I delight my outdoor space and take full advantage of the little room I have . But , there ’s one issue that I ’ll never get used to : The lack of privacy !
To solve this problem , I sought out to learn more about the best container flora for privacy screens . Come to find out , many plants are suitable for the task !
From voluminous bushes to heavy gage , I ’ve outline some of my favorite plant below .
Bamboo
Bamboo is the quintessential seclusion plant . Technically a dope , bamboo is up to of produce very tall ! Some variants can farm up to25 foot , produce it a suitable choice for multi - story dwellings .
Best of all , bamboo farm tight . These plants get hold of impressive heights in only a few year . On top of that , they stick around green in the veracious growing conditions .
speak of which , bamboo is highly adaptable . While most cultivar do best in temperate climate , there are some cold-blooded - unfearing single , too . The most cold - resistant cultivar can permit temperature as scurvy as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit !
Needless to say , there are plenty of options for your privateness screen . For grandiloquent running bamboo varieties , practice a with child 40 - gallon container . It should have most vertical sides for easy antecedent pruning . For bushy clumping varieties , use a 20 to 30 - gallon pot .
Horsetail
Horsetail is another fast - growing plant life that can add some dramatic play to your patio or rooftop terrace . These grass - like plants are n’t as gravid as bamboo . But they ’re still plenty tall . Fully grown , horsetail Reed can reach heights of five to six base .
The industrial plant does quite well in containers . In the wilderness , they can well circularise thanks to their underground rootstock . But , the walls of a stalwart potful will keep that under control .
Horsetail industrial plant do better in smaller containers when they ’re untested . you may get going with a two - gal slew , but you ’ll want to raise to bigger container to give the rootball way to grow .
As for the climate , horsetails farm in zones 3 through 11 . They do fine in partial shadowiness as long as they ’re getting about half a twenty-four hours of exposure .
English Ivy
Here ’s a vining industrial plant that requires a morsel of encouragement to make privacy . The English Ivy can produce vine as long as 100 feet ! gratuitous to say , a treillage is a must - have .
you’re able to cultivate the vines to develop vertically and create a plush wall of greenery . After your first year , you may even see some yellowish flower during the fall !
English Ivy plant do n’t need a monumental container . Transplant young plant in a green goddess that is only an column inch or two bigger in diameter than the original pot . Then , mount your trellis close to the foundation .
These plant life can grow in fond shadiness . But in cold clime , they might do good from full Lord’s Day exposure when possible .
Hydrangea
hydrangea are gorgeous floweringperennials . The genus contains about 75 different cultivar , providing plenty of option . The flora produces declamatory clustering of colorful peak that vary in color . The flowers bet bang-up as a privacy screen and supply a nice scent to your outdoor oasis !
In footing of size , some cultivar can contact heights of about 15 feet . But the independent draw of the Hydrangea for privacy screens is the bedspread . With right care , they can have a width of 10 feet . Furthermore , these plants have an excellent outgrowth structure .
They do need large container . To help it reach its full potentiality , you ’ll need to keep the plant in a pot that ’s 18 to 20 inches in diameter .
Butterfly Bush
The aptly named Butterfly Bush is another plant life that offer short ton of color . It also attracts fly pollinator that are calculate to harvest some of that unfermented ambrosia .
Butterfly Bushes can get to up of 10 foot . However , there are also nanus sort . These plants also do well with pruning . you may cut back the plant life to encourage bushier outgrowth at optic horizontal surface .
This secrecy plant does require a bit of work to keep healthy . They require full sunlight exposure and plenteousness of water . Excellent drainage is a must , too . The adept news is that these plants do n’t want fertilization . Light fertilization is ok if you want a denser plant with more leaves . But if the bloom are what you ’re after , ward off fertilization altogether .
Elderberry
The Elderberry plant does double - duty ! Its anatomical structure and foliage provide ample privacy on a deck of cards or terrace . However , the plant also make eatable flower and berries !
The Chuck Berry are rich in nutrients in antioxidants . Many say it ’s a superfood ! Either way , the berries are tasty and great for sweet and preservation .
The plant itself is dense and wide . It ’s a bushy plant that can grow to 12 feet or more . Smaller mixture do best in container . But they allow just as much privacy as their taller counterparts .
Togrow an Elderberry plant , you ’ll want a with child container that ’s at least 24 inches full and 20 inches thick . The plants have a strong solution organization that needs tidy sum of room to spread out .
Big Bluestem
Here ’s a grassy plant life that ’s very easygoing to take care of . Big Bluestems are a repeated bunchgrass . They grow in dense clustering that are about two to three feet wide . In term of height , most cultivars can hit up to eight invertebrate foot marvellous .
Big Bluestems make fantastic seclusion screens because of their density . you may easily space several flora close together to produce a living wall . In the wild , the plant can be encroaching . But , managing the grass distribute is much easy in a container .
