15 Fast-Growing Conifers for Creating Year-Round Privacy

Row of Cypress Trees — Photo: Grace Cary / Getty Images

Mighty oaks and ornamental maples are beautiful in their own right, but there’s something to be said about the year-round greenery that conifer trees add to your yard. This tree family is characterized by the presence of cones—hence the name—and evergreen foliage that provides natural privacy, shade, and windbreak. They’re also a wonderful habitat for wildlife, are considered relatively low-maintenance, and look majestic in the winter and spring when other trees and plants are leafless. If you’re eager to transform your landscaping quickly, consider planting some of these fast-growing conifers.

Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at Sunday, an online service that creates custom lawn care plans
Christian Frese, director of arboriculture at Moon Valley Nurseries
Eric Preston Stout, expert gardener, landscaper, and gardening teacher at TeachMe.To, an in-person learning marketplace that connects students with skilled pros for private lessons

01 of 15

Green Giant Arborvitae

Arborvitae trees in a garden (Thuja occidentalis Smaragd) — DEA/RANDOM / Getty Images

Those seeking a super quick yard transformation may want to get their hands on green giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata). "This is one of the fastest-growing trees," says Teri Valenzuela, natural science manager at Sunday. "With its tall, conical shape, it’s perfect for quickly creating a thick, green wall to keep your yard private."

Zone: 5 to 8
Mature size: 40 to 60 feet
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining rich and loamy soil; keep soil moist until established
Growth rate: 3 to 5 feet per year

02 of 15

Italian Cypress

With its columnar silhouette and elegant Mediterranean feel, the Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is an incredible conifer. "These extremely slender trees are great as an accent plant—especially in tight spaces—and can also be used in a dramatic hedge line," says Christian Frese, director of arboriculture at Moon Valley Nurseries.

Zone: 7 to 10
Mature size: 25 to 70 feet tall, depending on the variety
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining loamy soil; water when soil is dry to the touch
Growth rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

03 of 15

Loblolly Pine

The Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is considered the fastest-growing pine species and takes on a unique appearance with concentrated foliage at the top and bare trunks. This tall, straight evergreen has long and slender needles that are produced in clusters of three.

Zone: 6 to 9
Mature size: 60 to 90 feet tall
Care: Full sun; well-draining sandy soil; let soil dry between waterings
Growth rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

04 of 15

Japanese Black Pine

Japanese Pine — Courtesy of Conifer Kingdom

This mighty, resilient evergreen (Pinus thunbergii) has long, slender, dark green—nearly black—needles that are arranged in pairs. Its trunk and branches are quite eye-catching compared to other conifers, thanks to their rugged and twisting appearance. This fast-growing conifer does well in coastal conditions, and it’s also a great choice for bonsai gardens.

Zone: 5 to 8
Mature size: 20 to 60 feet
Care: Full sun; well-draining loamy soil; let surface dry between waterings
Growth rate: 1 to 3 feet per year

05 of 15

American Arborvitae

1.-Thuja-occidentalis-Malonyana-holub.jpg — Courtesy of Conifer Kingdom

The American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) comes in more than 40 different varieties, which means you’ve got lots of shapes, colors, and sizes to choose from for your landscaping. "This tree makes for a wonderful hedge with its extremely dense, dark green foliage," says Frese. The foliage is soft-to-the-touch, and, along with hedging, can also be incorporated as focal points in the yard.

Zone: 3 to 8
Mature size: 60 feet tall
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining loamy soil; keep soil moist in the growth phase
Growth rate: 2 feet per year

06 of 15

Leyland Cypress

The Leyland cypress (Hesperotropsis leylandii) is another fast-growing conifer that gives off that Christmas tree look thanks to its dense and dark green foliage that grows triangular. "It’s a great choice for fences or as a standout tree in your yard," Valenzuela says. "Use it for privacy, as a windbreak, or to frame your flowers and shrubs."

Zone: 6 to 8
Mature size: 60 to 70 feet tall
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining soil; keep soil moist
Growth rate: 2 to 4 feet per year

07 of 15

Rocky Mountain Juniper Skyrocket

If you like the Rocky Mountain juniper but want a variety that grows faster, the skyrocket cultivar (Juniperus scopulorum) is the way to go. It’s still not the fastest-growing conifer on this list, but it’s a nice alternative to the original. The Skyrocket has a slender silhouette with dense, silvery blue needles and is best suited as an accent tree.

