A backyard should feel like a private retreat, not an open invitation for neighbors to watch your every move. Instead of building an expensive fence, why not plant a natural privacy screen? Tall and narrow trees provide the perfect balance of coverage without eating up too much yard space. Here are 15 trees that grow upright and provide year-round privacy while keeping your landscape stylish and green.
1. Italian Cypress
If trees had a fashion show, Italian cypress would walk the runway with confidence. These towering evergreens shoot straight up, creating a classic, Mediterranean-inspired privacy screen. They require little maintenance and can grow over 40 feet tall while staying just a few feet wide. They also make your yard look like a Tuscan villa, minus the vineyard.
2. Sky Pencil Holly
True to its name, this holly grows upright like a perfectly sharpened pencil. It stays neat, narrow, and evergreen all year long, making it an excellent low-maintenance choice for tight spaces. Unlike traditional holly, this variety lacks the spiky attitude, so no need to worry about unexpected ankle attacks while trimming.
3. Eastern Red Cedar
Need privacy and a built-in windbreak? Eastern red cedar is your tree. This native evergreen grows tall and dense, providing year-round coverage with fragrant, green foliage. It is tough, drought-resistant, and loved by birds, which means your yard gets some extra feathered visitors while staying shielded from nosy neighbors.
4. Columnar Norway Spruce
For a lush, deep-green privacy wall, columnar Norway spruce is a solid pick. It grows fast, tolerates cold weather, and keeps its full shape without much pruning. Its narrow, conical shape makes it an excellent option if you want tall, natural fencing without sacrificing yard space for bulky branches.
5. Pencil Point Juniper
This little powerhouse stays compact and upright, making it perfect for small yards or tight spaces. Pencil point juniper has striking blue-green foliage and needs almost no maintenance. It handles cold temperatures like a champ and does not mind poor soil, proving that sometimes the best things really do come in small (but tall) packages.
6. Dawson’s Columnar Cedar
Cedar trees are known for their fragrant, soft needles, and Dawson’s columnar cedar takes it to the next level by growing tall and slender. It creates a thick, natural privacy wall while offering year-round greenery. It also tolerates tough conditions, making it a great choice for those who forget to water regularly.
7. Fastigiate Hornbeam
If you love structure in your landscaping, fastigiate hornbeam is a fantastic option. Aside its fantastic name, its upright branches form a tight, symmetrical column, making it perfect for lining driveways or creating privacy screens. It has gorgeous golden fall foliage, so while you get privacy, you also get a seasonal show of color.
8. Lombardy Poplar
If you need privacy in a hurry, Lombardy poplar is one of the fastest-growing trees out there. It can shoot up over 5 feet a year, giving you quick coverage so your neighbors can’t see what’s going on in your yard just by looking out their window. Just keep in mind that it is not the longest-lived tree, so it is best for temporary privacy while slower-growing trees fill in.
9. Japanese Blueberry Tree
This elegant evergreen brings more than just privacy as it adds a refined and tropical feel to your yard. Its glossy green leaves, white flowers, and small blue fruits make it both beautiful and functional. It is an excellent choice for warm climates, thriving in full sun while keeping your yard feeling like a secret garden.
10. Swedish Columnar Aspen
For those who love the look of aspen trees but do not have much room to spare, Swedish columnar aspen is the perfect fit. It grows fast, stays tall and narrow, and has gorgeous fluttering leaves that turn golden in the fall. A bonus is that it handles wind like a pro, making it great for breezy areas.
11. Columnar English Oak
Majestic and structured, columnar English oak provides long-lasting privacy with a sturdy, upright shape. Unlike traditional sprawling oaks, this one keeps things tight and compact. It is slow-growing but extremely long-lived, meaning once it is planted, it will be standing tall for generations to come, providing many future generations with eco-friendly privacy.
12. Trembling Aspen
If you love trees that add movement to your yard, trembling aspen is a fantastic pick. Its leaves flutter beautifully in the wind, creating a soft rustling sound, perfect for some white noise when you can’t fall asleep. It grows quickly and stays relatively narrow, making it an excellent choice for natural privacy screens in cooler climates.
13. Pyramidal European Hornbeam
With a naturally structured shape, pyramidal European hornbeam is the refined privacy screen your yard deserves. It stays dense and upright, offering full coverage without growing out of control. It tolerates various soil types and even handles urban pollution, making it a great option for city dwellers looking to block out unwanted views and sounds.
14. European White Birch
If you want privacy with style, European white birch delivers along with the best of them. Its distinctive white bark contrasts beautifully with its green summer leaves and golden fall foliage. It grows relatively fast and stays slender, making it a unique and eye-catching option for adding privacy while keeping things light and airy.
15. Canadian Hemlock
This soft-textured evergreen features lush greenery and provides privacy while remaining easy to shape. Canadian hemlock thrives in both sun and shade, making it a versatile choice for different yard conditions. Unlike some evergreens, it does not mind a little trimming, so you can keep it neat and tidy if needed.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.