Whether you’re sipping your morning coffee on the patio or enjoying a quiet evening by the fire pit, privacy can make all the difference in your outdoor experience. If your yard is feeling a little too open to the world—or your neighbors—there’s a natural, beautiful way to create a more secluded space. Strategic landscaping with privacy plants can transform your yard into a serene escape while adding texture, height, and color to your landscape.
At Bountiful Acres, we know Bucks County homeowners value both beauty and functionality in their gardens. That’s why we’ve rounded up our top five privacy plants—perfect for creating lush, living walls that keep the peace and elevate your outdoor living space.
Why Choose Plants for Privacy?
Using trees, shrubs, or tall perennials for privacy isn’t just about blocking views—it’s about creating a green oasis. Unlike fencing or hardscaping, privacy plants soften your space and blend naturally with the environment. They also provide seasonal interest, support pollinators and birds, and can increase your property value.
Plus, let’s be honest—there’s something far more charming about hiding from your nosy neighbors behind a wall of flowering hydrangeas or rustling bamboo than a stark wooden fence.
Let’s dig into our top picks for privacy plants that thrive in Bucks County, PA.
1. Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
The Gold Standard of Privacy Screens
If you’re looking for a fast-growing evergreen that’s low-maintenance and perfect for year-round screening, arborvitae is your go-to. Varieties like ‘Green Giant’ or ‘Emerald Green’ grow tall, dense, and upright, making them ideal for creating a natural barrier.
- Mature Height: 12–40 feet depending on variety
- Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Best For: Long fences, tight spaces, formal borders
Local Tip: In Bucks County’s humid summers, arborvitae benefit from good air circulation. Plant them with at least 3 feet of spacing between each to prevent fungal diseases.
2. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)
A Lush, Elegant Evergreen
Skip laurels are a favorite among local landscapers for a reason—they’re glossy, lush, and dense, with a refined look that works in both formal and informal garden designs. They’re also tolerant of shade, making them ideal for privacy in areas where other evergreens might struggle.
- Mature Height: 10–18 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full shade
- Best For: Shady borders, foundation planting, along fences
Local Tip: These plants are deer-resistant, which is a major bonus in many Bucks County neighborhoods where deer browsing is a common concern.
3. Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
The Soft and Soaring Ornamental Grass
Who says a privacy plant has to be a tree or shrub? Ornamental grasses like Miscanthus sinensis can add a beautiful, breezy barrier to your yard. These tall, feathery grasses sway gracefully in the wind and add movement, height, and seasonal interest.
- Mature Height: 6–10 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Best For: Poolside planting, informal borders, seasonal screening
Local Tip: Cut back miscanthus in late winter or early spring to encourage fresh new growth in time for the summer.
4. Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ (Hydrangea paniculata)
The Flowering Fence Alternative
Want privacy with a pop of color? The ‘Limelight’ hydrangea delivers large, cone-shaped blooms that start pale green and mature into creamy white and soft pink. These shrubs grow tall and wide enough to create a seasonal privacy screen that also feels like a garden showpiece.
- Mature Height: 6–8 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
- Best For: Seasonal screens, patio borders, layered planting
Local Tip: In Bucks County’s USDA Zones (6b–7a), ‘Limelight’ performs reliably and comes back stronger each year with proper pruning in early spring.
5. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
A Majestic Evergreen with Serious Screening Power
If you’re looking for a fast-growing evergreen that creates a dense, towering wall of green, Norway Spruce is one of the best options available. With its graceful, drooping branches and rich green needles, this conifer offers year-round privacy and a classic woodland look that feels right at home in Bucks County landscapes.
- Mature Height: 40–60 feet (can be maintained at smaller sizes with pruning)
- Growth Rate: Fast (up to 2 feet per year)
- Sun Requirements: Full sun
- Best For: Large properties, windbreaks, natural fencing, year-round privacy
Local Tip: Norway Spruce is cold-hardy, deer-resistant, and tolerant of local soil conditions—including the rocky or clay-heavy soils common in parts of Bucks County. Just be sure to give them space to spread out—they’ll reward you with decades of beautiful, low-maintenance screening.
Designing Your Privacy Landscape
When planning your privacy planting, consider the following:
- Layering: Combine trees, shrubs, and grasses for a tiered effect that feels lush and natural.
- Spacing: Give plants room to grow to avoid overcrowding and promote air flow.
- Seasonal Interest: Mix evergreens with deciduous or flowering plants to ensure year-round beauty.
- Watering & Soil Needs: Match plants with your yard’s conditions. Bountiful Acres can help you choose varieties suited to your property’s unique sun, shade, and soil mix.
Come See Us at Bountiful Acres
At Bountiful Acres in Doylestown, PA, we carry a wide selection of privacy plants that thrive in Bucks County’s climate. Whether you’re looking for fast-growing evergreens, elegant flowering shrubs, or ornamental grasses to soften the view, our garden experts are here to help you create a landscape you’ll love—and one that gives you a little more peace and quiet.
From design tips to delivery and planting services, Bountiful Acres has everything you need to transform your yard into a personal retreat. Because sometimes, the best view is no view at all—especially when it’s of your neighbor’s laundry line.
Visit us today or call to schedule a consultation with one of our landscape professionals. Your private paradise awaits.
