Best Privacy Trees & Shrubs for Birmingham & Central Alabama

Andy’s Garden Center

Contact Us

Want more privacy in your backyard, around a patio, along a property line, or between you and the neighbors?

Choosing the right privacy plant in Birmingham isn't just about finding something that grows fast. You need a tree or shrub that can handle Alabama heat, humidity, rainfall, soil conditions, and the amount of sun your particular yard receives.

At Andy's Garden Center, we help Birmingham-area homeowners choose privacy plants that don't just look good when they're planted—they're selected to perform well in our Central Alabama climate for years to come.

What Makes a Good Privacy Plant in Alabama?

The best privacy tree or shrub depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

Before choosing a plant, consider:

  • How tall does the screen need to be?
  • How much width do you have?
  • Do you want year-round privacy?
  • How quickly do you need coverage?
  • Is the area full sun, part sun, or shade?
  • Is the soil well-drained or does it stay wet?
  • How much maintenance do you want?
  • How close will the plants be to your house, driveway, fence, or property line?

One of the most common mistakes we see is choosing a plant because it grows quickly without considering how large it will eventually become.

A plant that looks perfect at the garden center can become much larger than expected.

Choose for the mature plant—not just the plant you're buying today.

Our Favorite Privacy Trees & Shrubs for Birmingham

Green Giant Arborvitae

If you have room and need a tall evergreen screen, Green Giant Arborvitae is worth considering.

It grows relatively quickly, provides year-round foliage, and can develop into a substantial screen.

Good for: Tall privacy screens and larger properties
Light: Full sun to part sun
Best feature: Height and evergreen coverage

Because of its eventual size, give Green Giant enough room to mature rather than planting it too close to structures or crowding plants together for immediate coverage.

Hollies

Hollies are some of the most useful privacy plants for Alabama landscapes.

Depending on the variety, they can provide dense evergreen foliage, substantial height, attractive berries, and excellent structure in the landscape.

Different hollies have very different mature sizes and growth habits, so selecting the correct variety matters.

Good for: Evergreen screening, property lines and foundation areas
Light: Depends on variety
Best feature: Year-round structure and dependable Southern performance

Ask us which holly best fits the height and width you have available.

Tea Olive

Sometimes privacy can smell good, too.

Tea olives are prized for their evergreen foliage and wonderfully fragrant flowers. They can make an attractive informal screen while adding something a typical hedge can't: fragrance.

Good for: Patios, outdoor living spaces and informal screens
Light: Sun to partial shade
Best feature: Evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers

Tea olives are especially nice near areas where your family spends time outdoors

Wax Myrtle

Wax myrtle is a versatile Southern native that can work well when you want a more natural-looking screen.

It can grow relatively quickly and works particularly well in less formal landscapes.

Good for: Natural screens, larger spaces and native landscapes
Best feature: Fast growth and natural appearance

Wax myrtle can be an excellent choice when you don't want your privacy screen to look like a perfectly clipped hedge.

Cryptomeria

Cryptomeria can provide substantial evergreen height and a softer appearance than some traditional screening plants.

It's particularly useful where there is enough space for the plant to develop naturally.

Good for: Tall screens and larger landscapes
Light: Generally performs best with good sunlight
Best feature: Height, texture and evergreen foliage

Upright Evergreen Shrubs

Sometimes you don't need a 25-foot wall.

For smaller yards, patios, side yards and tighter spaces, an upright evergreen shrub may be a much better choice than a large privacy tree.

There are numerous compact and upright hollies and other evergreens that can provide screening without overwhelming the area.

This is why knowing your available width is just as important as knowing your desired height

Fast-Growing Privacy Plants

We hear this question constantly:

"What's the fastest-growing plant I can put here?"

Fast growth can be helpful, but it shouldn't be your only consideration.

A better question is:

What's the fastest-growing plant that will still be the right size for this space 10 years from now?

A privacy plant that grows extremely quickly but becomes too large can eventually create more problems than it solves.

We'll help you balance growth rate with mature size, appearance and long-term maintenance.

Privacy Plants for Smaller Birmingham Yards

You don't need a huge property to create privacy.

For narrow spaces, the goal is generally to choose plants with a more upright growth habit rather than large plants that become equally wide and tall.

Measure the planting area before you come see us.

Knowing these three measurements helps tremendously:

Available width + desired height + length of area to screen

A few pictures of the space are even better.

Privacy Plants for Full Sun

Many evergreen screening plants perform very well with plenty of sunlight.

The challenge in Birmingham is choosing varieties that can also handle our summer heat.

