Nosy neighbours or unsightly views spoiling your garden? These trees, climbers and shrubs are the perfect solution, providing privacy and interest throughout the year.
1: Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
A go-to choice for vertical drama and privacy in the garden, the Italian cypress’s tall, slender form is ideal for screening out neighbours. It fits neatly into small spaces with minimal spread, yet can reach impressive heights of up to 45m in its lifetime. The evergreen foliage provides year-round coverage, giving you privacy whatever the season. With regular watering during establishment and occasional trimming, it’s an effective green barrier, even in exposed spots.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 15m x 2.5m (in 20 years)
2: Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Holly is a classic evergreen that’s invaluable for adding more privacy, offering dense, prickly foliage that forms an impenetrable barrier. Its glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries provide year-round interest and security. Plus, it’s hugely valuable for wildlife, offering shelter and food in winter months. Holly tolerates both sun and shade, thriving in a variety of soils, and can be clipped into formal hedges or left to grow naturally. Its robust nature and adaptability make holly a long-lasting solution for privacy.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 15m x 4-8m (depends on variety)
3: Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a vibrant evergreen shrub or small tree, prized for its striking red young leaves and dense growth. It creates an effective privacy screen with foliage that forms a thick barrier, blocking views and softening boundaries. Left unpruned, it produces clusters of white flowers in summer. Photinia is well-suited to urban gardens, coping with pollution and responding well to regular trimming to maintain shape and density. Its colourful new growth brings brightness to screening, offering privacy with a splash of colour and interest throughout the year.
Type: Tree/small shrub
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 6m x 4m
4: Holm oak (Quercus ilex)
This robust evergreen tree is perfect for year-round privacy. Its leathery, dark green leaves are dense enough to block unwanted views, while its rounded crown can be clipped into formal shapes or grown naturally for a softer look. Holm oak can cope with salt-laden winds and urban pollution, making it a reliable choice for coastal and city gardens alike. It can also act as a windbreak in exposed gardens. It provides a permanent green backdrop and can even be used as a large hedge. With its resilience and longevity, holm oak offers enduring privacy, structure and shade, especially in gardens exposed to the elements. Holm oak is harmful to pets, particularly dogs, if eaten. It can become invasive in the wild, so it shouldn’t be planted near ancient semi-natural woodlands.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 5/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 8m x 6m (in 20 years)
5: Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel is a popular choice for dense, evergreen screening. Its large, glossy leaves form a thick, impenetrable barrier that remains lush throughout the year. Fast-growing and tolerant of pruning, cherry laurel quickly creates privacy, making it ideal for new gardens or when rapid cover is needed. It thrives in sun or shade, and produces upright clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by fruits in autumn. But plants should be clipped before the berries develop, as cherry laurel can be invasive if the seed is spread by birds into the wild. Whether clipped into a formal hedge or left to grow more freely, cherry laurel is a stalwart for reliable, green privacy. Cherry laurel is harmful to humans and pets if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 2/5
Height x spread: 6m x 5m (in 20 years)
6: Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum)
This versatile evergreen has long, pointed leaves and an upright habit which creates a narrow yet effective visual barrier, ideal for small spaces. The dense foliage of Japanese privet blocks unwanted views, plus in autumn, it bears clusters of white flowers. Hardy and tolerant of most soils and aspects, it provides privacy with minimal fuss. Harmful to humans and pets if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Shrub/tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 4m x 4m
7: Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)
The strawberry tree is a handsome evergreen shrub or small tree, valued for its year-round privacy and ornamental appeal. Its dark green, leathery leaves form a dense canopy, and in autumn it delights with clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers and striking red fruits, which appear at the same time as the fruits from the previous year are ripening. The rough, reddish bark and bushy habit add interest as well as privacy to the garden. Hardy and wind-resistant, the strawberry tree is an excellent choice for coastal gardens or exposed sites.
Type: Shrub/tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 5m x 4m
8: Tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica)
With a tall, fibrous trunk and dramatic crown of arching fronds, the tree fern is a great choice for garden privacy. It can create an effective screen, particularly in shady or damp corners where other plants may struggle. The wide, spreading fronds provide dappled shade and seclusion, making it ideal for creating intimate seating areas or screening patios. In mild areas, it remains evergreen; in colder regions, it’s deciduous, and the crown should be protected over winter.
