Nothing kills the vibe of a backyard faster than looking up and seeing your neighbor's porch, a busy road, or a fence that does absolutely nothing to block the wind. If you've been putting off planting a privacy screen because you don't know where to start, this guide is for you.
The best privacy trees and shrubs for the Midwest need to do three things: grow fast enough to actually solve your problem, stay dense enough to block the view year-round, and survive Midwest winters without dying back to the ground. Here's exactly what we recommend — all available to ship directly from our nursery.
What to Look for in a Midwest Privacy Plant
Before you plant a single thing, think through these factors:
- Evergreen vs. deciduous — Evergreens block the view 12 months a year. Deciduous shrubs lose their leaves in winter, which may or may not matter depending on what you're screening.
- Growth rate — Some privacy plants give you results in 2–3 years. Others take a decade. Be honest about your timeline.
- Mature size — A plant that gets 60 feet tall is great for a back fence line. Not so great next to your driveway. Match the plant to the space.
- Spacing — Most privacy plants should be spaced 3–6 feet apart for a solid screen. Closer spacing = faster privacy, but more plants.
- Grow zone — Most of the Midwest is Zones 4–6. Everything on this list is rated for those conditions. Browse by Zone 5 or Zone 6 to shop by your specific zone.
Emerald Green Arborvitae — The #1 Privacy Plant in America
If you ask a landscaper what to plant for privacy, there's a good chance they say Emerald Green Arborvitae. It's the most popular privacy plant in the country for a reason: it stays a tight, narrow column of dense green year-round, grows to about 12–15 feet tall, and never needs pruning to keep its shape. It's the definition of low-maintenance privacy.
Emerald Green Arborvitae grows about 6–9 inches per year — not the fastest, but incredibly reliable. Plant them 3–4 feet apart for a solid wall of green. Hardy in Zones 3–8, they handle Midwest winters without any winter burn issues that plague other arborvitae varieties.
Our Emerald Green Arborvitae is one of our top sellers every single season. If you want a classic, no-fuss privacy screen, start here.
Green Giant Arborvitae — The Fastest Privacy Screen You Can Plant
If speed is your priority, Green Giant Arborvitae is in a class of its own. This tree grows 3–5 feet per year — making it one of the fastest-growing evergreens available anywhere. In just 5–7 years, you can have a 20–30 foot wall of dense, dark green privacy that blocks wind, noise, and sight lines completely.
Green Giant gets big — up to 50–60 feet tall at maturity — so give it room. Space them 5–6 feet apart for a privacy hedge, or 8–10 feet apart if you want individual specimen trees. It's also highly resistant to deer, disease, and drought once established. Hardy in Zones 5–8.
Our Green Giant Arborvitae is the go-to choice for anyone who needs serious privacy fast. It's one of the best investments you can make in your landscape.
Norway Spruce — The Toughest Evergreen Screen for Cold Climates
If you're in the northern Midwest and need a windbreak or privacy screen that can handle brutal winters, Norway Spruce is your answer. It's one of the hardiest evergreens available — rated to Zone 2 — and it grows fast for a spruce, putting on 1–2 feet per year. At maturity it reaches 40–60 feet tall with a broad, sweeping pyramidal shape and graceful drooping branches.
Norway Spruce is also one of the best windbreak trees you can plant. The dense branching and year-round foliage create an effective barrier against cold north winds, which can make a real difference in how comfortable your yard feels in winter. Plant in a staggered double row for maximum wind protection.
Our Norway Spruce Tree is a cold-climate workhorse that gets better and more beautiful every year.
Eastern Red Cedar — The Native Evergreen That Thrives Anywhere
The Eastern Red Cedar is one of the most underrated privacy plants in the Midwest. It's a native evergreen that grows naturally across the region, which means it's perfectly adapted to Midwest soils, rainfall patterns, and temperature swings. It handles drought, clay soil, rocky ground, and full sun without complaint — conditions that would stress most other evergreens.
It grows 1–2 feet per year and reaches 30–40 feet tall with a dense, columnar to pyramidal shape. The blue-green foliage is attractive year-round, and the small blue berries it produces are a favorite food source for cedar waxwings and other birds. If you want a native, wildlife-friendly privacy screen that basically takes care of itself, Eastern Red Cedar is a top choice.
Our Eastern Red Cedar is tough, native, and beautiful — a privacy plant that gives back to the ecosystem at the same time.
Hicks Yew — The Best Evergreen for Shady Spots
Most privacy plants need full sun. Hicks Yew is the exception. This dense, upright evergreen thrives in partial to full shade — making it the go-to choice for privacy screens along north-facing fences, under tree canopies, or in spots where other evergreens simply won't grow.
