Do you have neighbors that you see too much of too often? Do you find the second story windows next door – the ones overlooking your pool – a bit discomforting? Would you like more privacy in your own back yard without erecting a 16-foot fence? If so, then creating a privacy screen with plants may be the solution.
The main considerations in choosing plants for a privacy screen are:
1) They should be evergreen not deciduous. After all, you won't have much privacy if the plants drop their leaves every fall and remain bare until spring.
2) They should be hardy and low maintenance. Plants that can't take the heat of a North Texas summer, or handle an icy winter, aren't going to last very long. Likewise, they shouldn't be fussy and in need of constant care.
3) They should have a great shape whether you prune or not. Some plants look great if you just "let them go" while others benefit from trimming and shaping. The design of your landscape will also factor in to this. Do you prefer a clean, formal look or something a bit more natural and organic?
The plants on this list fit these criteria. All of them are evergreen and all perform great in our soil and climate. From 5 feet to 30 feet, if you want a wall of green (or maroon) between you and the rest of the world , scroll down for our top picks for privacy screens in North Texas.
Click here for a downloadable PDF, or scroll to the bottom for video.
Best Plants for Privacy Screens in North Texas:
Holly - Ilex spp.
• Fast growing & low maintenance
• Dense evergreen foliage is easily shaped by pruning or trimming
• Red berries in winter
• Few if any disease or pest problems (though rabbits can be a problem)
• Grow very well in our North Texas soil
Popular Shrub Varieties (alphabetical):
Burford - Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'
15-25 feet tall x 8-15 feet wide
Christmas Jewel - Ilex x Christmas Jewel®
8-10 feet tall x 4-6 feet wide
Dwarf Burford - Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana'
4-5 feet tall & wide
Foster - Ilex attenuata 'Fosteri'
20-30 feet tall x 7-10 feet wide
Liberty - Ilex x 'Conty'
10-12 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Needlepoint - Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint'
10-15 feet tall x 6-10 feet wide
Nellie R. Stevens - Ilex x Nellie R. Stevens
15-20 feet tall x 10-12 feet wide
Oakland - Ilex x Oakland 'Magland'
15-20 feet tall x 12-15 feet wide
Oakleaf - Ilex x 'Oakleaf'
10-14 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Robin - Ilex hybrid 'Conin'
15-20 feet tall x 12-15 feet wide
Scarlet's Peak - Ilex vomitoria 'Scarlet's Peak'
15-20 feet tall x 3 feet wide
Sky Pencil - Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil'
6-8 feet tall x 2-4 feet wide
(Does not take full sun. Needs afternoon shade in North Texas.)
Popular Tree Form (Patio) Varieties:
Eagleston - Ilex x 'Eagleston'
20-30 feet tall x 10-15 feet wide
East Palatka - Ilex x attenuata 'East Palatka'
20-25 feet tall x 10-12 feet wide
Nellie R. Stevens - Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
15-20 feet tall x 10-12 feet wide
Savannah - Ilex x attenuata 'Savannah'
15-20 feet tall x 8-10 feet wide
Junipers & Cedars - Juniperus spp. & Cupressus spp.
• Low maintenance coniferous trees or shrubs
• Plant in full to part sun
• Very drought tolerant
• Thrive in hot, dry locations
• Few pest or disease issues
Popular Varieties (shortest to tallest):
Blue Point Juniper- Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point'
10-12' tall x 6-8 feet wide
Wichita Blue Juniper - Juniperus scopulorum 'Wichita Blue'
10-15 feet tall x 4-6 feet wide
Blue Arrow Juniper - Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'
12-15 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide
Spartan Juniper - Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’
15 feet tall x 8 feet wide
Hollywood Juniper - Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'
15 feet tall x 10 feet wide
Skyrocket Juniper - Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'
15-20 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide
Taylor Juniper - Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor'
20-25 feet tall x 3-4 feet wide
Arizona Cypress - Cupressus arizonica
25-30' x 10-18 feet wide
Blue Ice (Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice') & Carolina Sapphire (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra ‘Carolina Sapphire’) are poplular cultivars.
Eastern Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana
30-50 feet tall x 10-20 feet wide
Boxwood - Buxus spp.
• Slow growing, leafy evergreen shrubs
• Easily shaped by trimming or pruning
• One of the most common foundation plants
Japanese Boxwood - Buxus microphylla var. japonica
6 feet tall x 3-4 feet wide
Wintergreen Boxwood - Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Wintergreen'
5 feet tall & wide
Cherry Laurel - Prunus caroliniana
15-20 feet tall x 10-15 feet wide
• Plant in full to part sun
• Tiny, fragrant, creamy white blooms in spring
Compact Cherry Laurel - Prunus caroliniana 'Compacta'
8-10 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Cleyera - Cleyera spp. & Ternstroemia spp.
• Plant in full to part shade
• A tall & dense option for shady spots
• Low maintenance & largely pest & disease free
Bronze Beauty - Ternstroemia gymnanthera 'Conthery'
5-8 feet tall x 4-7 feet wide
Japonica - Cleyera japonica
8-12 feet tall x 6-10 feet wide
Japanese Cleyera - Ternstroemia gymnanthera
4-6 feet tall x 4-5 feet wide
LeAnn - Ternstroemia gymnanthera 'Contherann'
10-12 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Podocarpus / Japanese Yew - Podocarpus macrophyllus
15-20 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
• A slow growing and low maintenance evergreen
• Dense, upright growth habit that takes to shearing well
• Grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade (doesn't like the blazing hot sun of North Texas summers)
Loropetalum / Chinese Fringe Flower - Loropetalum spp.
• Plant in full to part sun
• Hot pink blooms in Spring & Fall with maroon leaves that gradually turn green
• Fertilize regularly
Cherry Blast - Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum 'Cherry Blast'
5-6 feet tall & wide
Chinese Loropetalum - Loropetalum chinense 'var. rubrum
6-10 feet tall x 5-8 feet wide
Ever Red - Loropetalum chinense 'Ever Red'
4-6 feet tall & wide
Plum Delight - Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum Plum Delight™
8-10 feet tall x 6-8 feet wide
Purple Diamond - Loropetalum chinense 'Purple Diamond'
4-5 feet tall & wide
Red Diamond - Loropetalum chinense 'Shang-Red'
5-6 feet tall x 4-6 feet wide
Zhuzhou Fuchsia - Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'
6-10 feet tall x 5-8 feet wide
Wax Myrtle - Myrica cerifera
10-15 tall x 10-12 feet wide
• Plant in full to part sun
• A native Texas evergreen with upright branches and aromatic, glossy olive-green leaves
• Makes an excellent screen, and can be pruned to form an attractive small tree to expose the handsome gray/white bark
• Good for wet sites with poor drainage
• Also known as Bayberry
Waxleaf Ligustrum - Ligustrum japonicum
8-10 feet tall x 6-8 wide
• Plant in full to part sun
• Hardy, evergreen shrub with soft, glossy, waxy leaves
• Can be shaped or allowed to grow naturally
• White blossoms in the spring, followed by blue berries
Click here for a downloadable PDF.
Videos
The Shades of Green Show: Best Plants for Privacy Screens in North Texas video coming soon!
