Creating a Living Privacy Screen without Leyland Cypress

Green Giant Arborvitae has become one of the premier privacy plant alternatives to Leyland cypress thanks to its exceptional vigor, disease resistance, and graceful pyramidal form.

Best For:

Elegant living walls for large estates, long driveways, and property boundaries. Plant 8–10 feet apart for a dense evergreen screen.

Plant Profile:

• Mature Height: 40–60 feet

• Mature Spread: 12–18 feet

• Growth Rate: 2-3' or more per year once established

• Growing Zones: USDA 5–8

• Sunlight: Full sun to light shade

• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable to clay; cannot tolerate soggy soil

• Water: Moderate; consistent moisture while establishing

• Fertilizer: Slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring

• Pruning: Minimal; remove stray branches if desired. If pruning will be required, a regular light shearing is recommended. Plants do not tolerate hard pruning - overgrown specimens cannot be substantially reduced in size!

• Winter Care: Water deeply before freeze; mulch roots

• Pests: Occasionally bagworms or spider mites
• Deer Resistance: High

• Foliage: Rich emerald-green sprays remain attractive year-round with only slight winter bronzing in very cold temperatures

• Flowers: Inconspicuous

Similar but Smaller:

• 'Junior Green Giant' is smaller at 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide, with an moderate growth rate of 1.5 to 2' per year.

• 'Baby Giant' is smaller yet at 14 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with a moderate growth rate.

• Tiny Tower (Thuja x 'Monrig') is a slim-growing cultivar growing to 20 feet tall but only 4 to 5 feet wide with a moderate growth rate.

• 'Steeplechase' grows about 2 feet per year to a mature size of 20-30 feet high and 6-12 feet wide.

One of the most popular evergreen privacy plants for smaller landscapes, Emerald Green Arborvitae offers a refined, narrow habit that requires very little maintenance. Unlike larger screening trees, it fits comfortably into suburban gardens while providing year-round privacy

Best For:

Narrow side yards, property lines, foundation plantings, and formal hedges. Plant 3 to 4 feet apart for a dense privacy screen.

Plant Profile:

• Mature Height: 12–15 feet (occasionally 18 feet)

• Mature Spread: 3–4 feet

• Growth Rate: moderate until 12-15' in height, then slow

• Growing Zones: USDA 3–8

• Pests: Bagworms, spider mites, arborvitae leafminers

• Deer Resistance: Poor; deer browsing may remove your privacy up to about the 6' level - just where you need it most!

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade (best color and density in full sun)

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates clay if drainage is good

• Water: Water regularly during establishment. Mature plants appreciate deep watering during prolonged drought.

• Fertilizer: Apply a slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring.

• Pruning: Rarely needed. Light trimming may be done in late spring or early summer to maintain a formal appearance.

• Winter Care: Water thoroughly before the ground freezes. In colder climates, protect from heavy snow accumulation that may spread branches.

• Habit: Dense, upright, narrowly pyramidal evergreen with naturally symmetrical growth

• Foliage: Bright emerald-green scale-like foliage maintains its color exceptionally well throughout winter with minimal bronzing.

• Flowers: Inconspicuous. Small seed cones provide little ornamental value.

Similar varieties:

'American Pillar': 20-30 feet high x 3-5 feet wide; fast growth rate

Loropetalum combines colorful evergreen foliage with vibrant spring flowers, making it one of the most ornamental privacy shrubs for warm climates.

As much recent breeding has focused on plants with compact habits, larger-growing varieties may be harder to find. Look for 'ZhuZhou Fuschsia' or 'Carolina Midnight' for tall screens, or 'Cherry Blast' for a mid-size (6') screen. Most other varieties commonly sold will be 4 feet and under.

Skip Laurel offers luxurious evergreen foliage and thrives in shadier spots where many screening plants struggle.

Best For: 

Broadleaf evergreen elegance, shaded property lines, and Mediterranean-inspired gardens. Ideal for narrow side yards and intimate garden rooms. 

Plant Profile

• Height: 10–18 feet

• Spread: 6–10 feet

• Growth Rate: moderate to fast

• Zones: 6–9

• Sunlight: Full sun to almost full shade--one of the most shade-tolerant privacy hedges available

• Soil: Rich, organic, well-drained soil. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5–7.0). Avoid waterlogged soils.

