Plant These 15 Trees Along a Fence for Increased Privacy (2024)

Gardening

Trees

• 01 of 15

  Red Buckeye

  

  Red Buckeye is considered one of the most beautiful trees with spring blooms of stunning red flowers. Although deciduous, it's one of the first trees to leaf out with its uniform, squarish canopy. It can grow from 15 to 30 feet wide at maturity and will give a tidy look planted along a fence line. Its fruits look like rounded, dark-colored nuts with a white center. The tree is toxic to people, pets, and horses.

  • Name: Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
  • Light: Full sun, part shade
  • Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet

  See Also

  6 Fastest Growing Privacy Trees (And Where To Plant Them) - Tree JourneyBest Privacy Trees For Your BackyardThe best trees for privacy15 of the Best Native Trees and Shrubs for Privacy

• 02 of 15

  Flowering Crabapple

  

  Flowering crabapple trees feature an open but small spread of just 12 to 20 feet, which makes them an appealing choice for above-fence privacy. Spring displays of white and pink fragrant flowers are followed by edible fruits and brilliant autumn foliage. A number of species and cultivars, including a weeping variety attract wildlife and add flair to the landscape.

  • Name: Flowering Crabapple (Malusspp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
  • Light: Full sun
  • Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet

• 03 of 15

  Flowering Cherry

  

  Flowering cherry trees are famous for their extravagant blooms and serve as decorative plantings in major cities all over the world. The tidy canopy spread 13 to 26 feet. It's abundant with fragrant white, pink, or red blossoms every spring.

  They can easily be pruned to a uniform shape. Whether they're planted as a single tree or in groupings, they're guaranteed to add beauty. The flowering cherry tree is considered a short-lived tree, with a 30 to 40-year lifespan, but since it's a rapid grower, you won't wait long to enjoy them. Although it may not produce any fruit, its foliage and flowers are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

  • Name: Flowering Cherry, Oriental Cherry (Prunus serrulataspp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 8
  • Light: Full sun
  • Mature Height: 15 to 25 feet

• 04 of 15

  American Hornbeam

  

  The American hornbeam is adaptable, tall, and has a narrow canopy which makes it perfect to plant along extended fencing that marks property lines. Its fluted trunk, blue-gray bark, and autumn foliage add interest year-round. American hornbeam is a slow-growing deciduous tree that requires adequate space but creates a lovely tall border interplanted with flower beds and flowering shrubs. This is a low-maintenance selection with good pest and disease resistance.

  • Name: American Hornbeam, Ironwood, Musclewood, (Carpinus caroliniana)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
  • Light: Full sun to full shade
  • Mature Height: 20 to 35 feet

  Continue to 5 of 15 below

• 05 of 15

  Purpleleaf Plum

  

  Deep purple leaves adorn the nicely rounded canopy of Purpleleaf Plum, adding both height and beauty to your fence line. Fragrant white and pink flowers bloom in spring which is followed by small berries attracting birds and wildlife. Purpleleaf plum doesn't require much pruning but can struggle in urban environments. Its foliage and seeds are toxic to people and pets.

  • Name: Purpleleaf Plum, Cherry Plum, (Prunus cerasifera)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
  • Light: Full to part sun
  • Mature Height: 15 to 25 feet

• 06 of 15

  American Mountain Ash

  

  If you want to add shade along with height to your fence, consider planting American Mountain Ash. This understory tree is tall enough to add privacy with a 20-foot wide canopy that features three season colors. White spring flowers, golden yellow autumn foliage, and edible red-orange fruits add visual enjoyment to backyard gatherings and attract songbirds and pollinators.

  • Name: American Mountain Ash, American Rowan (Sorbus americana)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 2 to 6
  • Light: Full sun, part shade
  • Mature Height: 15 to 30 feet

• 07 of 15

  Crepe Myrtle

  

  Crepe Myrtles offer year-round interest with stunning blooms, colorful autumn foliage, and exfoliating bark. Trees grow rapidly, as much as 24 inches per year, and flower abundantly in spring with fragrant blooms in a wide range of colors.

  A fence is a perfect backdrop for extravagant spring and autumn displays across canopies stretching to 20 feet wide. From the hundreds of types available, be sure to choose a taller variety such as 'Natchez' for above-fence privacy.