Zone: 3 to 9
Mature size: 15 feet tall
Care: Full sun; well-draining loamy soil; water when surface is dry
Growth rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

08 of 15

Norway Spruce

You may recognize the majestic silhouette and piney foliage of the Norway spruce (Picea abies) because it’s the chosen Christmas tree for New York City’s Rockefeller Center every year. It’s an especially fast-growing tree (specifically when it’s young) that grows extremely wide, too. "The tree offers beautiful pendulous–or dropping–branches that further the tree’s iconic look," Frese says.

Zone: 2 to 7
Mature size: 40 to 60 feet tall
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining, slightly acidic soil; keep soil moist in the growth phase
Growth rate: 2 to 5 feet per year

09 of 15

Carolina Sapphire Cypress

This fast-growing evergreen tree (Cupressus arizonica) produces silvery-blue foliage that creates an almost frosted look. Its silhouette is subtly triangular (but still has a very slender appearance), and the dense, scale-like leaves create a nice privacy screen and windbreak. Another bonus is that this one produces a lovely, piney fragrance.

Zone: 7 to 10
Mature size: 40 to 60 feet tall
Care: Full sun; well-draining sandy soil; allow soil to dry between waterings
Growth rate: 3 to 6 feet per year

10 of 15

Bald Cypress

The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a fast-growing tree that produces feathery, soft green leaves. "Its name comes from its needle-like leaves, which turn orange in the fall before they drop," Valenzuela says. "This tree [also] offers deep roots that help prevent erosion and soak up extra water—plus, it provides a home for local wildlife."

Zone: 4 to 9
Mature size: 60 to 70 feet tall
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining soil; keep soil moist
Growth rate: 3 to 5 feet per year

11 of 15

Eastern White Pine

Named after its smooth, pale-colored bark, the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) grows tall and straight and showcases long and flexible needles grouped in bundles of five. It has a graceful appearance that makes it an elegant addition to any yard, particularly as an ornamental accent. The growth is slow in its first few years, but after that, it takes off.

Zone: 4-9
Mature Size: 50 to 80 feet
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining loamy soil; keep soil moist until established
Growth rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

12 of 15

Western Red Cedar

Given its mature size—topping out at around 200 feet—this giant cedar (Thuja plicata) isn’t for every yard. However, if you have the space then it’s a striking option to incorporate onto your property. This quick-growing conifer has dense, fan-like foliage that ranges from rich green to reddish-brown, and it takes on a broad pyramid shape.

Zone: 5 to 9
Mature size: 100 to 200 feet
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining loamy soil; keep soil moist until established
Growth rate: 2 to 3 feet per year

13 of 15

Monkey Puzzle Tree

Monkey tree — Jacky Parker Photography / Getty Images

For an absolutely show-stopping conifer, look no further than the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana). "There’s no other conifer tree like this species," says Eric Preston Stout, expert gardener and landscaper at TeachMe.To. "It is a spiral arrangement, radially spreading evergreen with leaves that resemble a Fibonacci sequence." The whorled leaves also have a spiky, scale-like quality to them. It's definitely an ornamental choice versus a hedging option. Also, it’s best to plant an already established tree since it’s very slow-growing in its early years. Once mature, however, it starts taking off.

Zone: 7 to 10
Mature size: 60 to 70 feet tall
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining sandy soil; keep soil moist until established
Growth rate: 1 to 2 feet per year, once established

14 of 15

Douglas Fir

This tall tree (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has soft, needle-like leaves that develop in a beautiful spiral pattern. It’s considered one of the most popular options for Christmas trees thanks to its classic pyramid shape, fragrance, and gentle needles. This fast-growing conifer is also beautiful in yards as either an accent or privacy screen thanks to its dense, year-round foliage.

Zone: 4-6
Mature size: 70 to 100 feet
Care: Partial to full sun; well-draining sandy soil; keep soil moist until established
Growth rate: 1 to 2 feet per year

15 of 15

European Larch

This beautiful tree is one of the few deciduous conifer trees on Earth, meaning its leaves change colors in the fall and then drop. The European larch (Larix decidua) grows in a pyramid shape and produces soft, bright green needles that turn to a striking golden-yellow hue come autumn. “[It offers] the best fall color tree out of all conifers,” says Preston Stout, expert gardener and landscaper at TeachMe.To.