• Water: Moderate. Regular watering required during establishment. Needs supplemental water

  during heat waves in hotter zones. 

• Fertilizer: Feed with a balanced evergreen fertilizer (such as Holly-tone) in spring.

• Pruning: After flowering, avoiding shearing so as not to cut the large leaves which will leave brown edges.
• Deer Resistance: Generally high

• Winter Care: Apply 2–3 inches of bark mulch over the root zone to retain moisture. Protect from harsh, dry winter winds in Zone 6.

• Pests & Diseases: Scale occasionally; generally disease-resistant, though susceptible to mildew and "shot-hole" fungus in overly wet conditions and occasional root rot if drainage is poor. Shot hole is unsightly but rarely damaging to health--if it should occur, prune out affected leaves, clean up fallen leaves promptly and avoid overhead watering.

• Habit: Dense, broad, rounded, maturing to vase-shaped 

• Foliage: Glossy, narrow, deep emerald-green leaves up to 5 inches long

• Flowers: Produces upright, fragrant white flower racemes in late spring, followed by small black drupes that attract songbirds.

Carolina Cherry Laurel is a fast-growing native evergreen prized for its glossy foliage and dense screening ability.

Best For:

Tall privacy hedges, screening pools, and buffering neighboring properties. Excellent wildlife value and tolerates coastal conditions.

Plant Profile

• Mature Height: 20–40 feet

• Mature Spread: 15–25 feet

• Growth Rate: Fast

• Growing Zones: USDA 7–10

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained soils a must; highly adaptable

• Water: Moderate; drought tolerant after establishment

• Fertilizer: Balanced fertilizer in spring if needed

• Pruning: Easily pruned into hedges or small trees
• Deer Resistance: High

• Winter Care: Minimal

• Pests: Black knot, scale insects, borers, leaf spot

• Habit: Dense upright evergreen tree or large shrub

• Foliage: Glossy dark-green leathery leaves create a polished appearance year-round.

• Flowers: Fragrant white flower spikes appear in spring followed by small black berries that attract birds.

Cultivars:

• Centre Court (P. caroliniana 'GRECCT'): 20-30 feet high by 15 feet wide with a moderate growth rate
• 'Compacta': 8 to 12' high and 6-8 feet wide with a moderate growth rate

This hybrid of I. aquifolium and I. cornuta is one of the finest evergreen screening plants available. Although a female plant, it will produce berries without a pollinator; however, fruiting is increased with nearby Ilex cornuta species.

Best For: 

Tall, dense living screens, formal privacy hedges in upcale landscapes, security barriers. Excellent winter interest and wildlife value.

Plant Profile

Height: 20–30 feet

Spread: 10–15 feet

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year

Zones: 6–9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic

Water: Moderate

Fertilizer: Slow-release fertilizer each spring

Pruning: Easily maintained

Winter Care: Little required

Pests: Scale insects; leaf miners

Deer Resistance: Generally high

Habit: Naturally pyramidal and exceptionally dense

Foliage: Glossy evergreen leaves with rich color year-round, with fewer spines than many other prickly hollies

Flowers: Small white blooms followed by abundant bright red berries

In residential landscapes, Hybrid Red Hollies provide year-round beauty while functioning as durable living privacy walls, windbreaks, and architectural focal points.

Best For:

Large, dense privacy screens, elegant formal hedges, estate entrances, buffering roads, enclosing outdoor living spaces, and wildlife gardens. The brilliant berries provide exceptional seasonal interest and food for birds while maintaining dense evergreen screening throughout the year. Space roughly 6-8 feet apart for screening.

A durable native evergreen with outstanding drought tolerance.

Best For:

Evergreen screens or windbreaks for large rural properties, native landscapes, wildlife plantings, and coastal gardens. Offers excellent heat, drought, cold, and salt tolerance. Smaller, narrower cultivars suitable for suburban property line boundary screening or living fence.

