A great hedge does more than define your space it creates privacy, reduces noise, offers wind protection, and adds year-round greenery. Evergreen hedges are especially valuable because they keep their foliage through all seasons, providing consistent structure and seclusion even in winter. Whether you’re looking for fast-growing screens, formal boundaries, or lush green backdrops, these evergreen varieties are among the best choices for long-lasting beauty and privacy in any garden.
1. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood is the classic choice for formal evergreen hedges. Its dense, small leaves and slow, compact growth make it ideal for shaping into crisp, clean lines. Boxwood thrives in sun or partial shade and tolerates regular trimming, making it perfect for topiary or knot gardens. While it’s not the fastest grower, its longevity and elegance are unmatched. Modern cultivars like ‘Green Mountain’ or ‘Winter Gem’ offer improved disease resistance and winter color, ensuring year-round structure and sophistication.
2. English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
English laurel is a vigorous, fast-growing evergreen hedge with large, glossy green leaves that offer instant privacy. It can grow up to 2 feet per year, reaching heights of 10–15 feet if left untrimmed. It performs well in sun or partial shade and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types. English laurel also produces fragrant white flowers in spring, adding seasonal interest. Its thick foliage is ideal for blocking noise and creating a lush, living wall.
3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Privet hedges are prized for their fast growth and adaptability. Semi-evergreen to fully evergreen depending on your climate, privets form dense, leafy screens that respond well to pruning. Popular types like Ligustrum ovalifolium or Ligustrum vulgare grow quickly and can reach 10–12 feet tall, making them perfect for privacy hedging. They tolerate pollution, drought, and pruning, and even offer clusters of white flowers in late spring. Privets are ideal for those seeking a quick-growing, low-fuss green barrier.
4. Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata)
For instant impact, Thuja ‘Green Giant’ is a top contender. This fast-growing arborvitae hybrid can grow 3–5 feet per year under ideal conditions, eventually reaching 30–40 feet tall. It’s an excellent choice for large properties where a tall privacy screen or windbreak is needed. Its soft, feathery foliage stays rich green all year and resists deer better than many other evergreens. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil for optimal growth and performance.
5. Yew (Taxus baccata or Taxus x media)
Yew is a timeless evergreen hedge known for its fine texture, deep green needles, and incredible longevity. Unlike some evergreens, it thrives in both full sun and deep shade, making it ideal for difficult locations. Yews grow slowly but densely, and they tolerate heavy pruning, allowing you to shape them precisely. They’re especially popular in formal landscapes and historic gardens. Red berries in fall add a seasonal touch, but note: all parts of the yew are toxic if ingested.
6. Leyland Cypress (× Cuprocyparis leylandii)
Leyland cypress is one of the fastest-growing evergreen hedges, capable of gaining 3–4 feet per year. Its tall, upright habit and soft blue-green foliage make it a popular choice for creating quick privacy screens or windbreaks. Best planted in full sun with good drainage, it needs regular pruning to maintain shape and prevent overgrowth. Left unchecked, it can reach 50 feet tall. Use it where space allows and you want fast, towering greenery that stays attractive year-round.
7. Holly (Ilex aquifolium or Ilex x meserveae)
Holly hedges bring ornamental beauty along with privacy. Glossy, spined leaves deter intruders, while the bright red berries (on female plants) add festive color in winter. Choose Ilex aquifolium for classic English holly or Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ for a cold-hardy option. Hollies grow well in sun to part shade and are relatively low maintenance once established. A male pollinator nearby ensures berry production. These hedges offer year-round coverage with seasonal interest.
8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
Portuguese laurel is a sophisticated alternative to common cherry laurel, with smaller, dark green leaves and deep red stems that create a striking visual contrast. It grows densely and tolerates pruning, making it ideal for medium to tall hedges. Hardy and wind-resistant, it does well in full sun to partial shade. Unlike its more vigorous cousin, it offers a more refined, manageable growth habit, growing around 1–2 feet per year. It’s also more tolerant of drought once established.
9. Viburnum tinus
This evergreen viburnum is a standout for privacy in milder climates (hardy in zones 7–10). It forms a dense, medium-height hedge with dark green foliage and is especially valued for its long winter blooming period—producing pinkish-white flower clusters followed by dark blue berries. Viburnum tinus grows best in full sun to partial shade and reaches about 6–10 feet tall. Its neat, bushy habit and seasonal flowers make it both functional and ornamental for year-round screening.
10. Pittosporum tenuifolium
Pittosporum adds a soft, modern touch to evergreen hedges with its wavy, silvery-green or variegated leaves and fine texture. It’s excellent for milder zones (8–10) and grows quickly to about 10 feet tall. Popular cultivars like ‘Silver Sheen’ or ‘Golf Ball’ offer color variation and dense growth. It thrives in full sun or part shade and is drought-tolerant once established. With its elegant foliage and upright form, Pittosporum makes a stylish privacy screen or clipped hedge.