. Shipping is restricted to certain states — AK, AZ, HI, and OR can’t get this one — so check your location before you get excited.
What it does best: fastest growth rate in this lineup at 3-5 feet per year, plus a delivery warranty that backs the purchase.
Watch out for: size runs variable and winter survival isn’t guaranteed for every buyer.
Grab it for: the buyer who wants maximum growth speed with the reassurance of a seller warranty.
skip it if: you live in AK, AZ, HI, or OR — this one can’t ship to you.
4. Perfect Plants Sky Pencil Holly Live Plant, 2-3′
A pencil-thin holly that shoots straight up to 8-10 feet with no pruning and a tight columnar frame.
Not every privacy need is a wide hedge — sometimes you need a narrow vertical accent that frames a walkway or window without swallowing the yard. That’s exactly what the Sky Pencil Holly does. It reaches a mature height of 8-10 feet with a width of just 2-3 feet, keeping a very narrow, symmetrical frame that holds its deep green color year-round. It grows in organic soils or containers, making it flexible for entryway plantings.
This holly loves the sun and does best with full sun exposure plus partial shade through the day. The most-praised trait among owners is its appearance, with buyers describing it as gorgeous and bigger than expected. It ships with easy-to-use plant food included, and it needs no pruning to hold its shape — you only trim if you want a specific height.
The durability picture is mixed, and that’s the honest caveat. While many report the plant doing beautifully, a handful say theirs died within two weeks. That split suggests this holly rewards prompt planting and proper sun placement more than most.
The standout: a 2-3 ft wide column that delivers vertical privacy in tight spaces.
The risk: mixed survival reports mean it favors buyers who plant immediately and place it in full sun.
Choose this for: narrow planting strips, entryway framing, or a low-footprint vertical screen.
Not for: anyone wanting a wide, dense hedge — this one is built for height, not width.
5. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 inches Tall Trees
Ten hardy saplings that buyers have watched grow from 8 inches to 3.5 feet in a single season.
This is the value play for long fence lines. You get ten potted Thuja Green Giants shipped in their soil, each growing about 3 feet per year toward a mature height of 40 feet and 15 feet wide. Space them 6-7 feet apart and you have a quick screen in the making. Owners mention real results: saplings that arrived healthy and, 16 months later, had grown from 8 inches to 3.5 feet in full sun.
The hardiness range of zones 5-9 covers most of the United States, and the plant is very hardy once established. Owners note that consistent watering makes the difference — some use a drip bucket 2-3 times a week and fertilize, and their trees doubled in size over a year. Arrival quality is a strong point, with buyers describing all ten plants arriving hydrated and alive even in 93-degree heat.
The size feedback runs mixed, as you’d expect with young saplings — some find them larger than promised, others smaller. But the root quality and health get consistent praise, and buyers highlight the value against the cost of mature nursery trees. They ship as potted plants in soil and containers, so the roots arrive intact and ready to go in the ground.
Why owners like it
- 10 plants for one long screening row
- Grows 3 ft per year with steady watering
- Mature height of 40 ft for real coverage
- Hardy in zones 5-9
What to expect
- Saplings start small at 7-10 inches
- Growth depends heavily on consistent watering
Pick this if: you want maximum plant count per dollar for a long property line.
Pass if: you need instant privacy — these are saplings that need a few growing seasons.
6. Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae Lot of 10, 3 Inch Pot
The fastest grower this nursery offers, with root development buyers call genuinely impressive.
Sandys Nursery positions this Thuja as the fastest-growing tree they sell, and buyers back that up with reports of trees bigger than expected and root balls that drew genuine praise. The privacy screen potential is enormous — mature height of 30-50 feet with a 12-16 foot width. Plant them 5 feet apart for a solid screen and expect 2-3 feet of growth per year once established.
The packaging gets consistent credit, with each plant individually wrapped in plastic to hold moisture and neatly packed to prevent movement in transit. One buyer ordered 40 of these and reported all 40 looking great on arrival. The trees tolerate drought once established and handle full sun to partial shade, needing well-drained soil and little else. They ship as 10 plants in 3-inch pots.
The hardiness zones of 5-8 plus cold-winter survival stories from buyers make this a sturdy pick for northern yards. There’s a note that this won’t ship to Arizona, and like any young tree, a few customers note some plants needing extra care to make it. The root quality is the thing buyers rave about most, which sets up stronger long-term growth.
What stands out
- Impressive root development for stronger establishment
- Grows 2-3 ft per year once established
- Drought tolerant after the first season
- Excellent moisture-retaining packaging
Fair warning
- Does not ship to Arizona
- Young plants may need extra care to thrive
Best for: buyers who want strong root systems that establish faster and survive better.
Skip if: you’re in Arizona — this nursery won’t deliver there.
7. Green Promise Farms Emerald Green Arborvitae, #3 Container
A cold-hardy arborvitae with rich emerald foliage that thrives in zones as cold as 3.
If you garden in a seriously cold climate, this is the pick that doesn’t blink. The Emerald Green Arborvitae grows happily in USDA zones 3-8, which covers far more of the northern United States than most evergreens on this list. It’s an upright, narrow evergreen with rich emerald green foliage, reaching a mature size of 18-20 feet tall with a recommended spread of 5-6 feet wide.
