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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The best privacy hedge depends on your climate, available space, sunlight, soil and how much pruning you want to do. For Mid-Atlantic gardeners, University of Maryland Extension’s regional list offers seven useful evergreen options—from narrow arborvitae to broad wax myrtle—but its dimensions and suitability are starting points, not guarantees for every cultivar or location. Check local growing conditions and invasive-plant guidance before choosing.
How to choose a privacy hedge
Start with the job the hedge needs to do: the screening height you want, the width you can spare, and whether you need foliage through winter. Then match plants to the site. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends considering sunlight, soil moisture and drainage, soil type and hardiness zone; water access matters too, particularly while plants establish. University of Maryland Extension’s screening guide also advises accounting for mature plant size, local conditions and deer pressure.
- Year-round cover: Evergreen plants retain foliage through winter. Deciduous hedges screen best during the growing season, though their branches may still offer partial winter screening.
- Available width: Compare mature width—not just the plant’s size at purchase—with the space you have. A hedge that needs repeated cutting to fit may require more work than expected.
- Sun, moisture and drainage: A plant suited to one site may struggle in another. Check local recommendations for your soil and climate rather than assuming a regional list applies everywhere.
- Pruning preference: Formal, sheared hedges can create a uniform wall but often need pruning at least twice a year. Informal hedges generally need less pruning; plants that mature near your desired dimensions can reduce ongoing trimming.
- Deer and local ecology: Extension deer-resistance ratings are guidance, not guarantees. Check whether a plant is native or invasive in your area; those labels can differ by region.
A single-species row is more uniform, but a pest, disease or site problem can affect many plants at once and leave a conspicuous gap. A compatible mix can reduce that shared risk and add visual and wildlife variety, though it may look less formal and require more involved maintenance. Maryland Extension specifically cautions against invasive screening plants such as bamboo and Japanese barberry in Maryland; consult local guidance elsewhere.
Seven evergreen hedge options for Mid-Atlantic gardens
The following comparison reflects the plants and dimensions listed by University of Maryland Extension for its regional resource. Heights, widths, sun exposure and deer guidance are not universal specifications; check the selected cultivar and local advice before planting.
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| Plant | Approximate mature size | Sun exposure | Maryland status | Deer guidance in Maryland list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald (‘Smaragd’) arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’) | 10–15 ft tall; 3–4 ft wide | Full sun | Non-native | Not deer resistant |
| Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) | 5–8 ft tall and wide | Full sun to part shade | Native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain | Deer resistant |
| Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) | 6–15 ft tall; 10–15 ft wide | Full sun to part shade | Native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain | Deer resistant |
| Rocky Mountain juniper (‘Blue Arrow’ or ‘Skyrocket’) | 12–20 ft tall; 2–3 ft wide | Full sun | Non-native | Not deer resistant |
| Japanese false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera cultivars) | 10–40 ft tall; 10–20 ft wide | Full sun | Non-native | Deer resistant |
| Hicks yew (Taxus × media ‘Hicksii’) | 10–12 ft tall; 3–4 ft wide | Full sun to part shade | Non-native | Not deer resistant |
| Skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) | About 10 ft tall; 7 ft wide | Full sun to shade | Non-native | Deer resistant |
Source for the regional figures and labels: University of Maryland Extension, “Plants for Mixed Privacy Screens”, updated April 14, 2026. The listed size for Japanese false cypress spans a broad range because cultivar choice matters; identify a specific cultivar and verify its mature dimensions. The same caution applies to plant performance beyond Maryland.
Which of the seven fits your yard?
For a narrow, upright screen: arborvitae or Rocky Mountain juniper
Emerald arborvitae and the ‘Blue Arrow’ or ‘Skyrocket’ Rocky Mountain junipers have relatively narrow listed widths, making them options where planting space is limited. Both are listed as needing full sun and as not deer resistant in Maryland. Arborvitae’s listed mature height is 10–15 feet; the junipers are listed at 12–20 feet, so neither is a fit if your height limit is lower than its expected mature size. Confirm the cultivar’s local suitability and allow room for its full width.
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- The Podocarpus Maki is an evergreen shrub with dense, upright growth and glossy dark green foliage that provides year-round beauty.
- Podocarpus Maki grows to a mature size of 8–10 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, making it ideal for narrow hedges, privacy screens, and foundation plantings.
- This shrub thrives in USDA Zones 7–11 and performs well in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil. Once established, Podocarpus Maki is drought-tolerant, low maintenance, and highly resistant to pests, diseases, and air pollution.
- Its refined, columnar form requires minimal pruning, offering a more polished alternative to traditional hedge plants like boxwood or holly.