The best part of Big Bluestems is their versatility . They conform to a panoptic image of territory conditions and can grow well in soils that are otherwise moot “ poor . ”
Switchgrass
Switchgrass is similar to Big Bluestems . These plants are bushy , grandiloquent , and very dense ! Often used as an ornamental grass , it has lean and foresighted leaves . With some cultivars , the leaves take on a vivacious color .
For the most part , Switchgrass is low - maintenance . The plant is hardy and does well in fond shade or full sunlight . It does involve even watering . But , the industrial plant does a grotesque job of storing water and nutrients in times of drought .
Switchgrass can even grow in shallow soils . When you first plant the grass , get a hatful that ’s big enough to plunk for a few years of increase . Then , continue to upgrade the pot as the plant becomes wider and marvelous .
Yellow Indiangrass
Want a pop of colour in your outside garden ? Yellow Indiangrass is a beautiful flora that produce vivacious yellow stems and prosperous sticker flowers .
Like other grasses , Yellow Indiangrass is quite dense . It does n’t get as prominent as some other grasses we ’ve covered . But , it ’s still plenty tall to give you some privacy . On ordinary , intelligent works will achieve pinnacle of three to seven understructure . Meanwhile , it spreads to a few feet at the top .
Yellow Indiangrass does well in a myriad of unlike territory atmospheric condition . It even grows in big clay or unfertile soil . That said , it prefers adequate drain and full Sunday to truly brandish .
Elephant Ear
Next up , we have the iconic Elephant Ear plant . The main draw of this plant is its massive leaves . On intelligent industrial plant , an individual leaf can get as big as three feet long and two feet wide !
The farewell are waxy , green , and very optic - catching . They stand just and catch the current of air to provide some simmer down movement .
These plant do need some extra precaution to stave off slant over . The container needs to be at least 18 inch wide and equally deep . Many gardener will total some hefty stones to the bottom of the pot to preclude weight imbalances up top .
well for those in warm climates , Elephant Ears need ample sun exposure and warm temperatures .
Arborvitae
Arborvitae is a pop evergreen plant that many landscapist use to leave some privateness . While typically used on place line of work , it also grows well in containers !
The works is conical and can raise to impressive height . There are many type of Arborvitae trees out there , the tallest of which will attain up to 25 substructure tall . However , smaller variants can be as unretentive as three feet tall .
When it comes to width , Arborvitae spread to about three feet .
Containers demand to be pretty self-aggrandising to put up this plant . Ideally , 20 - gallon container are best . Though , you may require to go even bigger with larger cultivar .
Holly
This iconic vacation industrial plant look good all year long ! The evergreen is commonly used for privacy hedges and fences , much like the Arborvitae . At about 10 feet tall and four foot all-encompassing at maturity , you may use them to make a dense carapace against the sights and sounds of city living .
In many cases , Holly parting are bristly . However , there are variant with quiet leaves . These plants also bring on gorgeous burnished cerise Chuck Berry . But do n’t eat them ! They ’re toxic and induce a chain of mountains of uncomfortable aftereffects !
To get the best resultant role , pose your Holly plants in an region that gets at least four hours of unmediated sunlight . container should be about 10 in in diameter for adequate maturation .
Canna Lily
With its pinkish - orange flower , the Canna Lily is an eye - catching option that can provide some skilful privacy . At maturity , plant grow to heights ofsix feet or more . Plus , these anthesis plant grow comparatively quickly .
It does n’t take long to get to a substantial tiptop , allowing you to savor the privacy they leave .
To develop Canna Lillies , you ’ll need a broad container that ’s between 15 and 18 column inch in diameter . Considerable depth is a summation . However , these heyday can grow well in shallow grease , too . you’re able to also plant several in farsighted baskets along a railing . Just ensure that the basket is at least 12 inches spacious and long enough to accommodate root word spread .
Fountain Grass
Fountain Grass is often mistaken for its more popular full cousin , Pampas Grass . But , this ornamental grass plant is unique in its own right . For one it does n’t demand a massive pot . you may easy put these industrial plant in containers with as little volume as two Imperial gallon . As long as the pot can accommodate the root , it will do just fine !
A goodish Fountain Grass flora will produce to about three or four fundament improbable . It has adequate width , too , allow for excellent reportage against tough views .
This plant offer mess of beauty , too . Atop each Walter Reed , downy cum heads add a pop of people of color to your patio . There are several cultivars with vivacious color like majestic and muted tones like taupe .
Princess Flower
Growing three to six ft tall and about three feet wide , the Princess Flower makes for an excellent patio barrier . Also have sex as the Glory Bush , this inflorescence plant produces dull offset and tons of leaf .
