8 best plants for privacy – for beautiful, botanical screening in your garden

The best plants for privacy are both pretty and practical. Whether you want to create a secret hideaway at the bottom of your garden, screen the neighbour's view of your patio, or break your space up into enchanting outdoor "rooms", there are plenty of options to choose from.

A fence or wall is often a go-to solution for blocking spaces from sight. However, using plants is often suited to more relaxed garden trends. It's also better for wildlife – many shrubs and flowers will attract birds, beneficial pollinators, and other creatures. 

A botanical boundary is also ideal for smaller spaces, as even a plant in a tall pot can provide an effective privacy solution – the perfect way to block a neighbour's view on a budget.

Below, you'll find eight expert-approved privacy plant choices, to help you find the perfect option for your space. There are plenty of tips on growing them, too.

8 of the best plants for privacy – easy options to grow in your garden

Dobbies’ horticultural director, Marcus Eyles, says, "There are a whole host of fantastic plants that can be used. Mature, larger plants will be more expensive but provide instant results, whereas younger plants can be nurtured and grown over time for a more cost-effective approach."

Marcus Eyles

Marcus joined Dobbies over six years ago, directing the horticultural team across the UK and spearheading the project that won the RHS Sustainable Garden Product of the Year Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022. He has over three decades of experience in the horticulture industry and a passion for spending time in the garden year-round.

1. Star jasmine

Charlotte McGrattan of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres says, “If you're looking for a plant that can provide privacy, fragrance, and beauty all in one, Trachelospermum jasminoides, also known as star jasmine, is an excellent choice.

"This evergreen climber produces stunning, white flowers during summer," she says. In winter, its glossy green leaves turn red, she adds. "At maturity, it can grow up to eight metres in height by four metres in spread, making it ideal for creating a large, natural privacy screen."

Charlotte calls it a "fuss-free plant", noting how it can easily cling to supports without needing additional help (although younger growth may benefit from being tied in). She recommends planting it in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-draining soil. "To fully enjoy its lovely scent, consider growing it near a seating area to create a hidden, cosy corner to relax,” she adds. We think it's perfectly suited to the quiet luxury garden trend. 

Gardening expert Sarah Raven also recommends this climber as one of the best plants for privacy. She advises giving it a gentle prune to make sure it stays neat. It's slow-growing, she adds, and works best when bought as big as possible.

You can shop for star jasmine plants at the Sarah Raven website.

Charlotte McGrattan

Charlotte's role involves ensuring that the garden centres are well stocked with the appropriate type and quantity of hardy plants for the relevant time of year. Charlotte works very closely with the Hillier nursery as well as external nursery suppliers to ensure Hillier Garden Centres get the best plants in the right volumes when they need them.

Sarah Raven

Since the publication of her first book, The Cutting Garden, Sarah has led the way in introducing a new kind of productive gardening. Her aim is to create intense colour and beauty, combined with a practical and easy-to-achieve approach. Her popular gardening podcast Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange has achieved 4 million downloads. She’s published 15 books and runs Sarahraven.com, which services over 600,000 customers.

2. Bamboo

Thompson & Morgan’s horticultural expert, Annelise Brilli, says that while grasses are often recommended as a vertical screen, they are late to come into growth, and only achieve full height at the end of the summer when they flower. Bamboos are a better option, she says, as they provide a tall privacy screen throughout the year. 

She suggests choosing clump-forming, non-invasive types such as Fargesia "Asian Wonder" (available from Thompson & Morgan) or "Red Fountain". Both offer colourful stems, evergreen texture and movement, she highlights. "Plant them in a position with moist soil which does not dry out in summer and does not become waterlogged in winter."

Marcus recommends bamboo for more modern or zen gardens. As it's fast-growing, it can make an impact in a short time, he says, adding that it needs to be kept well-watered to establish.

Many varieties of bamboo are also a good option for containers if you're looking for ideas for small gardens.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

3. Beech

Morris Hankinson, the founder of Hopes Grove Nurseries, says, "Hedges are so much better than fences or walls – not only are they cheaper and longer lasting but they also filter strong winds, noise, and pollution."

One of the best plant options is a beech hedge, which Sarah calls a "perfect all-rounder".

"I’d suggest using five plants per metre length, setting them out in a zigzag to encourage a thick and bushy hedge that is also ideal for visiting birds and pollinators," she says. 

Prune these plants in late summer to keep them looking their best.

The Sarah Raven website has beech hedging plants available to buy.

Morris Hankinson

Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. After graduating with a Commercial Horticulture degree from Writtle College, Essex in 1992, Morris established the nursery the same year on a half-acre plot at the 25-acre family farm in Tenterden, Kent. The business soon grew to cover the whole farm and now grows hedging plants across three nursery sites in the beautiful Weald of Kent totalling 130 acres, employing 20 full-time local staff, and serving over 17,000 customers each year.