Full-sun locations often give you the largest selection of potential privacy plants, but watering during establishment remains important.

Privacy Plants for Part Shade

A yard doesn't need full sun to create an effective screen.

Several evergreen shrubs tolerate partial shade, but plant selection becomes more important as available sunlight decreases.

Pay attention to when the area receives sun.

Four hours of morning sun is very different from four hours of intense late-afternoon Alabama sun.

Evergreen vs. Deciduous Privacy Plants

If your primary goal is blocking a view year-round, an evergreen is usually the better starting point.

Evergreen plants retain foliage throughout the year and continue providing screening during winter.

Deciduous plants lose their leaves, but they can still be useful where seasonal screening, flowering, fall color or a more natural mixed border is the goal.

Some of the most attractive landscapes combine several types of plants rather than planting one long row of identical shrubs.

Don't Automatically Plant a Straight Hedge

A privacy screen doesn't have to look like a wall.

Where space allows, consider creating a layered privacy planting using different heights, textures and seasonal interest.

For example:

  • Tall evergreen screening in the background
  • Medium flowering shrubs
  • Perennials or ornamental grasses in front

That creates privacy while making the area feel like a garden rather than a barrier.

It's also an excellent way to create a more natural transition between your yard and neighboring properties.

How Far Apart Should Privacy Plants Be?

It depends entirely on the plant.

This is another area where trying to get instant privacy can cause long-term problems.

Planting too closely may look great initially, but as plants mature they can compete for sunlight, water and growing space.

Use the expected mature width of the variety—not simply its current container size—to determine spacing.

Our team can help you determine appropriate spacing once we know the plant and the length of the area you're trying to screen.

How Long Does a Privacy Screen Take to Fill In?

That depends on:

  • Plant variety
  • Starting size
  • Spacing
  • Sunlight
  • Soil
  • Water
  • Planting technique
  • Weather
  • Ongoing care

Larger plants can provide more immediate impact, while smaller plants generally cost less but require more time to create a finished screen.

We'll help you weigh both options.

Need Privacy Quickly?

If you're trying to hide a new house next door, screen a pool or patio, block a road, or simply make your backyard feel more private, bring us some information about the space.

The more we know, the better recommendation we can make.

Bring us:

  • A few photos of the area
  • Approximate length of the area
  • Available planting width
  • Desired height
  • Roughly how much sun it receives

Then come talk to us.

Need More Than Plants? We Can Help With the Entire Project.

For larger privacy projects, Andy's also offers professional landscape design and installation throughout the Birmingham area.

 

Our landscape team can help determine plant placement, spacing and overall design and install the finished landscape for you.

Learn More about our Landscape Services

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Privacy Trees & Shrubs

What is the best privacy shrub for Birmingham, Alabama?

There isn't one best choice for every yard. The right plant depends on desired height, available width, sunlight, soil conditions and how quickly you need screening. Hollies, arborvitae, tea olives, wax myrtles and other evergreen plants can all be good choices in the right location.

What is the fastest-growing privacy plant for Alabama?

Several screening plants can grow relatively quickly in Central Alabama, including certain arborvitae, wax myrtles and other evergreen trees and shrubs. Growth rate should always be considered along with mature size and site conditions.

What should I plant for year-round privacy?

Choose an evergreen tree or shrub if year-round screening is the main goal. Evergreen hollies, arborvitae, tea olives and other evergreen screening plants can provide foliage throightout winter. 

What privacy plants work in shade?

 Options depend on how much shade the are receives. Partial shade provides considerably more choices then deep shade. Brin gus photos and an estamite of the area's direct sunlight and we can help narrow the choices.

How close should privacy shrubs be planted?

Spacing depends on the mature width and growth of the specific variety. Avoid automatically planting shrubs very close together to achieve instant coverage.

Can privacy shrubs grow in Alabama clay?

Yes. Many trees and shrubs can perform well in Birmingham-area clay when properly selected and planted. Drainage, planting depth and watering are important.

When is the best time to plant privacy trees and shrubs in Alabama?

Fall is an excellent time to establish many trees and shrubs in Central Alabama because cooler temperatures reduce stress while roots continue establishing. Trees and shrubs can also be planted at other times of year when properly cared for and watered.

Explore Andy’s Garden Center on Rocky Ridge Road

Not sure what to plant?

Don't guess. Bring us a picture.

Come see us at Andy's Garden Center in Vestavia Hills. Our team can help you choose privacy trees and shrubs suited to your particular yard and the Central Alabama climate.

Andy's Garden Center
3351 Morgan Drive
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
205-824-0233

Serving gardeners and homeowners throughout Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover and surrounding communities.