Plant Profile

Height: 30–50 feet; cultivars smaller

Spread: 8–20 feet; cultivars smaller

Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

Zones: 2–9

Sunlight: Full sun

Soil: Extremely adaptable

Water: Low once established

Fertilizer: Usually unnecessary

Pruning: Minimal; cannot be cut back hard to reduce size - will not rejuvenate from old wood

Winter Care: Very hardy

Pests: Cedar apple rust (do not plant near apple, crabapple, serviceberry, or hawthorn), bagworms

Deer Resistance: High

Habit: Columnar to pyramidal

Foliage: Blue-green evergreen needles

Fruit: Tiny pollen cones on male plants and fleshy, waxy blue cones (juniper "berries") on female plants

Good Screening Cultivars:

• 'Brodie': One of the fastest-growing cultivars at a rate of 1 to 2 feet or more per year,with a denser habit than the species and mature size of 30 to 45 feet high and 8-10 feet wide; can be male or female

• 'Taylor': tight and narrow, 15-20 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide, with a moderate growth rate; generally considered to be a male plant

• Emerald Sentinel (J. virginiana 'Corcorcor'): Female cultivar, 15-20 feet high and 5-7 feet wide with a moderate growth rate

One of the fastest-growing native screening shrubs, rarely bothered by pests or disease. Fine-textured evergreen leaves emit a pleasantly spicy scent when crushed. It may be semi-evergreen in very cold winters in upper parts of its growing zones.

Best For:

Naturalistic screens, informal hedging, wildlife plantings, and coastal gardens.

Plant Profile

Height: 15–25 feet

Spread: 10–20 feet

Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year or more

Zones: 7–10

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Highly adaptable but good drainage preferred

Water: Low to moderate

Fertilizer: Rarely needed

Pruning: Responds well to rejuvenation pruning

Winter Care: Minimal

Pests: Rarely serious

Deer resistance: High

Habit: Multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or small tree, with a loose, rounded to spreading shape

Foliage: Fine-textured, glossy olive-green leaves 

Flowers: Inconspicuous; followed by gray-blue berries on female plants that are a food source for birds

Cultivars:

• 'Wolf Bay': grows up to 20' with a denser, more upright habit

Native to the southeastern United States, Yaupon Holly is one of the most versatile and dependable evergreen screening plants available. Its adaptability, drought tolerance, and resistance to pests make it an excellent alternative to Leyland cypress, especially in coastal, urban, and low-maintenance landscapes. Yaupon holly responds well to pruning, making it suitable for both formal hedges and naturalized privacy screens.

Best For:

• Informal privacy screens, with upright types planted 6 to 8 feet apart
• Planting 4 to 6 feet apart for a dense clipped hedge
• Year-round seasonal interest when combined with flowering shrubs such as Loropetalum, Viburnum, or Camellias to create layered privacy plantings
• Areas where space is limited, such as along side yards, property lines, or pool enclosures, especially the narrow columnar forms
• Naturalistic screens and mixed evergreen borders with magnolias, Southern wax myrtle, or American holly 
• Winter interest and wildlife plantings as berries support birds and small mammals

Plant Profile

• Mature Height: 15–25 feet (depending on cultivar and pruning)

• Mature Spread: 8–20 feet 

• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Growing Zones: USDA 7–10

• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade; performs best in full sun for dense growth and abundant berry production.

• Soil: Highly adaptable to sandy, loamy, clay, acidic, or alkaline soils, provided drainage is adequate.

• Water: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, Yaupon Holly is highly drought tolerant but benefits from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods.
• Fertilizer: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or one formulated for hollies and other acid-loving evergreens in early spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which may encourage overly vigorous growth at the expense of berry production.
• Pruning: Yaupon Holly responds exceptionally well to pruning. Light shaping may be performed in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Formal hedges may require one or two additional light trimmings during the growing season. Older plants tolerate rejuvenation pruning remarkably well.
• Winter Care: Minimal winter protection is required throughout its growing range. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. Water during extended winter dry spells, especially for newly planted specimens.
• Pests & Diseases: One of the most pest-resistant evergreen hollies. Occasionally affected by scale insects, leaf miners, spider mites, or sooty mold associated with insect infestations. Root rot may occur in poorly drained soils, but serious disease problems are uncommon.
• Deer Resistance: High
• Habit: Yaupon Holly develops a naturally dense, upright, multi-stemmed habit with fine-textured branching that creates excellent year-round privacy. Depending on the cultivar, it may grow as a large shrub, small tree, or narrow columnar evergreen. Its dense branching extends nearly to the ground, making it particularly effective as a living privacy fence.
• Foliage: Small, oval, glossy leaves emerge bright green before maturing to deep emerald green. The fine-textured foliage creates a softer, more refined appearance than many larger-leaved evergreens while maintaining excellent year-round color. Leaves remain attractive throughout the winter with little discoloration.
• Flowers: Small, creamy-white flowers appear in spring and are lightly fragrant, attracting bees and other pollinators. Female plants produce abundant clusters of bright red berries in fall and winter when a compatible male pollinator is nearby. The berries persist well into winter, providing valuable food for songbirds and adding vibrant seasonal color to the landscape.

