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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →For year-round privacy in much of the Midwest, American arborvitae is usually the most direct choice for a moist, sheltered site; eastern redcedar is better for dry, sunny, exposed ground; and white spruce or eastern white pine suit larger properties. If evergreen foliage is not essential, a layered planting of native shrubs such as serviceberry, ninebark, nannyberry, chokeberry, and dogwood can provide attractive summer screening, wildlife value, flowers, fruit, and winter structure.
There is no single best privacy plant for the entire Midwest. Mature height and width, hardiness, soil moisture, sunlight, winter wind, road salt, deer pressure, and available setback should determine the selection. The recommendations below include both evergreen plants and deciduous plants, so “privacy” means year-round foliage for some choices and seasonal screening or structural cover for others.
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Choose the privacy plant by site—not by growth-rate claims
The Midwest includes a wide range of hardiness zones, soils, elevations, winter exposures, and summer conditions. A plant that thrives in protected, moist ground in southern Illinois may struggle in a windy Minnesota yard, while a drought-tolerant conifer may decline in a poorly drained lot.
Before ordering, confirm the plant’s mature dimensions, local hardiness, drainage requirements, tolerance of salt and wind, and availability from a reputable regional nursery. Nursery-container size is not the same as mature size, and neither a large container nor a “fast-growing” label guarantees instant privacy. Plant size, cultivar, soil, irrigation, weather, and establishment care all affect how quickly a screen fills in.
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Decide what kind of privacy you actually need
- Year-round visual screening: Choose an evergreen such as arborvitae, eastern redcedar, spruce, white pine, or Canadian hemlock. Evergreen plants retain foliage through winter, although a newly planted row will not create an instant wall.
- Growing-season privacy: Deciduous shrubs can screen patios, decks, windows, and property edges from spring through fall while adding flowers, fruit, fall color, and wildlife habitat.
- Wind and snow control: A mixed or deciduous screen can still slow wind, trap snow, and provide twiggy winter cover even after its leaves fall.
- A formal hedge: Select plants that tolerate repeated pruning and plan on ongoing maintenance. A naturally dense, informal screen usually requires less work.
- Wildlife and seasonal interest: Layer native shrubs and small trees instead of planting a single-species wall.
The 17 best privacy trees and shrubs for Midwest sites
The dimensions below are approximate species or common-form dimensions, not guarantees for every cultivar. Many nursery selections are substantially smaller, narrower, or differently shaped. Verify the mature size on the plant label before placing a row near a house, driveway, fence, utility, or property line.
Evergreen trees and large screening plants
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American arborvitae or eastern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Best for: Year-round screening on moist, reasonably protected sites.
American arborvitae is often the most straightforward evergreen privacy choice for Midwest homeowners. The species can reach approximately 40–60 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide, although common cultivars may be much shorter and narrower. It can be planted in groups for a hedge, screen, or windbreak.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Arborvitae tolerates clay, wet locations, black walnut, and air pollution, but that does not make it suitable for every lot. Dry, exposed, windy sites can lead to winter burn, and deer browsing can be severe. Before planting a long row, inspect the site for winter wind and deer activity and make sure the selected cultivar will fit the available width.
For browse-prone properties, plan protection before planting. Deer protection for arborvitae can include hardware cloth or deer-protection mesh installed so animals cannot easily reach the foliage; no protection product guarantees that deer will leave a planting alone.
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Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Best for: Full sun, dry soil, rocky ground, and exposed locations.
Eastern redcedar is one of the more durable evergreen choices for difficult Midwest sites. It tolerates a broad range of soils and has particularly strong drought resistance among eastern native conifers. Typical mature dimensions are about 30–40 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide.
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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Do not use it in continuously wet soil, and do not expect it to perform well in shade after establishment. It needs room to mature, so it is better suited to a broad property edge, windbreak, or large-lot screen than to a narrow bed beside a foundation.
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Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Best for: Large properties needing a fast-imposing, tall evergreen screen.
Eastern white pine can reach roughly 50–80 feet tall and 20–40 feet wide. That size makes it useful where the goal is a high, spacious-property screen, but it is not a small-lot hedge. Allow for both height and lateral spread before planting.