Buyers repeatedly describe the plants as beautiful, healthy, and full, with a consistent emerald color and uniform size across multiple orders. One pattern stands out: people keep reordering from this seller. The plants arrive fully rooted in the soil, ready to plant immediately, and grow well in both partial shade and full sunlight. It arrives in a #3 size, 3-gallon container.
The quality and appearance earn the most praise, with owners noting the trees look just like the pictures and hold up well over time. There’s an occasional report of a plant arriving slightly dry, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. For a classic, formal privacy hedge that survives brutal winters, this is the most dependable choice.
The edge: cold-hardy to zone 3, making it the best option for northern gardens.
The trade-off: a 3-gallon container plant costs more than bare-root saplings.
Reach for this: if your winters get genuinely cold and other evergreens struggle to survive.
Look elsewhere: if you need something taller than 20 feet or want maximum growth speed.
8. Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae, 1 Gal (5-Pack)
A 5-pack of the premier fast-growing privacy tree, with foliage that smells like Christmas when crushed.
This is the big one for serious privacy. The Thuja Green Giant is known as the premier fast-growing privacy tree for much of the United States, and this 5-pack of 1-gallon plants gives you a real head start. It can reach up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide at full maturity, though you can prune it to any size you want. Once established, it grows 3-5 feet per year with little to no maintenance.
The dense, dark green foliage smells like Christmas trees when you break the leaves — a sensory bonus buyers genuinely enjoy. It thrives in zones 5-9, meaning it grows almost anywhere in the country, and reviewers point out it doing well even in clay soil. The trees arrive healthy and vigorous, with buyers describing them as vibrant dark green and roughly 2.5 feet tall, then nearly doubling in height within five months.
Buyers often order a second batch after the first one arrives healthy and well-formed. The most-praised traits are plant health and quality, according to reviewers. These young trees establish faster than older ones, and the 1-gallon size strikes the right balance between sapling and landscape tree for many gardeners.
Why it ranks high: serious mature size, fast growth, and a 5-pack layout that suits a real privacy line.
The honest note: at 60 feet, you must stay on top of pruning to keep it hedge-sized.
Choose this for: the buyer who wants the full-scale privacy tree with room to grow tall.
Not ideal if: you have a small yard where a 60-foot tree would overwhelm the space.
9. 25 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 8-14″ Tall Trees
A 25-pack of well-rooted saplings built for covering long stretches of fence line on a budget.
When you have a really long boundary to cover, this is the volume play. Twenty-five Thuja Green Giant saplings, each 8-14 inches tall, shipped potted in their soil and containers. They grow about 3 feet per year toward a mature height of 40 feet and 15 feet wide, and you space them 6-7 feet apart for a quick screen. For a staggered privacy fence across a big property, this pack delivers serious coverage per dollar.
Shoppers say healthy plants with good root systems arriving well-wrapped, some tall enough to peek through the packaging. The value comparison against overpriced store trees comes up repeatedly in reviews. These are hardy in zones 5-9 and ship ready to plant. The root development and overall health get the most consistent praise.
The honest caveat is winter survival. One buyer in zone 5a reports losing a large portion of a batch over winter, while another says all 25 survived a Midwest winter except one. Size runs mixed — some arrive taller than expected, some smaller — and color can show brown leaves on some plants. This pack rewards careful planting and a little luck with the weather.
The strength: plant count per dollar is unbeatable for very long privacy lines.
The gamble: winter survival varies by region, so check your zone before committing.
Best for: large properties needing a full staggered privacy fence without the nursery price tag.
Think twice if: you’re in a very cold zone where winter survival is a real risk.
Understanding the Specs
Mature Height and Spread
This is the single most important number for privacy. It tells you how tall your screen will eventually block and how wide each plant needs. A 12-foot holly handles a one-story view; a 40-foot Thuja handles a two-story one. Match the mature size to what you’re actually trying to hide.
Growth Rate Per Year
Fast-growing evergreens add 2-3 feet per year once established, sometimes more. That sounds quick, but a full screen still takes a few seasons. Know the rate before you plant so your expectations match reality. Growth also depends on sun, water, and soil quality.
Hardiness Zones
This range tells you the coldest winter a plant can survive. A shrub rated for zones 5-8 is fine in most of the country but struggles in deep northern cold. Always match the plant’s zone range to your local zone before ordering — it’s the difference between a thriving hedge and a dead row.
Pollination Needs
Some hollies are female plants that need a male pollinator nearby to produce berries. If you want the red winter berries, you need both plants. If you only care about the foliage screen, pollination doesn’t matter. Check before you plant a solo holly expecting fruit.
FAQ
How far apart should I plant evergreen shrubs for a privacy screen?
Which grows faster, Emerald Green Arborvitae or Thuja Green Giant?
Will Thuja Green Giant survive a cold northern winter?
Does Blue Princess Holly need a male plant to produce berries?
How tall do Sky Pencil Hollies get?
What is the fastest growing evergreen for privacy?
Do evergreen privacy shrubs need pruning?
Will deer eat my evergreen privacy hedge?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
If you want one dependable pick, the best evergreen shrubs for privacy winner is the Blue Princess Holly because it arrives healthy, berries included, and delivers a 12-foot screen that doubles as winter color. If you want maximum growth speed and towering scale, grab the Perfect Plants Thuja Green Giant 5-Pack. And for long fence lines on a budget, the 10-pack Thuja saplings are the ones to reach for.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of August 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, WellFizz earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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Mo Maruf
I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.