Fun Fact:

Native Americans made a ceremonial tea from the leaves. Steeping leaves for 5 to 10 minutes will produce a smooth, caffeinated beverage that lacks the bitterness of tea or coffee.

Named Cultivars Suitable for Screening:

'Pride of Houston': This female cultivar grows 15-20 feet high and 8-12 feet wide at a rate of about 18 to 24 inches per year.

'Scarlet's Peak': Female cultivar; tall and slim; 20 feet high by 3 feet wide at maturity; moderate to fast growth rate

Skyward (I. vomitoria 'WAH-EH'): Male cultivar; upright to 12-15 feet high and 6-8 feet wide with a moderate growth rate

Skyline (I. vomitoria 'WAH-SL'): Male cultivar with narrow, columnar form 15-18 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. Slow to moderate growth rate, but may be desired as a pollinator for similarly sized females.

'Will Fleming': Older male cultivar with an upright columnar form that tends to splay out after a few years, requiring tying to retain shape. Newer cultivars such as those listed above are superior in this regard.

Below:  Leyland Cypress, especially when planted closely to form a screen, may become sparse at the bottom with age.

Below:  'Steeplechase' arborvitae grows a bit more slowly than 'Green Giant' with a more manageable size. Photo courtesy Greenleaf Nursery, www.greenleafnursery.com

Below:  Emerald Green arborvitae provide privacy in this mixed border planting with switchgrass and dianthus. Planting the grasses forward, rather than in line,  allows room for the trees to grow while still maintaining the screening effect.

Below: Prague viburnum can be maintained as a neat privacy hedge if desired, but pruning should be delayed until after flowering in late spring to avoid removing blooms.

Below:  Chinese Fringe Flower, Loropetalum chinense, grown as a lightly pruned privacy screen. Be sure to choose a larger-growing cultivar for this effect.

Below: Chinese Fringe Flower, Loropetalum chinense, as a more formal pruned privacy hedge. 

Below: Skip Laurel, like other cherry laurels, may get small holes in the leaves. "Shot hole" disease is exacerbated by wet spring weather, and tends to be worse on nursery plants, often resolving once planted in the landscape. It is generally not a sign of poor health, being primarily cosmetic, but damaged and fallen leaves should be removed to prevent spread.

 Photo credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0
<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Below:  'Centre Court' Carolina cherry laurel creates a very dense screen or hedge.  Photo courtesy Greenleaf Nursery, www.greenleafnursery.com

Below:  '“Nellie R. Stevens Holly and snowfall” by redagainPatti, CC BY-ND 2.0

Below:  Nellie Stevens holly will produce an abundant display of berries perfect for holiday decorating

Below:  Red holly hybrid 'Robin' grows in a dense pyramidal shape requiring virtually no pruning.  Photo courtesy Southern Living Plants.

Below: 'Brodie' Juniper, one of the fastest growing cultivars of Eastern red cedar.  Photo courtesy Greenleaf Nursery, www.greenleafnursery.com

Below: Southern Wax Myrtle leaves have an appealing fine texture quite different from many other screening plants

Below: Yaupon holly has non-prickly leaves and female forms produce red berries with a suitable pollinator nearby.  Photo courtesy Top Tropicals, Inc., www.toptropicals.com, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Below: Yaupon holly grown as a privacy screen

Below: Yaupon holly 'Scarlet's Peak.'  Photo courtesy Greenleaf Nursery, www.greenleafnursery.com