White pine performs best in well-drained soil and in locations that are not heavily polluted or exposed to substantial road salt. It can be susceptible to blister rust, cankers, and other problems, so site selection and local disease history matter. A row of white pine planted too close to pavement, buildings, or other trees may create maintenance and clearance problems later.
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White spruce (Picea glauca)
Best for: Larger yards and windbreak-style screens where drainage, mature width, and exposure are appropriate.
White spruce is a hardy conifer option for many Midwest landscapes, especially where a substantial evergreen form is desired. It should not be treated as universally suitable simply because it is cold hardy. Check the mature width, soil drainage, salt exposure, available space, and local disease history before committing to a row.
Extension guidance for northern Midwest landscapes emphasizes matching evergreen conifers to hardiness, light, soil, and available space. That selection process is more important than choosing a plant solely from a generic “privacy tree” list.
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Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca var. densata)
Best for: A narrower, formal evergreen effect where white pine would take up too much lateral room.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Black Hills spruce is a selection of white spruce with a useful upright form for homeowners who want a conifer screen but have less width than an eastern white pine requires. It is not automatically a better choice for every site. Windy and exposed locations should be evaluated carefully, and the mature dimensions of the specific nursery selection should be confirmed.
In parts of the Upper Midwest, Black Hills spruce is identified as suitable for windy, exposed sites, but local conditions still matter. A dry, salty, compacted planting strip beside a road may require a different plant or additional protection.
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Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Best for: A dense evergreen screen in shade or part shade on a protected, adequately moist site.
Canadian hemlock is one of the more shade-tolerant evergreen candidates for a Midwest privacy planting. It can create a dense, attractive screen where sun-loving conifers would be a poor fit.
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Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Best for: Wet or poorly drained, acidic sites where seasonal screening and winter fruit are desirable.
Winterberry is a native, deciduous holly that grows approximately 3–15 feet tall and wide, depending on the plant. It tolerates full sun to part shade and produces colorful fall and winter fruit after the leaves drop. Because it is deciduous, it is not a year-round foliage screen, but its branches and berries add winter structure and wildlife value.
Male and female plants are needed for fruit production. Plan the planting rather than buying a single shrub and assuming it will produce berries. The berries are useful to wildlife but poisonous to people and pets, so avoid placing winterberry where children or animals may regularly consume them.
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Deciduous shrubs and small trees
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Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Best for: Hardy, informal summer screening with flowers, exfoliating bark, and relatively modest maintenance.
Ninebark is a native shrub that can reach about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It works well in hedgerows, wildlife plantings, and mixed screens. Depending on the cultivar, foliage color and mature size can vary, so check the label rather than assuming every ninebark will reach the same dimensions.
It is listed among drought-tolerant shrubs once established, but newly planted shrubs still require regular watering. Choose ninebark when growing-season privacy and seasonal interest are acceptable; it will not provide an evergreen wall in winter.
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Redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Best for: Moist sites that need a spreading shrub and colorful winter stems.
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Redosier dogwood grows around 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide and is particularly useful in moist areas. Its winter stem color provides visual interest after the foliage falls, and its branching structure contributes to seasonal screening.
Its mature spread and potential suckering deserve attention in small yards. Use it where a naturalistic, spreading form is welcome rather than where a narrow, tightly clipped hedge is required.
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Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Best for: Informal screens, naturalized borders, and wildlife-oriented plantings.
Gray dogwood is a native shrub that grows around 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It can form a substantial seasonal screen and fits well in a mixed or naturalized planting.
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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Like redosier dogwood, it is not a natural choice for a perfectly uniform, narrow hedge. Give it enough room for its mature form and account for spreading behavior when laying out the planting.
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Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Best for: Adding height to a native screen without the broad footprint of some shrubs.
Nannyberry is a tall, relatively narrow native shrub or small tree, commonly listed around 20–25 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide. That height-to-width ratio can be useful along a property edge where a screen needs vertical presence but available lateral space is limited.
It also supports wildlife and works in an informal mixed screen. Confirm the mature form of the plant being sold, because individual specimens and cultivars may differ.
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American highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum or Viburnum opulus var. americanum)
Best for: Large mixed screens and wildlife plantings with seasonal interest.
American highbush cranberry is a large native shrub, approximately 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide. It can contribute flowers, fruit, fall color, and substantial summer screening.
Confirm the plant’s identity and provenance before purchasing. “Highbush cranberry” is also used in commerce for non-native viburnum material, so the common name alone does not establish that the plant is the native species or variety you intended to buy.