4. Photinia

Morris says photinia shrubs are great for hedging – "their evergreen, oval-shaped foliage is brilliant red when young and older shrubs often produce corymbs of attractive white flowers in early summer."

"Red Robin", available from Hillier, is perhaps the best-known variety. Charlotte says it thrives in well-draining soil and can tolerate full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile choice for various places in the garden. "Photinia is low-maintenance and hardy," she adds – "ideal for those who want privacy without having to spend a lot of time on upkeep. It requires minimal pruning which is primarily just for shaping or removing damaged branches.”

Morris adds, "There are some other really great kinds such as ‘Camilvy’, ‘Carre Rouge’ and ‘Dynamo Red’, too."

5. Cup and saucer vine

Another pretty climber well-suited to cottage garden schemes is the cup and saucer vine, otherwise known as Cobaea scandens (available to buy from the Sarah Raven website).

Sarah says it's quick to grow and exotic-looking, with buds in green-white, deepening to purple as they age. "It offers great privacy, growing up to a second-storey window if given a climbing frame." She says she often plants them as seedlings.

To make it easier to maintain, train this climber to grow along trellises and other structures, says Sarah – a useful gardening tip.

6. Pittosporum

Pittosporum tenuifolium is a very alluring plant for a garden. I love the structure it brings to a space with its small, elegant, and evergreen leaves, and it makes an excellent screen.

Annelise also recommends it as one of the best plants for privacy. "This resilient shrub has coped surprisingly well on my cold clay but also tolerates shallow chalk," she says. "There is a range of colours to choose from: rich green, silvery-grey, purple and variegated. They clip beautifully and can even be used as an alternative to box."

Compact varieties can be grown in large pots. You can shop a range of Pittosporum tenuifolium from Thompson & Morgan.

7. Hawthorn

Marcus adds hawthorn – a native hedging plant – to his list of recommendations. He notes how it's popular with wildlife, and also makes an ideal windbreaker. What's more, it's capable of withstanding exposed locations such as coastal areas, he adds.

As it's deciduous, it loses its leaves over winter. However, Marcus points out how the thickly woven branches will continue to provide a good screen and shelter. They thrive in any soil with good drainage, in both full sun and partial shade, he says.

Don't forget about the spring flowers, too – another selling point. Just note that you'll need a pair of gardening gloves, such as these ones from Amazon, should you wish to prune it, to protect your hands from the thorns.

If you're looking to rewild your garden with the help of a hawthorn hedge, Thompson & Morgan has plants available to buy.

8. Cherry laurel

Morris says cherry laurel is one of the best hedges for privacy on account of being both evergreen and quite fast-growing. "The large shiny leaves give great coverage and look immaculate all year round," he adds.

It thrives in most soil types and tolerates shade well, Charlotte says. Note that regular pruning is recommended to maintain its shape and prevent it from becoming too unruly, she adds.

"Laurel hedge plants come in a variety of sizes and root types," Morris continues. This makes them a good option regardless of your budget, he says – "another reason for them making it onto many people’s shortlist."

You can buy cherry laurel plants from Crocus.

Looking for an alternative? Try the Portuguese laurel, also available from Crocus. This is a cousin of the cherry laurel with smaller shiny leaves and reddish-coloured young stems, says Morris. "It’s a great choice for chalky soil – one of the few situations where cherry laurels don’t thrive."

FAQs

What are the best plants for near a fence?

Climbing plants are a great option for screening a lacklustre fence and transforming it into a beautiful living wall. Clematis are one of my favourite options – just ensure you read up on how to prune clematis plants to keep them looking their best.

Alternatively, you can plant large flowering shrubs, such as hydrangeas, for a pretty effect. Again, it's important to know how to prune hydrangeas for the best results.

If you're looking to add height, consider opting for pleached trees. Morris says, "For super effective high-level screening, choose an evergreen option, such as photinia, Portuguese laurel, evergreen oak, or holly."

Note that fences often shelter plants from rain somewhat, so be sure to water them in dry periods and add a layer of mulch to help the soil retain moisture.

It's also important to keep your neighbours in mind when adding plants to a boundary line. "The last thing you want when planting privacy hedging, or doing any sort of gardening, is to create conflict with neighbours," Morris says. Communication is key – before any planting takes place.

What is the best thing to plant for privacy?

The best plant to create privacy in your garden depends on lots of different factors. It's important to pick something suitable for the location you plan to plant in, so be sure to assess the soil type and how sunny or shady it is. Remember to research how big plants can grow, to ensure your selected choice doesn't outgrow its allotted space. 

Consider planting a few different types, rather than sticking to just one variety. Morris points out how a mix of evergreen and deciduous kinds will not only look more natural but will let in more light to your outdoor space. 

Adding privacy plants is a great task to tick off when sorting out your garden this spring. It will help turn an exposed space into a hidden haven perfect for hosting summer BBQs.