Plant Selection
Fast-Growing Privacy Trees That Fill In Quickly
Quick answer: Green Giant arborvitae is the best fast growing privacy tree for most yards, adding up to 3 feet a year on its way to a solid 30 to 40 foot screen. Skip weak, short-lived growers like hybrid poplar, and think twice about Leyland cypress, which grows fast but tends to fail just as fast in wet or humid climates.
The fastest-growing species are often the weakest, with brittle wood, short lifespans, or disease problems that surface right when the screen finally matures. This list ranks real growth rates against long-term reliability.
- Green Giant arborvitae grows up to 3 feet a year, the most reliable fast screen for zones 5 to 8.
- Cryptomeria and Eastern white pine grow nearly as fast, 2 to 3 feet a year, with fewer disease issues than Leyland cypress.
- Nellie Stevens holly and wax myrtle give fast, broadleaf screening in zones 6 to 11.
- Emerald Green arborvitae grows only 6 to 9 inches a year, it is not actually fast.
- Hybrid poplar and Leyland cypress grow fastest of all but are the first to fail.
- Buying larger starting trees closes a privacy gap faster than chasing the fastest species.
Green Giant arborvitae: the fastest reliable privacy screen
Green Giant arborvitae is the fastest growing privacy tree that still holds up long term, adding up to 3 feet a year on the way to a mature 30 to 40 feet tall and 12 to 18 feet wide. Space plants 5 to 6 feet apart and the row closes within a few seasons. It thrives in USDA zones 5 through 8, tolerates heat, cold, and wind, and shrugs off the bagworm and mite problems that plague other evergreens.
The speed comes from hybrid vigor, a cross bred for dense growth without the weak wood of poplar or the disease issues of Leyland cypress. See how long it takes a tree to grow for more on closing a gap. Green Giant arborvitae ships ready to plant, or shop fast-growing evergreen screens to compare conifers.
Cryptomeria: a softer alternative to Leyland cypress
Cryptomeria, or Japanese cedar, grows about 2 to 3 feet a year and reaches 30 to 40 feet, nearly matching Green Giant arborvitae for speed. The Radicans variety holds a rich green color through winter instead of bronzing. Cryptomeria thrives in USDA zones 5 through 9 and resists the canker and bagworm issues that wear down Leyland cypress rows over time, with a softer, more feathery texture than arborvitae.
Eastern white pine: fast growth for a big, soft screen
Eastern white pine grows 2 to 3 feet a year and keeps climbing for decades, eventually reaching 50 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. That makes it one of the fastest growing privacy trees for a large property, but it needs real room: plant it only where a screen 30 feet wide actually fits. It grows in USDA zones 3 through 8 with a softer, bluish-green texture than arborvitae or cypress, but the long needles are sensitive to road salt and compacted soil, so it is a poor fit for tight side yards or coastal sites.
Nellie Stevens holly and wax myrtle: fast broadleaf options
Nellie Stevens holly grows 2 to 3 feet a year to 15 to 25 feet tall, a dense, glossy-leafed screen with red winter berries, suited to USDA zones 6 through 9 and tolerant of heat, drought, and clay soil. Wax myrtle grows at a similar pace to 15 to 20 feet, fits USDA zones 7 through 11, and handles wet soil and salt spray better than anything else on this list, making it a go-to near the coast.
The honest truth about Emerald Green arborvitae
Emerald Green arborvitae is not a fast growing privacy tree, no matter how often it gets sold as one. It adds only 6 to 9 inches a year, and most rows take 8 to 10 years to close. Its appeal is a narrow, tidy shape, about 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, that fits tight side yards where Green Giant grows too wide.
If Emerald Green arborvitae still fits your space, buy the tallest starting size available rather than counting on fast growth to catch up. A taller tree at planting closes the privacy gap years sooner than a fast grower planted small.
Fast growing privacy trees to avoid
Hybrid poplar and Lombardy poplar grow faster than anything here, often 5 to 8 feet a year, but pay for it with brittle wood that splits in storms and a lifespan that rarely clears 20 to 25 years. Extension foresters have flagged poplar screens for decades as a short-term fix that leaves homeowners replanting right when the row should be maturing.
Leyland cypress grows 3 to 4 feet a year, genuinely fast, and was the go-to privacy conifer for years. But it is prone to canker diseases and bagworm infestations that hit hardest in wet, humid climates, and its roots are often too small for the height it reaches, so mature trees topple in storms. Cryptomeria and Green Giant arborvitae are the usual fixes for a struggling Leyland row.
Fast growing privacy trees compared
Lining up growth rate against mature size and zone range makes the trade-offs easy to see at a glance.
| Tree | Growth per year | Mature H x W | USDA zones | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Giant arborvitae | Up to 3 ft | 30-40 ft x 12-18 ft | 5-8 | Best all-around fast screen |
| Cryptomeria (Radicans) | 2-3 ft | 30-40 ft x 15-20 ft | 5-9 | Softer, disease-resistant Leyland alternative |
| Eastern white pine | 2-3 ft | 50-80 ft x 20-40 ft | 3-8 | Needs room, avoid salty or tight sites |
| Nellie Stevens holly | 2-3 ft | 15-25 ft x 10-15 ft | 6-9 | Broadleaf, berries, heat tolerant |
| Wax myrtle | 2-3 ft | 15-20 ft x 10-15 ft | 7-11 | Best for wet or coastal soil |
| Emerald Green arborvitae | 6-9 in | 10-15 ft x 3-4 ft | 4-8 | Not fast, buy tall starting stock |
| Leyland cypress | 3-4 ft | 40-60 ft x 15-25 ft | 6-10 | Fast but canker-prone, weak roots |
| Hybrid poplar | 5-8 ft | 40-50 ft x 20-30 ft | 3-9 | Weak wood, short-lived, avoid |
Arbor Buddy zone-matches every species above to your ZIP code and ships each one under the 1-Year Alive & Thrive Guarantee, so choosing between Green Giant, Cryptomeria, and the rest does not mean guessing at a generic zone range.
FAQs
What is the fastest privacy tree?
Among reliable, long-lived species, Green Giant arborvitae is the fastest privacy tree, adding up to 3 feet a year and reaching a 30 to 40 foot screen. Hybrid poplar and Leyland cypress grow faster, but both are prone to failing within 20 to 25 years.
How fast does Green Giant grow?
Green Giant arborvitae grows up to 3 feet a year under good conditions, including regular water during its first two seasons. Most rows close into a full privacy screen within 4 to 6 years and reach their mature 30 to 40 foot height in about 10 to 15 years.
Is Leyland cypress a good idea?
Leyland cypress grows fast, 3 to 4 feet a year, but it is prone to canker disease and bagworm infestations, especially in humid climates, and its shallow roots can let mature trees topple in storms. Cryptomeria or Green Giant arborvitae usually make a sturdier long-term choice for the same job.
How can I get privacy faster without relying on fast growth?
Buying a larger starting tree closes the gap faster than waiting on any species to grow into place. A tree planted at 8 to 10 feet tall gives usable privacy immediately, while a fast grower planted small still needs several seasons to catch up.
Are fast growing trees weaker than slow growing ones?
Often, yes. Rapid growth generally produces less dense wood and shorter lifespans, which is why hybrid poplar and Leyland cypress tend to fail sooner than steadier growers like Green Giant arborvitae or Cryptomeria. A species with a good balance of speed and strength avoids replanting the whole screen in 15 to 20 years.