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Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Best for: Hardy mass plantings, wet or varied soils, and strong fall color.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Black chokeberry is a native shrub with white flowers, dark fruit, and vivid red fall color. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including wet soil, and is commonly listed around 10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide.
The same spreading habit that makes it effective for massing can become a maintenance issue. Chokeberry spreads freely and suckers, so provide room and plan for occasional control. It is better for a broad, informal screen than for a narrow planting where every plant must stay within a strict footprint.
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Serviceberry or juneberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Best for: Layered screens and borders that combine privacy with flowers, fruit, fall color, and wildlife value.
Serviceberries are native shrubs or small trees with white spring flowers, edible purple fruit, fall color, and value to wildlife. Species and cultivars range from roughly 4 to 25 feet tall, with some larger forms reaching more.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Because the group includes plants of very different sizes, identify the species or cultivar before planting. Serviceberry is best used as part of a layered screen or border rather than as a clipped, uniform hedge. Its seasonal changes are an advantage when the planting is meant to look natural and provide habitat.
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American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
Best for: Informal mixed screens that provide structure and wildlife food.
American hazelnut is a native, multi-stemmed shrub approximately 8–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide. It adds density and structure without the formal appearance of a sheared evergreen row, and its nuts provide wildlife value.
Choose it where a naturalistic appearance is acceptable. It is not a substitute for a narrow year-round evergreen wall, especially beside a small patio or tight side yard.
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American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Best for: Larger properties and back-row plantings that need vigorous growth, flowers, and wildlife fruit.
American elderberry can reach approximately 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide in habitat and windbreak guidance. Its vigorous growth can fill space quickly, but its size and spreading habit make it a poor fit for a narrow foundation bed or cramped side yard.
Use it toward the back of a layered screen or on a larger property edge. Give it enough room to develop and plan for maintenance if its spread moves beyond the intended planting area.
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Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Best for: An informal privacy planting that benefits from height, fall flowers, and late-season pollinator value.
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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Witch hazel is a native large shrub or small tree that contributes seasonal structure and late-season flowers. It is not a year-round screen, but it can add height and interest to a layered planting, particularly where a naturalistic border is more appropriate than a clipped hedge.
Use it as one component of a mixed screen rather than relying on it alone for immediate or winter privacy.
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Best choices for common Midwest site conditions
| Site or goal | Strong candidates | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Moist, sheltered ground and evergreen privacy | American arborvitae | Protect from deer and drying winter exposure; verify cultivar width. |
| Dry, sunny, exposed ground | Eastern redcedar | Do not use in continuously wet soil or expect good performance in shade. |
| Large property and tall evergreen screen | Eastern white pine or white spruce | Allow for substantial mature height and width; assess salt, drainage, and disease history. |
| Narrower formal conifer effect | Black Hills spruce | Confirm mature width and evaluate wind exposure. |
| Protected shade with adequate moisture | Canadian hemlock | Not suited to hot, dry, exposed sites. |
| Wet or poorly drained site | Winterberry or redosier dogwood | Winterberry is deciduous and needs male and female plants for fruit. |
| Wildlife-oriented mixed screen | Serviceberry, ninebark, nannyberry, hazelnut, elderberry, chokeberry, and dogwood | Expect seasonal rather than evergreen screening and allow for spreading habits. |
| Drought-tolerant deciduous option | Ninebark or black chokeberry | Water regularly during establishment; drought tolerance comes later. |
How to design a privacy screen that will fit when mature
1. Start with a scaled property map
Map the house, deck, patio, driveway, fence, property lines, easements, drainage areas, utilities, overhead lines, and existing trees. Mark the direction of prevailing winter wind, afternoon sun, road-salt exposure, and the views you actually want to block.
A privacy screen does not have to be a single straight row. A staggered or layered planting often looks more natural and can provide screening at several heights. Place tall evergreens or small trees toward the rear, medium shrubs in the middle, and lower shrubs or herbaceous plants in front. This approach can provide habitat and seasonal interest while using evergreens only where winter screening is important.
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2. Use mature width—not the nursery pot—as the spacing reference
Do not space plants based only on how full they look when purchased. Measure the mature width of the selected species or cultivar and compare it with the available setback. A row planted too tightly may look full at first but later develop poor air circulation, crowding, weak form, and repeated pruning demands.
