Flowering and Evergreen Shrubs to Transform Your Outdoor Space

When it comes to the best shrubs for privacy, nothing beats the timeless charm of a living wall. Not only do shrubs offer year-round structure and lush greenery, but they also provide natural noise reduction, wind protection, and a big boost in curb appeal. If you’re tired of staring at your neighbor’s trampoline or want a break from street noise, shrubs might be your new best friend.

Unlike fences, which can feel stark or even intrusive, privacy shrubs blend into the landscape, enhance biodiversity, and evolve beautifully over time. Whether you’re designing from scratch or upgrading an existing layout, you can create an outdoor space that’s peaceful, private, and effortlessly beautiful.

What to Look For in a Privacy Shrub

Before you start planting, take a moment to think like a garden designer. Not all privacy shrubs are created equal, and a little planning goes a long way. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Evergreen vs. Deciduous
  Evergreens like juniper, boxwood, and arborvitae keep their foliage all year, offering reliable screening even in winter. Deciduous shrubs like lilac and hydrangea may lose their leaves in colder months but shine with blooms in the growing season.
  

• Growth Rate and Mature Height
  Want quick results? Choose fast growers like arborvitae and Privet. Have time to wait? Slower-growing species like yews offer structure and control with less maintenance.
  

• Maintenance Needs
  Some shrubs need regular pruning to stay neat, while others are practically self-sufficient. Consider how much time you want to spend shaping your green wall.
  

• Soil, Sun, and Water Preferences
  Match your shrubs to your site conditions. For example, junipers love dry, sunny spots while hydrangeas prefer moist soil and part shade.
  
  

Planning Tips:

• Spacing: Give your shrubs room to grow—don’t pack them too tightly or you’ll create airflow issues and invite disease.
  

• Layering: Mix heights, leaf shapes, and bloom times for a dynamic, natural look.

Patience Pays Off: Most shrubs take 2–3 growing seasons to fully fill in. Start with a good foundation and your privacy garden will only improve with time.

Fast-Growing Favorites for Quick Coverage

If you're dreaming of a cozy retreat by next summer, these fast-growing stars are your go-to growers. Ideal for creating shrubs for backyard privacy in a hurry, they’re loved for their speed and reliability.

• Arborvitae
  A true privacy workhorse. This conifer can grow up to 3 feet per year in the right conditions. It's evergreen, narrow, and needs minimal shaping.

• Privet
  Though technically deciduous in northern climates, privet makes up for it with fast, lush growth. It’s easy to shear into a formal hedge or let it grow more freely.
  
  

Tip: Want instant results? Buy larger nursery-grown shrubs and stagger plantings for a fuller effect.

Evergreen All-Stars for Year-Round Greenery

For consistent privacy with very little seasonal fuss, evergreen shrubs are your best bet. These dependable plants add structure, color, and texture in every month of the year.

• Boxwood
  Neat, compact, and easy to shape, boxwood is perfect for formal gardens or foundation plantings. Choose a hardy variety like ‘Green Mountain’ for Iowa winters.
  

• Yews
  Dark green, dense, and perfect for low hedges. Very cold hardy for midwest winters.  Can also be grown in sun or shade.
  

• Juniper
  Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, junipers come in many sizes and shapes. Their blue-green foliage adds year-round interest.
  
  

Each of these evergreen varieties fits the bill for fast-growing evergreen shrubs if you pick the right cultivar. Check with local experts for regionally hardy choices.

Flowering Shrubs That Smell as Good as They Look

Who says a privacy screen can’t be a sensory experience? These flowering shrubs offer seasonal beauty, heady fragrance, and habitat for pollinators—all while helping to define your space.

• Lilac
  Beloved for its intoxicating scent and charming blooms in spring, lilac is ideal for creating privacy along fence lines. It’s low-maintenance and attracts bees and butterflies.
  

• Hydrangea
  From mophead to panicle varieties, hydrangeas bloom boldly through summer. They appreciate morning sun and afternoon shade—perfect for mixed borders. Panicle hydrangeas like Limelight or Quickfire will withstand all day sun.
  

• Viburnum
  Versatile and easy to grow, viburnum shrubs can be evergreen or deciduous depending on the variety. Look for options like 'Korean Spice' or ‘Snowball’ for stunning flowers, fragrance, and form.
  

These selections are perfect if you want to soften a hedge or add a pop of seasonal charm to a more structured evergreen screen.

Creating a Layered, Natural Look

Instead of planting a single row of matching shrubs, think about building a layered composition that feels like a curated garden border.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with Tall Evergreens: These create the backbone of your screen—arborvitae, cypress, or holly.
   

2. Add Medium Shrubs for Volume: Mix in flowering shrubs like lilac or viburnum.
   

3. Incorporate Low Growers: Groundcover junipers or dwarf boxwood fill in the gaps at soil level.
   

4. Think Seasonally: Choose at least one plant for interest in each season—berries, flowers, fall color, or unique winter form.
   

This layered approach not only looks more natural but also offers ecological benefits like shelter for birds and pollinators.

Bonus Tips for New Gardeners

Never planted a shrub before? No problem. Follow these beginner-friendly tips to get started:

• Planting and Spacing: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, and set the plant at soil level. Water thoroughly after planting and add mulch to retain moisture.
  

• Watering Schedules: Shrubs need regular watering their first year—about 1" per week. After that, they’ll be more drought-tolerant.
  

• Pruning Basics: Avoid heavy pruning right after planting. Once established, trim evergreens in early spring and flowering shrubs after they bloom.
  

• Patience Pays Off: Most shrubs take 2–3 years to reach full size. In the meantime, enjoy the process as your yard transforms.
  

💬 Don’t worry if you’ve never planted a shrub before—we’ll keep it simple.

Turn Your Yard into a Private Oasis

With the right combination of fast-growing options, evergreens, and flowering shrubs, your landscape can transform into a beautiful, functional sanctuary. The best shrubs for privacy offer more than just coverage—they bring life, structure, and seasonal flair to your outdoor space.

Whether you’re in the heart of Bettendorf or tucked into a quiet neighborhood, planting privacy shrubs in Bettendorf, IA, is one of the most rewarding upgrades you can make. You’ll gain comfort, beauty, and maybe even a little bit of peace.

Ready to plant some peace and quiet?
Visit us at Wallace’s Garden Center in Bettendorf. Our team is happy to help you build the perfect backyard retreat—one shrub at a time.