  • Name: Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemiaindica)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
  • Light: Full sun
  • Mature Height: 6 to 25 feet

• 08 of 15

  See Also

  The best privacy trees for small backyards – 7 screening varieties that work for tiny spaces

  Little Gem Magnolia

  

  Little Gem Magnolia offers all the best-loved features of the iconic Southern Magnolia in a size better suited for adorning a fence. This dwarf cultivar has the same glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers to create a showy, 10-foot wide canopy of blooms and foliage above your fence line. Little Gem is evergreen in its hardiness zones, producing flowers in just two to three years.

  • Name: Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflorum 'Little Gem')
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 10
  • Light: Full sun to light shade
  • Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet

  Continue to 9 of 15 below

• 09 of 15

  Young's Weeping Birch

  

  Weeping Birch features white bark and trailing branches, adding an element of grace to soften your fence line. Brilliant yellow autumn foliage stands out especially well against stone and brick walls and borders. The dwarf variety only grows 6 to 12 feet tall. This small, ornamental birch can be planted in groupings to create a dense screen.
  

  • Name: Young's Weeping Birch (Betula pendulaYoungii)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
  • Light: Full to part sun
  • Mature Height: 6 to 12 feet

• 10 of 15

  Arborvitae 'Emerald Green'

  

  Arborvitae 'Emerald Green' is an evergreen cultivar with a narrow, slightly rounded, pyramidal shape. Planted in rows, its uniform appearance adds a permanent, green screen to any fence line. Sprays of glossy green needles and small red-brown cones offer year-round interest.

  • Name: Aborvitae 'Emerald Green', Smaragd arborvitae, American arborvitae, white cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 2 to 7
  • Light: Full to part sun
  • Mature Height: 12 to 20 feet

• 11 of 15

  Skip Laurel

  

  The Skip Laurel is adaptable, low maintenance, and has glossy evergreen foliage to create a perfect tall hedge for privacy along your fence. Fragrant white blossoms in spring are followed by red berries that attract songbirds. This tree fares well in urban conditions with its small size will fit any yard. Foliage and berries are toxic to people, pets, and horses.

  • Name: Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
  • Light: Full sun, part shade
  • Mature Height: 10 to 18 feet

• 12 of 15

  Spartan Juniper

  

  Spartan juniper features a narrow, pyramidal shape that fits well against a fence even in the smallest yards. This evergreen adapts to most well-draining soil types and is drought and salt tolerant. Trees naturally develop an attractive form but can easily be pruned to any desired shape, including topiary.

  • Name: Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis'Spartan)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
  • Light: Full to part shade
  • Mature Height: 15 feet

  Continue to 13 of 15 below

• 13 of 15

  Dwarf Italian Cypress

  

  Dwarf cultivars of the long-lived Italian Cypress tree give your fence an elegant, formal look with sprays of dark gray-green needles on short, upright branches. A narrow spread of 5 feet or less adds height and structure when planted in groupings or rows. Look for 'Swane's Golden', 'Swane's Variegated', and 'Tiny Tower' cultivars for the perfect size to adorn your privacy fence.

  • Name: Dwarf Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
  • Light: Full to part sun
  • Mature Height: 10 to 30 feet

• 14 of 15

  Dragon Lady Holly

  Dragon Lady Holly is a broadleaf evergreen tree with the right height and shape for bordering a fence line. This holly is drought tolerant and adapted to poor soil as long as it drains well. It fares best in cooler temperatures, so protection from afternoon heat is recommended. Plant both male, 'Aquipern', and female, 'San Jose', cultivars for white flowers and red berries that bring in birds and pollinators. Holly berries are toxic to people and pets.
  

  • Name: Dragon Lady Holly, Aquipern Holly, (Ilex x aquipernyi,)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 7
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Mature Height: 10 to 20 feet

• 15 of 15

  Black Dragon Japanese Cedar

  The Japanese cedar, 'Black Dragon', will transform your privacy fence into a concept garden border with its unique shape and color. Its irregular dense branching and foliage mature from bright green to nearly black giving it a distinct look to your hardscape. Black Dragon shapes itself without pruning and is pest, disease, and drought resistant.

  • Name: Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria 'Black Dragon')
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
  • Light: Full to part sun
  • Mature Height: 6 to 10 feet