Type: Tree fern
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 5/5
Height x spread: 4m x 4m
9: Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Cornubia’
This semi-evergreen shrub or small tree is perfect for informal privacy screens. Its arching branches are clothed in glossy green leaves, which remain for much of the year, and its growth habit creates a natural, sheltering barrier. In early summer, clusters of white flowers attract pollinators, followed by a profusion of red berries in autumn that provide a source of food for birds. The older leaves turn bronze before falling, adding seasonal interest. Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Cornubia’ is a good choice for wildlife-friendly gardens needing an attractive screen that offers privacy without harsh lines or dense, formal hedging.
Type: Shrub/small tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 6m x 4m (in 20 years)
10: Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Hornbeam is a native deciduous tree, often used for pleaching or as a formal hedge. Its dense, apple-green foliage forms a solid screen in spring and summer, providing privacy when it’s most needed. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and orange, many remaining on the tree through winter in sheltered spots, giving continuous privacy. Hornbeam is tough and adaptable, coping with exposed sites and damp soils. Its natural columnar habit can be enhanced with pruning, making it suitable for both traditional and modern gardens. Hornbeam is a reliable, attractive choice for seasonal privacy and structure.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 10m x 6m (in 20 years)
11: Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’)
With its naturally upright, pyramidal habit forming a neat, dense screen, the ornamental pear is ideal for smaller gardens where space is at a premium. Early into leaf in spring and among the last to lose foliage in autumn, it offers a long season of cover. In spring, the tree is covered in white blossom, and the glossy green leaves turn attractive shades of red and purple in autumn. Tolerant of pollution, ‘Chanticleer’ is a reliable option for urban gardens. The fruits of Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ are not intended to be eaten.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 5m x 3m (in 20 years)
12: Silver birch (Betula pendula)
This is the go-to tree for those seeking a light, airy screen that doesn’t cast dense shade. Its delicate, fluttering foliage allows dappled sunlight through, making silver birch perfect for providing privacy without feeling hemmed in. The striking white bark provides year-round interest, particularly in winter when leaves have fallen. Birches can be planted in groups to create a naturalistic grove, which not only screens out unwanted views but also creates a tranquil atmosphere. Their modest root spread and upright habit mean they’re suitable for medium gardens. Silver birch attracts wildlife, offering food and habitat for birds and insects.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 25m x 10m
13: Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Rowan, or mountain ash, is a slender tree that’s ideal for screening in smaller gardens or exposed sites. Its upright growth habit makes it easy to slot into tight spaces, while the feathery foliage provides a soft, natural screen. In spring, it bears creamy white blossoms, followed by bright red or yellow berries in autumn, which are a magnet for birds. The light canopy allows some sunlight through, preventing a garden from feeling closed in. Rowan’s tolerance of wind and poor soils, along with its wildlife value, makes it an excellent all-rounder for adding privacy and seasonal interest.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 2/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 15m x 7m
14: Field maple (Acer campestre)
Field maple is a native British tree with a rounded crown and dense, lobed foliage, making it an excellent choice for screening. It’s well-suited to medium or larger gardens, forming a thick, leafy barrier that blocks out unwanted views. The leaves turn a glowing yellow in autumn, providing a burst of seasonal colour. Field maple is tolerant of urban pollution and a wide range of soils, making it a practical option for many gardens. Its modest size and manageable growth rate mean it can be kept in check, while its wildlife value is a bonus for nature lovers.
