{"id":2851,"date":"2020-03-13T00:06:19","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T07:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-539\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:11:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T23:11:39","slug":"plants-for-privacy-screens","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/plants-for-privacy-screens\/","title":{"rendered":"Plants for privacy screens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Could you recommend some plants for a privacy screen that are also narrow? These would be planted in front of a fence in our backyard.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here is some general information on plants for creating a screen.<\/p>\n

Trees for Problem Landscape Sites — Screening<\/a> from Virginia Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n

Bet on Hedges<\/a> by local garden writer Valerie Easton.<\/p>\n

Landscaping for Privacy: Innovative Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Peaceful Retreat<\/a> by PNW author Marty Wingate.<\/p>\n

Here is a list of narrow plants for a screen from local garden designer Chris
Pfeiffer: “Fastigiate shrubs for naturally narrow hedges.” Compiled by Chris
Pfeiffer. 2005.<\/p>\n

Zones 5-6:<\/strong><\/p>\n

American arborvitae ‘Rheingold’ (Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’) 5’h x
3’w<\/p>\n

Barberry ‘Helmond Pillar’ (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea
‘Helmond Pillar’) 6’h x 2’w<\/p>\n

Boxwood ‘Graham Blandy’ (Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’) 8’h x 1-1\/2′
w<\/p>\n

English yew ‘Standishii’ (Taxus baccata ‘Standishii’) 4’h x 1-1\/2′ w<\/p>\n

Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’) 20′ h x 4′ w<\/p>\n

Japanese holly Jersey pinnacle (Ilex crenata ‘Jersey Pinnacle’) 6′ h x
4′ w<\/p>\n

Japanese holly Mariesii (Ilex crenata ‘Mariesii’) 3′ h x 1-1\/2′ w<\/p>\n

Zones 7-9,<\/strong> in addition to the above:<\/p>\n

Dwarf yeddo rhaphiolepis (Rhaphiolepis umbellata Gulf GreenTM) 3-4′ h x
2′ w<\/p>\n

Heavenly bamboo ‘Gulf Stream’ (Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’) 4′ h x 2′ w<\/p>\n

Japanese euonymus ‘Green Spire’ (Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’) 15′ h x
6′ w<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You might also consider installing a trellis to increase the height of
the fence, and then growing an evergreen vine such as Clematis armandii,<\/a>
evergreen hydrangea (Hydrangea seemanii)<\/a>, or star jasmine
(Trachelospermum jasminoides).<\/a><\/p>\n

This link is also helpful (scroll down to
“Evergreen Vines”<\/a> and look for appropriate height and light requirements).<\/p>\n

You could grow bamboo, but I would recommend growing it in a container,
or a series of containers, as you do not want the roots to spread. I have
seen an effective bamboo screen between two houses growing in a long
rectangular lined wooden trough (lined with bamboo barrier). Some species
of bamboo are more tolerant of partial shade than others. Look for a
clumping, rather than a running, bamboo (like Fargesia) to be on the safe
side.<\/p>\n

Growing Bamboo
in Georgia<\/a><\/p>\n

Running and Clumping Bamboos<\/a><\/p>\n

Bamboos for hedges or
tall privacy screens<\/a><\/p>\n

Bamboo<\/a>, <\/span>Berberis<\/a>, <\/span>Buxus<\/a>, <\/span>Clematis<\/a>, <\/span>Euonymus<\/a>, <\/span>Hedges<\/a>, <\/span>Hydrangea<\/a>, <\/span>Ilex<\/a>, <\/span>Nandina domestica<\/a>, <\/span>Screens<\/a>, <\/span>Taxus baccata<\/a>, <\/span>Thuja<\/a>, <\/span>Trachelospermum<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Could you recommend some plants for a privacy screen that are also narrow? These would be planted in front of a fence in our backyard.   Here is some general information on plants for creating a screen. Trees for Problem Landscape Sites — Screening from Virginia Cooperative Extension Bet on Hedges by local garden writer Valerie Easton. Landscaping for Privacy: Innovative Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Peaceful Retreat by PNW author Marty Wingate. Here is a list…<\/p>\n

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