The best part of the flora is the blooms ! Deep purple flowers appear throughout the yr in quick climates . Most of the flowering will occur in the belated spring and last into wintertime .
Hardy from zone 9 to 11 , the Princess Flower requires ample room to flourish . However , it does n’t need an overly large container . It ’s best to keep the jackpot one to two inches larger in diam than the root clod to cope growth .
Clematis
Sometimes call the Leather Flower , Clematis industrial plant are a recollective - term solution to privacy problems . It takesseveral years for the flora to senesce and bulge out flowering . But once you get there , you wo n’t regret it ! Flowers are roughly six in across . partner off that with the thick leaf and you have a dense plant that onlookers wo n’t be capable to see through .
The Clematis is a vining plant . While there are several cultivar out there , most will produce vine between 10 and 20 feet long .
Needless to say , trellising is a must . These plants look majuscule on tall lattice trellises and balcony rail . commence off in a gal - sized quite a little and bring home the bacon spate of sun to keep them hefty .
Hops
Often affiliate with bitters and beer , the Hops plant is surprisingly efficacious in landscape gardening . Take one look at how it produce and you ’ll see why ! Hops plant have 20 - foot vines that burst with dense foliage during the leap and summertime seasons . They easily mount up exterior walls and fences .
To support that growing , Hops plants need room to spread their roots . 20 - inch containers are the scanty minimum . You ’ll also need a solid trellis or a post organisation that can wield the weight of the vines .
Well - run out land is of the essence for hop works . They do not digest fend weewee of any kind . To promote growing , provide about an inch and a one-half of water per workweek and full sun pic .
Junipers
This coniferous tree is another favourite among landscapers . retem grow in a conical shape , much like a Christmas tree . The branches arise close together and grow sharp leaves that grow in whorls of three . Depending on the variety , leaves can be dark green or even bluish - gray-headed .
The tall Juniper cultivar can strive heights of 50 feet ! That may be overkill for a secrecy covert , so it ’s best to stick with a little salmagundi . Shimpaku Junipers are an excellent choice for containers . They are about four feet wide and just as extensive .
Junipers are slowly - grow plants . But they are also relatively low maintenance . Conservativepruning , access to six hours of sun , and enough piddle to keep the land moist are all they need .
Rose of Sharon
The Rose of Sharon plant is an ultra - all-inclusive shrub that goes by many names . You might see these plant label as Chinese Hibiscus , Korean Rose , or Rose Mallow at your local baby’s room .
disregardless of their namesake , these plants add together lashings of color to your container garden . They produce wrinkly flowers of deviate colors depending on the cultivar .
In term of works increase , the Rose of Sharon plants is quite big . Taller varieties can get up to 12 foot tall and 10 feet wide . Due to this monolithic size , the plant postulate a large and stable container . They can get top - heavy when blossom , resulting in point - overs and damage .
Boxwood
Chances are , you ’ve seen a Boxwood shrub at some point . They are one of the most iconic privacy plants . Many upscale landscapers employ them as cosmetic plants for sculpting , too .
The Boxwood flora produces evergreen plant leaf that can last through even the abrasive winters . Typically , Boxwoods are hardy as far magnetic north as Zone 6 . However , some cultivars can grow well in even colder climates .
Most shrubs will progress to heights of around six feet , making them perfect for concealment screen . Thanks to the branch construction and small leafage , these plants are very easy to shape . Place containers on a patio and prune regularly to create a living wall .
Viburnum
There are roughly 175 different Viburnum species out there . Most of them do a fine task of creating privacy . That ’s because Viburnum shrubs have opposite branching . Stems and pass on sprout right away across from one another , create a thick and uniform look .
Heights can vary dramatically based on the species of Viburnum you choose . Some of the best cultivars for container ontogenesis are theMapleleaf and David Viburnum . Both pass on height of five to six feet .
Whatever variety you prefer , use the tumid container you’re able to fit into your outdoor space ! These plants have tumid root organization that require pot of way to spread out .
Sweet Bay
Here ’s another center - catching plant that serves a practical function . The Sweet Bay plant produces redolent leaves . They work wonder in food dishes as a flavorer .
Sweet Bay grows as either a bush or a small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Most miscellany are slow - growers , withdraw several old age to hit their want height . However , the wait is well worth it . The leaves are big are evergreen . Meanwhile , the branches grow closely together to create some dense flora .
Heights will vary based on the cultivar . small plants for container growing will get hold of 10 feet or so . Caring for the plant is a aboveboard process . They demand full sunlight all yr long and tribute once the temperature drops .
Dracaena
The Dracaena plant is a bit different from other secrecy plants . This one is n’t have it away for its thick vegetation . In fact , the plant grows a thin luggage compartment in both tree and shrub form . However , the leaves are what provide privacy .
dracaena have lean , grass - like foliage that maturate just . The leaves abound from the body , creating some drama and tightness . Many gardeners will institute them in group of alter height to achieve adequate privateness reportage .