Type: tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 15m x 8m
15: Snowy mespilus (Amelanchier lamarckii)
This beautiful small tree is covered in a froth of star-shaped white flowers in spring, just as the coppery pink young leaves unfold. Later in the year, the tree develops dark berries, and the foliage turns vivid shades of red and orange in autumn. Its moderate size and bushy habit make it ideal for screening in smaller gardens, while the seasonal changes provide year-round interest. Amelanchier lamarckii is tolerant of most soils and thrives in sun or partial shade, making it a versatile privacy option.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 12m x 4m
16: Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
This versatile plant can be used as a hedging plant, a clipped shrub or left to grow into a small tree. The thorny stems will help to deter thieves, and the plant itself helps wildlife with spring blossom and autumn berries. In spring, hawthorn is covered in white or pink blossom, followed by glossy red fruits in autumn, both of which support wildlife. The compact size and tough nature of hawthorn mean it copes well with exposed conditions and poor soils.
Type: Shrub/tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 8m x 6m
17: Crab apple (Malus spp.)
Crab apples are valued for their dense, rounded crowns, which make them effective for screening and adding privacy to the garden. In spring, they are smothered in blossom, creating a showy display and providing a feast for pollinators. The foliage forms a leafy barrier through summer and, in autumn, colourful fruits appear, attracting birds and adding further interest. Many varieties grow to a compact, manageable size, making them well-suited to smaller gardens. Crab apples are tolerant of most soils and can be grown as standards or multi-stemmed trees, offering flexibility in creating a natural, beautiful screen.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 10m x 5m
18: Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Golden rain tree is a deciduous tree with a broad, rounded canopy providing effective screening, while the pinnate leaves create a lush, textured backdrop. In summer, it produces bright yellow flowers, followed by decorative, lantern-like seed pods. The pretty foliage is pink-bronze in spring and yellow in autumn. This medium-sized tree has a rounded crown and does best in a sunny spot. Golden rain tree is tolerant of pollution and copes well in urban settings, making it a practical choice for screening patios or seating areas. Its ornamental qualities mean it doubles as a feature tree as well as a screen.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 10m x 10m
19: Yew (Taxus baccata)
With its dense, dark green foliage that forms an impenetrable barrier, yew is perfect for formal hedges or as a standalone specimen. It’s slow-growing but responds well to clipping, allowing it to be shaped and maintained at the desired height and width. It thrives in most soils, except waterlogged ground, and is happy in sun or shade. Yew’s longevity and ability to regenerate from old wood make it a long-term investment in privacy. The red berries add a splash of colour in autumn and provide food for birds. Yew is toxic to humans and pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 5/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 20m x 10m
20: Copper beech (Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group)
Copper beech is a striking choice for garden privacy, with its glossy, deep purple leaves forming a dense, elegant screen. As a hedge or specimen tree, copper beech offers both height and structure, making it suitable for large gardens. Its upright growth and thick foliage block out noise and unwanted views, while the changing leaf colour adds a dramatic touch to the landscape. Copper beech is tolerant of most well-drained soils and can be clipped to maintain a neat, formal appearance. It’s harmful to dogs if eaten.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 25m x 15m
21: Garden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
Privet is a classic choice for creating privacy in gardens, forming a dense, long-lasting hedge that acts as a robust green boundary. Ligustrum ovalifolium is fast-growing, making it ideal for screening. Privet is semi-evergreen, so it retains much of its foliage through winter, ensuring year-round cover. It tolerates a range of conditions, including urban pollution, coastal winds, and poor soils. Once established, privet can be clipped into neat, formal shapes or left to grow more informally, providing shelter and privacy as well as a haven for wildlife. Harmful to humans and pets if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Tree
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 2/5
Height x spread: 4m x 3m
22: Berberis
Berberis is a versatile shrub well-suited for privacy screens and hedges. Its colourful foliage, spring flowers and autumn berries make it an attractive addition whilst its dense, thorny branches create an effective barrier, deterring unwanted access and providing excellent cover. Many Berberis species are evergreen or semi-evergreen, ensuring privacy throughout the year. Berberis thrives in a range of soils, including poor and dry sites, and is tolerant of urban conditions. Its dense structure also provides valuable shelter for birds, making it a practical and attractive choice for privacy in the garden.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: Depends on species and variety
