Whether you are best friends with your neighbors or you don’t even know their names, privacy is essential for any homeowner. The last thing you want is someone peering into your home or backyard life from the comfort of their window. Today, we are going to share with you the best hedges for privacy in southern California.
Best Hedges for Privacy in Southern California
Eugenia
Eugenia is one of the most commonly used plants for privacy hedges in southern California. This non-invasive evergreen can grow up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Given that it grows quickly, it won’t take long to have a living fence.
Ficus Nitida
Related closely to the fig tree, ficus nitida is an excellent choice for privacy hedges in southern California due to its dense foliage. However, this tree is invasive, so it is highly recommended to use a professional company to install it to ensure proper control over it.
Bay Laurel
This bay laurel won’t go into your cooking but instead, act as a privacy hedge. Originating from the regions around the Mediterranean, this tree does well in the climate of southern California. It is essential to keep in mind that bay laurels do require regular watering until they are established.
Cherry Laurel
Speaking of laurels, we also have the cherry laurel. Cherry laurels can grow up to 40 feet in height and 35 feet in width. There is a wide variety of cherry laurel species to choose from, and many are especially beautiful when they bloom in the spring.
Texas Privet
Privets are fast-growing shrubs with dense leaves, ideal for privacy hedges. The Texas privet is one of the most manageable species and is typical for southern California hedges. Do note that you will need to give extra water to a Texas privet during times of drought.
Texas Sage
Speaking of Texas, the Texas Sage, which is also known as Texas Ranger, is a charming shrub that grows well in the southern California climate. While it is not actually sage, the plant requires regular, deep water, but it can handle inconsistent water and a dry climate.
Manzanita
Manzanita is a drought-resistant, attractive bush that many homeowners love to use for privacy hedges and have been used by Native Americans throughout history for various uses. It is critical to note that there are over 100 species of Manzanita, so please consult a local garden center before you start planting.
California Bayberry
Also known as California Wax Myrtle and Pacific Wax Myrtle, this small tree can grow up to 30 feet in height and requires very little water. If your home is located on the coast with sandy or clay soils, this tree can handle it.
Chaparral Broom
This shrub is commonly referred to in SoCal as Coyote Brush. Native to the West Coast, Chaparral Broom is a favorite for privacy hedges since it can grow up to nine feet in height, provides dense foliage, and requires little water.
California Lilac
Native to California, this lilac is not actually related to the lilac flowers you may have in your garden. Instead, this plant can grow up to 20 feet tall and is an excellent choice if you want to promote an ecosystem in your backyard by attracting pollinators.
Indian Hawthorn
Native to Asia, this shrub does surprisingly well here in southern California. It is an evergreen shrub with pretty pink blooms that makes a charming and unique privacy hedge for your home. Just make sure that you get a species that will grow in height rather than stay low to the ground.
Heavenly Bamboo
Heavenly bamboo is another plant native to Asia that has become a favorite here in the USA. With little need for water and consistent growth, this shrub gives your home a lovely flair. Do note that it can take a while to grow.
Italian Cyprus
While Italian Cyprus isn’t native to southern California, it originates from southern Europe, it grows ideally here! These trees grow quickly into tall columns, up to 60 feet tall and seven feet wide. Get a line of them properly planted, and you have an excellent hedge!
Hopseed Brush
Hopseed Brush is a smaller option for a privacy hedge, usually maxing out a height of 10 feet. In addition, it is not as dense as other options listed here, so it is excellent if you are just looking for a thin veil of privacy.
Boxwood
Boxwood makes a lovely evergreen hedge due to its compact leaves and vibrant color. The only downside to the boxwood is that it takes a long time to grow, so if you are looking for quick results, you need to choose something else.
California Coffeeberry
Commonly referred to as California Buckthorn, this native plant can grow to six feet in height, the branches have a reddish hint, and you can even make the berries into jam. Of course, any shrub with berries can be messy, so keep that in mind before planting.
Design Scapes Garden Landscape Services – LA
Would you like to learn more about which plants would work best as a privacy hedge for your home? Give us a call at Design Scapes for a consultation. For more information, check out our website or connect with us on social media.