For an informal screen, allow plants to develop their natural shapes and use staggered placement only when the site has enough depth. For a formal hedge, spacing can be closer, but the trade-off is more pruning and greater competition for light, water, and nutrients. The exact center-to-center spacing depends on the plant’s mature width, the size of the purchased stock, the desired density, and the amount of maintenance you are willing to provide.
3. Match the screen to the view and the construction plan
When screening a new or remodeled property, install the planting plan alongside the site plan rather than treating landscaping as an afterthought. Keep access to utilities, drainage structures, siding, windows, sidewalks, driveways, and future maintenance areas. Large species such as white pine, white spruce, elderberry, nannyberry, and full-size arborvitae can outgrow a narrow foundation bed even when they appear appropriately sized at installation.
Check local requirements for property-line setbacks, visibility triangles near driveways and intersections, utility conflicts, stormwater areas, and homeowner-association restrictions. These rules vary by municipality and development, so they should be confirmed locally rather than assumed from a general planting guide.
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When to plant
Spring is generally the easiest planting season, and early spring through early summer is favorable for many shrubs. Container-grown shrubs can also be planted during the growing season if they can be watered consistently. Avoid choosing a planting date that leaves a new screen dependent on unreliable rainfall during hot weather.
Water the root ball until the plants are established
Newly planted trees and shrubs need regular watering even when the species will eventually tolerate drought. A practical starting point is to water the root ball about once a week, adjusting for rainfall, soil type, temperature, wind, plant size, and drainage. Once established, water when the top 6–9 inches of soil have dried rather than following a calendar blindly.
The goal is consistent moisture through the root ball—not permanently saturated soil. Check the soil before watering, especially in clay or poorly drained ground. Overwatering can be as damaging as drought, and a watering device does not replace observing the plant and soil.
Mulch and early maintenance
Mulch can help moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture around new plantings. Keep it from resting directly against trunks and stems, and do not use a thick mulch layer to compensate for poor drainage or inadequate watering. Inspect new plants regularly for wilting, winter injury, browsing, broken branches, and competition from turf or weeds.
Pruning: formal hedge or informal screen?
Formal, sheared hedges require repeated pruning. Iowa State Extension notes that sheared hedges may need pruning two or more times per year, while informal hedges generally require less. That difference should be part of the plant-selection decision, not an unpleasant surprise after installation.
Prune according to the plant’s growth habit and flowering schedule rather than shearing every species at the same time. A shrub grown for flowers, berries, or natural form may lose those features if it is cut at the wrong time. Use bypass pruners for shrub maintenance on small live branches, and use appropriately sized tools—or professional help—for larger limbs. Avoid repeatedly cutting large branches with a hand pruner.
Naturalistic screens still benefit from formative pruning while young. Remove damaged, crossing, or poorly placed stems and maintain access around paths and structures. The objective is not to make every plant identical; it is to guide the plant toward a strong form that fits the space.
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These stresses can determine whether a privacy planting succeeds. Arborvitae may be badly browsed by deer and can suffer winter burn on dry, exposed sites. White pine is a poor choice for heavily polluted or salty locations. Redcedar is more suitable for dry, exposed ground but fails in continuously wet soil. Hemlock needs protection and adequate moisture rather than heat and drought. Spruce selections require attention to mature width, drainage, salt, wind, and local disease history.
Where deer pressure is high, use physical protection from the beginning instead of waiting for damage. Where road salt is a concern, keep salt-laden snow and runoff away from sensitive plantings when possible and choose species only after considering the specific exposure. A plant that survives cold temperatures may still be injured by wind, salt, drought, or rapid winter temperature changes.
Where to buy Midwest privacy plants
Availability varies by state, hardiness zone, cultivar, season, and shipping restrictions. Regional nurseries and reputable native-plant suppliers are often the best sources for confirming local performance and plant identity. Ask for the botanical name, mature dimensions, hardiness information, and whether the plant is a cultivar or the straight species.
Online catalogs can be useful for comparing American arborvitae for privacy and other privacy trees, including the shop privacy trees category offered by national tree nurseries. Treat catalog descriptions as a starting point: verify the exact cultivar, mature size, hardiness, shipping timing, and planting guidance before ordering.