23: Firethorn
Pyracantha, also known as firethorn, is an evergreen shrub prized for its ability to form dense, impenetrable screens. Its thorny branches create a tough barrier, ideal for privacy and security along boundaries or against unsightly structures. Pyracantha can be trained as a hedge or grown against walls and fences, adapting well to shaping. In addition to privacy, it offers seasonal interest with creamy-white flowers in summer and a profusion of bright berries in autumn, attracting birds. The shrub tolerates shade and various soil types, making it a reliable choice for year-round screening in both sunny and shady gardens.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: Around 4m x 4m, but it depends on the variety
24: Camellia japonica
This evergreen shrub provides elegant, year-round privacy in the garden. Its glossy, dark green foliage forms a dense screen, perfect for blocking views and creating secluded spaces. It will thrive in shaded or partially shaded spots in acid soils. In early spring, it produces showy, long-lasting blooms that add a touch of glamour and seasonal interest to privacy plantings. Camellias can be grown as informal hedges or grouped together for a living wall of foliage and flowers, delivering both beauty and privacy without sacrificing ornamental value.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: Typically around 2m x 3.5m, but depends on variety
25: Viburnum (Viburnum tinus)
This evergreen shrub is valued for its ability to provide reliable privacy in the garden. With dense, bushy growth that forms an effective screen, it’s perfect for boundaries or as a backdrop for other planting. Viburnum tinus produces clusters of white or pink-tinged flowers in winter and early spring, followed by blue-black berries. It will tolerate shade and a variety of soils, making it suitable for challenging sites. The year-round foliage ensures continuous privacy and shelter for wildlife.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 4m x 4m
26: Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are popular for their lush, leafy growth and impressive flower heads, making them superb for informal privacy screens. Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea paniculata are deciduous but provide dense seasonal cover, while Hydrangea seemannii is an evergreen climber, offering year-round screening. Their large leaves and abundant blooms create a sense of enclosure and seclusion, with the added bonus of long-lasting summer colour. They thrive in moist, well-drained soil and cope well in both sun and partial shade. Hydrangeas are a skin allergen, so wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling, and they’re harmful to pets if eaten.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 5/5
Height x spread: varies
27: Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
This compact evergreen shrub is perfect for providing year-round privacy in smaller gardens or shaded areas. Its dense, glossy foliage forms a neat, low hedge or screen, ideal for front gardens, patios or as underplanting for taller hedges. Skimmia is valued for its clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries on female plants, adding seasonal interest. The shrub thrives in partial to full shade and tolerates a variety of soils, making it a reliable and attractive choice for discreet privacy where space is limited.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 2/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 1.5m x 1.5m
28: Pieris japonica
Sometimes known as ‘lily-of-the-valley shrub’, this evergreen plant brings privacy and ornamental value to the garden. Its compact, bushy growth creates an effective screen or low hedge, especially suitable for shaded or partially shaded areas. Pieris japonica is renowned for its striking young foliage, which emerges in shades of red or bronze before maturing to green, and its cascading clusters of scented white flowers in spring. The plant prefers acidic soils and benefits from a sheltered position. With its year-round leaves and seasonal colour, Pieris is a striking option for privacy planting. It’s harmful to people and pets if eaten.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 2/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 4m x 4m
29: Sarcococca confusa
Also known as sweet box, this shade-loving evergreen shrub is ideal for creating privacy in smaller or shaded gardens. Its dense, glossy foliage forms a compact mound, perfect for low hedges or boundary planting. Sarcococca is particularly valued for its winter flowers, which are small but highly fragrant, providing unexpected scent during the colder months. The shrub thrives in deep shade and tolerates dry soils once established, making it a practical choice for awkward corners or beneath trees. Its evergreen leaves ensure year-round coverage and privacy, even in challenging sites.
