7 Stunning Small Privacy Trees To Transform Your Yard Into A Secluded Oasis

Plants are great tools for increasing privacy – both for our gardens and homes. In particular, trees are the ideal place to start because they are long-lived and grow tall. Even in a smaller yard, you can find trees and tree-like shrubs that grow quickly and densely to provide good privacy as well as visual interest in the garden.

When choosing small trees suitable for creating privacy, always check the mature size of your chosen variety. A small tree could be less than three feet tall, providing little in the way of privacy – or it could be as tall as 25 feet, making it too big for your space. When planting close to a house or fence, the canopy size is just as important to check as the height.

Fast-growing evergreen trees are ideal for filling out borders in a hurry, and will provide privacy year-round. However, deciduous trees that shed their leaves may be preferred where more light is desired in the cooler months.

In addition, make sure any trees you choose are suitable for your USDA hardiness zone, climate, and soil type – and they will reward you with a long-lasting privacy screen.

1. Arborvitae

American arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis, is native to North America and grows quickly and densely, making it an ideal tree for privacy. The evergreen foliage provides year-round coverage. It's an easy tree to grow, and, with several arborvitae varieties available, you can find the right size for a smaller property.

‘Holmstrup’ grows to a full height of six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4m) and no wider than three feet (0.9m). ‘Globosa’ and ‘Golden Globe’ are varieties with a rounder shape, only growing up to five feet (1.5m) tall and four feet (1.2m) wide. Fire Chief Globe Arborvitae, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, has bright golden spring foliage that turns rich deep red in the fall.

For an even shorter privacy screen, try ‘Teddy,’ a dwarf variety that only gets to about two feet (0.6m) tall and one foot (0.3m) wide.

2. Tri-Color Willow

While technically a shrub, dappled willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nishiki’) is a fast-growing and attractive plant that can be trained and pruned like a small tree. It features leaves that begin pink in spring and fade to green and then white, while branches remain a pretty shade of red for winter interest.

You can trim dappled willow into a small tree reaching four to six feet (1.2 to 1.8m) tall and not much wider. It grows quickly to provide rapid privacy in a small space.

3. Gold Spire Ginkgo

If you want a tall tree that is narrow enough to fit a small yard, try the ‘Gold Spire’ cultivar of Ginkgo biloba. This gingko tree is compact and dense, making it a good privacy tree. It will grow up to 20 feet (6m) tall but remains about four feet (1.2m) wide.

Ginkgo trees are unique for their fan-shaped leaves. ‘Gold Spire’ leaves turn a brilliant yellow in fall. It’s appropriate for zones 4 through 9, prefers full sun, and grows best in moist, well-drained, and fertile soil.

4. ‘Flagpole’ Flowering Cherry

Another tall but not wide tree is the flagpole variety of Japanese flowering cherry. Flowering cherry trees are prized for their sweet spring flowers, but they can also be useful privacy screens. They grow fast, up to two feet (0.6m) per year. When lined up together, they quickly create a pretty living fence.

Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’ is suitable for full sun positions in zones 5 through 8. It will grow as tall as 30 feet (9m) and remain only six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4m) wide. In addition to spring flowers, flagpole cherry has pretty green summer foliage and good fall color.

5. Sky Pencil Holly

As the name suggests, Sky Pencil holly (Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’) is narrow like a pencil, making it suitable for smaller spaces. A small evergreen tree, it only grows six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4m) tall, making it shorter than other holly trees. Its growth habit is columnar, and the branches are dense, providing a good privacy screen.

Grow ‘Sky Pencil’ in zones 5 through 8 in full sun or partial shade. The soil should be moist but with good drainage. It will tolerate some extra moisture in the soil. ‘Sky Pencil’ is a female cultivar, so if you want berries, you’ll need a male holly nearby. Even without the berries, this is an attractive privacy fence.

6. Hicks Yew

If you can be a little more patient about growth, Hicks yew is a great privacy plant. Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’ is a hybrid between Japanese and English yew. It is a small evergreen tree or shrub that grows slowly but can ultimately reach 15 feet (4.6m). The slower growth allows you to take time to prune Hicks yews to maintain a smaller size and desired shape. As an evergreen, it provides year-round privacy.

You can grow Hicks yews in zones 3 through 7 in slightly acidic soil. They can grow in full sun but also in shade. The soil should drain very well. If you live in a warmer climate, this tree will need regular summer watering. It should also be pruned annually, so it’s not the lowest maintenance plant.

7. Redbud

Redbud is a native, small flowering tree available in many varieties. You can even find smaller sizes that provide a compact, pretty screening option. Weeping redbud is an attractive type suitable for zones 4 through 9 and grows 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6m) tall and wide.

Western redbud is suitable for zones 6 through 9 and is native to California. It grows to a similar size as a weeping redbud. Don Egolf redbud, named for a horticulturist, is especially compact, growing to just nine feet (2.7m) tall. Lavender twist redbud is only six feet (1.8m) tall at maturity.

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