Hicks Yew grows slowly but steadily, reaching 10–12 feet tall with a naturally narrow, columnar form that rarely needs pruning. The dark green needles stay rich and vibrant year-round, and the red berries it produces in fall add a nice seasonal touch. Hardy in Zones 4–7.
Our Hicks Yew is the solution for shady privacy problems that other plants can't solve.
Pragense Viburnum — The Fast-Growing Evergreen Shrub Screen
If you want a privacy shrub that grows fast, stays semi-evergreen, and blooms beautifully in spring, Pragense Viburnum is a fantastic choice. It grows 2–3 feet per year and reaches 8–10 feet tall, forming a dense, arching screen that's hard to see through. In spring it's covered in fragrant white flower clusters that are absolutely stunning.
Pragense Viburnum holds its leaves well into winter in most Midwest climates, giving you near year-round screening. It's also extremely adaptable — tolerating clay soil, partial shade, and urban conditions. Hardy in Zones 5–8.
Our Pragense Viburnum is a beautiful, fast-growing option for anyone who wants privacy with a bonus of spring flowers.
Crimson Ninebark — The Colorful Privacy Shrub
Most privacy plants are green. Crimson Ninebark is a deep, rich burgundy-purple — and it holds that color all season long. It's a native Midwest shrub that grows fast (2–3 feet per year), reaches 6–8 feet tall, and produces clusters of white-pink flowers in late spring that contrast beautifully against the dark foliage.
Ninebark is also one of the toughest shrubs you can plant. It handles clay soil, drought, wet conditions, full sun, and partial shade without missing a beat. Hardy in Zones 2–7, it's virtually indestructible in Midwest conditions. Use it as a colorful privacy hedge, a border planting, or a standalone specimen.
Our Crimson Ninebark adds serious color and structure to any privacy planting — and it's one of the most low-maintenance shrubs we carry.
Rose of Sharon — The Flowering Privacy Screen
Rose of Sharon is the privacy shrub that moonlights as a showstopper. It grows 8–12 feet tall in an upright, vase shape — perfect for planting in a row along a fence or property line. From mid-summer through fall, it's covered in large, hibiscus-like flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and lavender. It blooms when almost nothing else does, making it one of the most valuable late-season flowering shrubs you can plant.
It's also a pollinator magnet — hummingbirds and bees absolutely love it. Hardy in Zones 5–8, it grows fast and requires almost no maintenance once established. Our Rose of Sharon is a beautiful way to create a flowering privacy screen that blooms all summer long.
Forsythia — The Fastest Flowering Privacy Hedge
Forsythia is the first shrub to bloom every spring — exploding in bright yellow flowers before a single leaf has emerged anywhere in the yard. It's one of the most cheerful sights in the Midwest landscape, and it signals that winter is finally over. But beyond the spring show, Forsythia is also a fast-growing, dense shrub that makes an excellent informal privacy hedge.
It grows 2–3 feet per year and reaches 6–8 feet tall, spreading into a full, arching mound of branches. Plant in a row and let it fill in naturally for a loose, cottage-style privacy screen. Hardy in Zones 4–8 and incredibly easy to grow. Our Forsythia is a fast, cheerful, and reliable privacy option that earns its keep every spring.
Dwarf Burning Bush — The Fall Color Privacy Shrub
If you want a privacy shrub that absolutely stops people in their tracks every October, plant Dwarf Burning Bush. The fall color is an intense, neon scarlet-red that's unlike anything else in the landscape. It's one of the most dramatic fall color plants you can grow in the Midwest, and it earns its name every single year.
Dwarf Burning Bush grows 4–6 feet tall and wide, making it a great choice for lower privacy screens, borders, and foundation plantings. It's dense, compact, and requires very little maintenance. Hardy in Zones 4–8. Our Dwarf Burning Bush is a classic Midwest landscape plant that delivers incredible fall color year after year.
How to Plant a Privacy Screen That Actually Works
Picking the right plant is only half the battle. Here's how to make sure your privacy screen fills in fast and stays healthy:
- Plant in a straight or staggered row. A single straight row works for formal screens. A staggered double row fills in faster and looks more natural.
- Don't plant too close to structures. Give your plants room to reach their mature width without crowding fences, walls, or other plants.
- Water deeply the first two seasons. Newly planted privacy screens need consistent moisture to establish quickly. Deep, infrequent watering beats shallow daily watering every time.
- Mulch around the base — but not against the trunk. A 2–3 inch layer of mulch retains moisture and suppresses weeds. Just keep it away from the stems and trunks. Read our guide on why mulch volcanoes kill plants before you plant.
- Be patient with evergreens. Most evergreen privacy plants look small for the first year or two while they're establishing roots. Year three is usually when they really take off.
Ready to get your privacy back? Browse our full Privacy & Screening Plants collection or explore our Evergreens collection to find the perfect fit for your yard. You can also browse all plants by clicking here to see everything we carry.