Type: Shrub
Privacy rating: 2/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 1.5m x 1.5m
30: Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Star jasmine is an evergreen climber that excels at providing vertical privacy on fences, trellises or walls. Its glossy, dark green leaves form a dense screen, while in summer, the plant is covered with clusters of star-shaped, fragrant white flowers. Star jasmine is suitable for both sun and partial shade, and it can be trained to cover unsightly boundaries or used to create a living green wall, offering year-round cover. Its manageable growth and ornamental value make it a favourite for screening in smaller spaces.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 5/5
Height x spread: 9m x 3m
31: Ivy (Hedera helix)
Ivy is a classic evergreen climber, renowned for its ability to provide privacy and cover in the garden. Rapid-growing and adaptable, it clings to fences, walls, and trellises, forming a dense, leafy barrier that blocks views and softens hard boundaries. Ivy thrives in deep shade as well as sun, making it ideal for north-facing walls or tricky corners. Its year-round foliage ensures continuous privacy and shelter, while also providing valuable habitat and food for wildlife. Ivy can be clipped to keep it in check, making it a practical and reliable screen. Harmful to pets and people if eaten, and is a skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 5/5
Beauty rating: 3/5
Height x spread: 8m x 4m
32: Clematis
Clematis are versatile climbers that can be used to create seasonal privacy on trellises, fences, or pergolas. Varieties such as Clematis tangutica, Clematis alpina, Clematis viticella and Clematis x durandii offer a range of flower shapes and colours, bringing a long season of interest. While most are deciduous, their vigorous growth and abundant foliage provide excellent summer screening, ideal for seating areas or temporary divides. Clematis can be combined with evergreen climbers for year-round effect, and their ability to grow in sun or partial shade makes them suitable for a range of gardens. Skin irritant: wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Harmful to rabbits if eaten.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 5/5
Height x spread: varies
33: Common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Honeysuckle is a vigorous climber, ideal for providing privacy and scent in the garden. It can quickly cover fences, arches, or pergolas with twining stems and lush foliage. In summer, honeysuckle produces clusters of fragrant, tubular flowers, attracting pollinators. Common honeysuckle is deciduous, giving dense summer coverage and some winter structure. Honeysuckle thrives in sun or partial shade and is well-suited for informal screens.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 8m x 4m
34: Passion flower (Passiflora caerulea)
These exotic-looking climbers provide rapid, decorative privacy on trellises, fences or pergolas. Their vigorous growth and dense, lobed leaves create a leafy barrier ideal for screening. In summer, passion flowers produce distinctive, intricate blooms, adding a tropical touch to the garden. Many species are evergreen in mild areas, offering year-round cover, though they may lose leaves in colder climates. Passion flowers are best grown in a sheltered, sunny spot, where they can quickly create a living screen and provide a focal point as well as privacy.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: 10m x 2m
35: Wisteria
Wisteria is a robust deciduous climber, famed for its spectacular cascades of scented flowers in late spring and early summer. Its vigorous, twining stems can rapidly cover pergolas, fences or house walls, creating a dramatic and effective privacy screen. The dense foliage provides summer cover, while the woody framework gives winter structure. Wisteria is best suited to larger gardens or strong supports, as it can become heavy with age. Regular pruning is required to maintain shape and encourage flowering, but the rewards are a striking, long-lived screen with seasonal impact. Wisteria is harmful to pets and humans if eaten.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 4/5
Beauty rating: 5/5
Height x spread: 8m x 4m
36: Chinese Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus henryana)
Chinese Virginia creeper is a fast-growing, self-clinging climber ideal for covering walls, fences, or sheds to provide privacy and soften boundaries. Its attractive, velvety leaves are dark green with silvery veins, turning brilliant shades of red and crimson in autumn. The dense foliage offers effective seasonal screening, while the plant’s rapid growth makes it suitable for quickly disguising unsightly structures. Chinese Virginia creeper thrives in sun or partial shade and is particularly useful for adding colour and privacy to north or east-facing walls. Harmful to pets and people if eaten and is a skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 2/5
Height x spread: 12m x 4m
37: Rambling and climbing roses
Rambling and climbing roses are classic choices for privacy, combining dense, often thorny growth with spectacular seasonal displays. They can be trained over fences, arches, or pergolas, where their abundant foliage and long arching stems provide summer screening, and the thorns offer security. Roses bring seasonal colour with fragrant blooms and, in many cases, autumn hips for wildlife. They are well suited to both formal and informal gardens, offering privacy, beauty and habitat all in one package.
Type: Climber
Privacy rating: 3/5
Beauty rating: 4/5
Height x spread: Varies