For regional sourcing, Chicago-area and northern Illinois readers can check seasonal offerings of Midwest native trees and shrubs through Morton Arboretum-related plant sales. Minnesota and Upper Midwest readers can look for Minnesota native shrubs through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s seasonal sale resources. Sale dates, inventory, pickup arrangements, and shipping availability change, so confirm current details before planning a project around a particular source.
Plants to avoid simply because they grow fast
Fast growth is not automatically a benefit. It can bring a larger mature size, more pruning, weaker structure, higher water demand during establishment, or a tendency to spread beyond the intended bed. A slower, naturally well-proportioned plant may create a better long-term screen than a vigorous plant that soon crowds the house, fence, driveway, or neighboring property.
Also avoid invasive or poorly matched choices. Illinois Extension specifically warns against invasive woody plants such as bush honeysuckles and autumn olive and recommends native alternatives for many landscapes. A plant should be evaluated for ecological impact, mature size, maintenance, and site fit—not just for how quickly it fills an opening.
A practical Midwest privacy-screen decision process
- Identify the privacy season. If you need visual blocking in January, limit the primary screen to evergreens. If summer privacy is sufficient, include deciduous native shrubs and small trees.
- Measure the available space. Use mature height and width, not container size. Eliminate plants that will outgrow the setback.
- Evaluate moisture and drainage. Choose arborvitae, winterberry, or redosier dogwood for appropriate moist conditions; choose redcedar for dry, sunny ground; do not put a wet-site plant in a dry bed or a drought-tolerant conifer in standing water.
- Check sun and exposure. Hemlock is suited to protected shade with moisture; redcedar needs full sun; exposed sites require careful evaluation of winter wind and salt.
- Assess deer pressure. Include protection in the budget and layout before buying browse-sensitive plants.
- Choose the maintenance level. Use naturally mature-sized plants for a lower-maintenance informal screen; choose a formal hedge only if repeated pruning is acceptable.
- Build layers where possible. Combine tall plants, medium shrubs, and lower plantings for better habitat, seasonal interest, and visual depth.
- Confirm plant identity and local availability. Check the botanical name, cultivar, hardiness, mature dimensions, provenance, and current nursery guidance.
- Plan establishment care. Arrange watering before planting and keep monitoring until the root systems are established.
Plant dimensions and site tolerances are approximate. Local extension offices, municipal requirements, utility-locating services, and regional nurseries should be consulted for site-specific decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best evergreen privacy plant for the Midwest?
American arborvitae is often the best starting point for a moist, reasonably sheltered site, but it is vulnerable to deer browsing and winter burn. Eastern redcedar is generally a better fit for full sun and dry, exposed ground, while spruce or white pine are better reserved for properties with adequate room.
Do privacy shrubs have to be evergreen?
No. Evergreen plants provide foliage through winter, but deciduous shrubs can provide strong growing-season privacy, flowers, fruit, fall color, wildlife habitat, wind reduction, snow trapping, and twiggy winter cover. A layered combination is often more resilient and attractive than a single-species evergreen row.
How close together should privacy trees and shrubs be planted?
Use the selected plant’s mature width and the desired density as the starting point, not the width of the nursery container. Tighter spacing fills in sooner but increases crowding, disease risk, water competition, and pruning. Confirm the exact cultivar’s mature dimensions before finalizing the layout.
Which Midwest privacy plants tolerate wet soil?
Winterberry is suited to wet or poorly drained acidic sites, and redosier dogwood performs well in moist areas. Black chokeberry also tolerates a wide range of soils, including wet soil. Drainage, sunlight, and the plant’s mature spread still need to be checked.
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There is no dependable universal timeline. The result depends on plant size, cultivar, climate, soil, watering, spacing, deer damage, and winter exposure. Avoid promises of instant privacy and plan for an establishment period before expecting the screen to reach its intended density.
The Bottom Line
The best Midwest privacy planting is the one that matches the site and the maintenance budget. Use arborvitae for moist, sheltered evergreen screening; redcedar for dry, sunny exposure; spruce or white pine only where mature size fits; hemlock for protected shade; and native deciduous shrubs when seasonal privacy, wildlife value, and layered structure matter more than winter foliage. Map the site, plan for mature dimensions, protect new plants from deer and drought, and verify local hardiness and availability before ordering.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