In a container , Dracaenas top out at about six groundwork . They do exceptionally well in locoweed . you’re able to even grow them indoors . All they call for is a moderate amount of collateral sun .
Hibiscus
This tropical flowering bush can add pops of color to your garden . Available in hundreds of cultivars , Hibiscus bloom can take on a encompassing range of colour .
Most kind will grow to a maximum of eight feet marvelous and about 5 feet wide . Hibiscusplants excel in containers . beneficial of all , they do just fine in pocket-size containers . you may use pots as small as 10 inches in diam .
Hibiscus flora need warm temperature between60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit . When temperature drip to 50 degrees or modest , growth will issue forth to a travail halt . blossom can become deform as well , so make certain you take a variety that mold for your climate .
Skip Laurel
If you need a fast - growing bush , Skip Laurels are a good choice . These evergreen plants have an average ontogenesis charge per unit of about 24 in per year !
When it hail to size , Skip Laurels do n’t let down either . They can arise to 10 to 18 foot tall . Plants will propagate to a breadth of five to seven feet , providing some great reportage .
Spacing is key with the Skip Laurel . Placement will dictate how the plants develop over time . To create a privacy screen or shelterbelt , place your containers about 15 fundament apart . But if you want to have a shorter and more realizable hedging , five to 10 feet apart is honorable .
Agave
You would n’t think that a succulent like the Agave could allow for privacy . But , these plants get surprisingly large . Depending on the cultivar , you ’re looking at upwardly of 10 infantry in tallness !
The affair that makes Agave so appealing for privacy is the leave-taking . Like aloe plants , the parting of the Agave are boneheaded and overweight . They bust out from the home of the plant to make a lotus - like form that ’s impossible to see through .
Agave plant grow advantageously in warm clime with full Dominicus . They do a good problem of storing pee for times of drought . So , they do n’t digest standing water . Instead , the plants prefer speedy drainage and soil that stays moist .
Amaranth
Amaranth is an ancient works that produces lilliputian seed that many mistakes for grains . right for intellectual nourishment dishes , the grain extend ton of purported health benefits .
However , it ’s the plant ’s development that makes it a good choice for privacy screen . arise up to eight feet marvelous , these plant have great leaves and tall upright germ cod . The pods are ordinarily brightly colored and thick , providing copious insurance coverage for your outdoor space .
The most significant thing when select a container for Amaranth is the depth . Adequate width is of the essence , too , but the plant has mystifying roots than most . So , you ’ll need to select a pot that ’s about a groundwork mystifying to help the plant reach its full potential drop .
Bougainvillea
This ornamental vine can transform your out-of-door space ! Not only does it block out those ugly sights and sounds , but it also adds a pop of color that will attract all the right attention .
Bougainvillea plants are decorative vine . On the smaller end of the graduated table , vines can produce to a bare three foot farseeing . But , the enceinte plants can have vine up to 40 feet recollective !
Foliage is green and dull . Meanwhile , blooms can be pink , yellow , and more . The vine do contain thorns , so be extra measured when positioning this plant .
Like other vining plant species , Bougainvillea requires a trellis or Emily Post system . A pot diameter of 10 to 14 column inch is ideal . Bougainvillea passion to be pot - tie , so they do well in smaller container despite their sizing .
Fuchsia
Fuchsiashrubs and trees are a prized possession among gardeners that have one . The jewel - corresponding flower dangle from strong branches , create a whimsical look that no other efflorescence can touch !
There are thousands of Fuchsia cultivar , take it easy to take a container - ready choice . The best sort of industrial plant for privacy screens are going to be on the larger ending of the size spectrum . Bigger flora reach heights of eight feet and can spread to about five weed wide .
Fuschia plants are hardy . But , they can be particular about the heat . Too much heat can cause flowering egress and scrubby growth . Provide plenty of weewee and create partial spectre on those super - cheery days .
Yucca
Last , but not least , we have the Yucca plant . A popular houseplant , Yuccas can get bigger than most think . little varieties top out at about four feet tall and equally as spacious . However , great variants can turn to 30 foot and 25 foot across-the-board ! Yucca shrubs and dwarf trees that grow somewhere in the centre are best for container uprise .
Yucca plant are declamatory succulents . They have enormous pointy leaves . In the right conditions , turgid flower clusters can germinate from the base of the plant . The flowers are colorful and explode from a cardinal root , create even more density for your privacy blind .
Fact Checked , Written , and Published by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the founder of Gardening Mentor , a web site that aims to learn people to grow their own food in a modified space . As a self - taught gardener , Kevin has spend several year growing plants and creating gardening content on the internet site . He is certify in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . Read more
