I don't have any issue with my neighbours, but sometimes I feel that part of my property should be protected with privacy screens. An artificial wall or fence is not what I am talking about. In this article, you will find the best plants you can grow as privacy screens in the UK.
Note: Plants and trees for the UK can vary based on regional climate, soil type, and specific needs. Don't worry! I will tell you what grows best in each area.
I will divide the list into three major categories that will help you to choose what to plant.
- Scotland & Northern England - Hardy, wind-resistant, and cold-tolerant hedges.
- Southern England - You can pick a few evergreen plants.
- Coastal Areas - Here you need to go for salt-tolerant plants and trees.
Scotland & Northern England Privacy Plants and Trees - UK
You can grow the following plants and trees in the UK's northern part and Scotland.
| Plant Name | Max Height | Growth Speed | Flowering / Non-Flowering | Preferred Soil Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yew (Taxus baccata) | 10-20m | Slow | Non-Flowering | Well-drained, Chalky, Clay |
| Beech (Fagus sylvatica) | 20-30m | Medium | Non-Flowering | Well-drained, Loamy |
| Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) | 15-25m | Medium | Non-Flowering | Clay, Loamy |
| Holly (Ilex aquifolium) | 10-15m | Slow | Flowering | Well-drained, Loamy |
| Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) | 15-20m | Fast | Non-Flowering | Moist, Loamy |
| Alder (Alnus glutinosa) | 20-25m | Fast | Flowering | Wet, Clay, Loamy |
| Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) | 3-5m | Fast | Flowering | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
Yew
Yew will be my first choice. It is extremely hardy and performs very well in cold climates.
You can give it a formal hedge shape by regular pruning. This hedge plant grows slowly, thus it will take some time to grow as a real privacy screen.
I know it grows slowly, but you will be amazed seeing how dense this hedge can be. This will be a perfect hedge plant in the North UK and Scotland.
Note: This is toxic to pets and livestock. I will never recommend you to grow it near grazing areas.
Beech
Beech will give you privacy year-round. In winter, you will notice brown leaves.
Never plant this in waterlogged areas. They don't like sitting water in the soil.
Note: Trim in Late summer to make it a compact hedge.
Beech can tolerate heavy winds. This is why I prefer it to grow in exposed locations.
Hornbeam
Hornbeam likes wet and clay-heavy soil. This can be a life-saver privacy screen for your property if the soil is a heavy clay type.
In winter, you can expect the same dense foliage (yeah, the color will be brown in winter).
Withstands frost, wind, and shade at the same time. This is why this can be the best choice for Scotland.
Hornbeam growth rate is more than beech's. If you want to get a privacy screen faster, go for hornbeam.
Holly
This is also evergreen and will act as privacy hedge year-round.
Want to stop intruders? choose this one as it has spiky leaves.
Tip: Try to grow both male and female nearby if you want berries. Berries will attract birds.
Not going to explain each plant one by one. You can use the table data to get an idea.
Privacy Plants for Southern England
| Plant Name | Max Height | Growth Speed | Flowering / Non-Flowering | Sunlight Requirement | Preferred Soil Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) | 5-8m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Loamy |
| Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) | 5-7m | Medium | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis) | 4-6m | Fast | Non-Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy |
| Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) | 4-7m | Slow | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Photinia 'Red Robin' (Photinia x fraseri) | 3-5m | Medium | Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Loamy |
| Oleaster (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) | 4-5m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) | 3-5m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium) | 3-6m | Medium | Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Chalky, Sandy |
Oleaster, Griselinia will work as a privacy hedge on coastal areas.
Bay Laurel, Cherry Laurel, Oleaster will perform as evergreen and year-round privacy.
Cherry Laurel, Griselinia, Oleaster, Privet will act as fast growing privacy hedge in Southern England.
Best privacy hedges for Coastal Areas in UK
| Plant Name | Max Height | Growth Speed | Flowering / Non-Flowering | Sunlight Requirement | Preferred Soil Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis) | 4-6m | Fast | Non-Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy |
| Oleaster (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) | 4-5m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy, Sandy |
| Escallonia (Escallonia spp.) | 3-4m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Sandy |
| Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) | 2-4m | Medium | Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Sandy |
| Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) | 4-7m | Slow | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) | 3-5m | Fast | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
| Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) | 10-15m | Fast | Non-Flowering | Full Sun | Well-drained, Sandy |
| Holly (Ilex aquifolium) | 4-6m | Medium | Flowering | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Well-drained, Chalky, Loamy |
Escallonia will become an eye-catcher.