For a smaller hedge: inkberry holly
Inkberry is listed at 5–8 feet tall and wide, with full sun to part shade. Its Maryland listing identifies it as native to the Coastal Plain and deer resistant. Consider it where a lower, broader evergreen screen suits the space, and check regional guidance for the conditions in your yard.
For a broad screen: wax myrtle
Wax myrtle is listed at 6–15 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide, so it needs substantially more room than the narrow upright choices. It is listed for full sun to part shade and as native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain. Its width makes it a poor match for a narrow planting strip.
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For a cultivar-specific choice: Japanese false cypress
The Maryland resource lists Japanese false cypress cultivars at 10–40 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide. That range is too broad to use as a single plant specification: choose a named cultivar whose mature size suits the site, then verify its local requirements. The regional table lists it for full sun and as deer resistant.
For full to part shade: Hicks yew
Hicks yew is listed at 10–12 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, with full sun to part shade. The Maryland list does not classify it as deer resistant. Check local soil moisture and growing-condition guidance before choosing it for a shaded location.
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- Enhance Your Landscape: Curled Leaf Privet is an exquisite ornamental shrub, perfect for adding elegance to your garden.
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For a taller, wider evergreen: skip laurel
Skip laurel is listed at about 10 feet tall and 7 feet wide, with a sun range from full sun to shade. Maryland’s regional table lists it as deer resistant, but it is non-native there. Check suitability and invasive status where you live before planting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if you want an evergreen hedge no higher than 10 feet?
Inkberry is the clearest fit among these seven by the Maryland list’s stated mature height of 5–8 feet, provided its site needs suit your yard. Skip laurel is listed at about 10 feet, but local cultivar and growing conditions can affect its final size. Emerald arborvitae reaches a listed 10–15 feet, while the other listed options may exceed 10 feet or have a size range that includes much greater heights. If 10 feet is a firm limit, select plants with a suitable mature height and confirm the choice with a local extension service or knowledgeable nursery rather than relying on regular shearing to control an oversized plant.
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- This upright deciduous, occasionally semi-evergreen, shrub blooms creamy-white, fragrant flowers followed by round blue-black fruit. Its dark green and bright green glossy foliage has larger leaves compared to the Sinense. This fast grower will reach 8-10 feet high. Its dense and bushy characteristics make it ideal for a privacy screen, wind screen, hedging, and small tree, while adding great color to your garden.
- This low-maintenance evergreen needs a regular water schedule to ensure the growth of a mature root system. After the mature root system is established, watering is needed occasionally, except during a drought, watering is needed regularly. Responds well to pruning. Shearing is recommended 2-3 per year to maintain desired shape. Mulching is recommended to detour weeds, retain moisture, and keep temperatures low.
- Compact habit with glossy foliage responds well to pruning into topiary or small standard trees. Displays a profusion of white blooms. Useful hedge, screen or windbreak. Performs well in containers and as a topiary specimen. Evergreen.
- Because of their versatility and undemanding nature, they are used extensively in home landscapes. Plant them as hedges, foundation plants, patio trees or in shrub borders.
- These shrubs are grown primarily for the dense foliage they can provide when pruned into hedges. That dense foliage, along with their height, means that they afford good privacy during the summertime when folks are most active in their backyards.
Plan spacing, planting and establishment
Do not crowd plants to get a quicker-looking screen. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers these broad spacing guidelines: formal hedges are generally spaced 1–2½ feet apart; informal plantings use 2–4 feet for medium shrubs (6–8 feet tall) and 4–6 feet for large shrubs (8–12 feet tall). These ranges are not a substitute for spacing recommendations for the plant you choose: mature dimensions and desired appearance should take precedence.
- Assess the site: Check sunlight, soil type, moisture and drainage, climate suitability, available width and irrigation access. Make sure the plants’ mature dimensions fit.
- Check the ground before digging: University of Maryland Extension advises testing the soil and contacting the local utility-locating service before planting.
- Plant to regional guidance: Follow local instructions for planting depth and site preparation. Avoid excess mulch around the plants.
- Water during establishment: Water deeply through the first one to two years, especially during dry periods. Iowa State also recommends 2–3 inches of organic mulch and modest fertilizer.
- Maintain the intended form: If choosing a formal hedge, plan for frequent pruning—often two or more times each year. For a lower-maintenance informal screen, choose plants that naturally approach the dimensions you want.
Regional planting advice matters, especially where soil conditions are challenging. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends evaluating soil and drainage rather than treating a plant recommendation from another region as universal. For a Mid-Atlantic starting point, see Maryland Extension’s plant list, Iowa State’s hedge selection and planting guidance, Virginia Tech’s shrub planting and maintenance guidance, and N.C. Cooperative Extension’s discussion of privacy hedges. For an evergreen hedge question framed around a 10-foot height limit, see University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s May 9, 2023 answer.
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