Forget putting up hard fences or walls! Spend some time researching the best flowering plants to add privacy and screen your garden, and you’ll be well on your way to a happy new space.
Yes, some of the most effective ways to screen your space can also be the most beautiful, especially if you make a point of using blooms to soften boundaries while adding color, scent, and movement. Fast growing screening plant Or Container plant flowers for privacy.
Whether you’re overlooked by neighboring properties or want to carve out a more secluded corner to relax, the right planting can make your outdoor space a little more inviting. Here’s what you need to know.
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Best flowering plants to add privacy and screen your garden
‘Creating a private, cozy garden doesn’t mean hiding behind dull fences or walls,’ promises Charlotte McGratton, HNS buyer. Hillier Garden Centres .
She is not wrong. from Fast growing hedges and shrubs for grand climbersThere are plenty of options that offer both coverage and visual appeal, as long as you choose plants that not only grow densely enough to provide screening, but also suit your garden conditions.
With a little planning, you can create a natural barrier that feels lush rather than closed off. And, to help you narrow it down, gardening experts have shared their top flowering plants for adding privacy — without sacrificing style points.
1. Star Jasmine
(Image credit: Getty Images / OnGarden)
If you are looking for a plant that combines privacy, fragrance and beauty, Star Jasmine Hard to beat. This evergreen creeper produces delicate white flowers in summer, paired with glossy green leaves that turn red in winter.
As Charlotte says, ‘Star jasmine is an excellent choice… it can spread eight meters to four meters in height, making it ideal for creating large, natural privacy screens’.
It is also relatively low-maintenance, adheres easily to supports and thrives in a sunny, sheltered location. Be sure to plant it near a window or sitting area to make the most of its fragrance.
Where to Buy Star Jasmine:
Shop supports for climbing plants
Wooden trellis panel 1800 X 600mm
Attach the trellis to a wall or fence to train it upwards.
Divchi Steel Garden Obelisk Climbing Plant Support 1.9m
Build height with a tall obelisk.
Practicool 1.6mm X 30m Galvanized Coated Garden Wire
Train them up a wall with wire instead of a trellis.
2. Cherry Laurel
(Image credit: Getty Images)
For quick, dense coverage, Cherry Laurel is the preferred choice. This evergreen Hedging plant Forms a thick wall of glossy green foliage, making it particularly effective at blocking neighboring views.
‘Cherry laurel… grows quickly, provides quick coverage and screening, thrives in most soils and tolerates shade well,’ promises Charlotte. And during early to mid spring, it blooms with small, fragrant flowers.
While it is easy to grow, occasional pruning will help keep it looking neat and prevent it from becoming more vigorous.
Where to buy Cherry Laurel:
3. Escalonia
(Image credit: Getty Images)
If you want in the form of a privacy screen A no-effort shrub One that thrives on neglect but also delivers color, the escallonia is a brilliant option. Its glossy evergreen leaves are paired with clusters of pink, red or white flowers throughout the summer, adding seasonal interest to your borders.
‘Escalonia forms a dense, colorful screen and attracts pollinators with its fragrant flowers,’ says Charlotte, noting that it is particularly suitable. Coastal gardens.
It responds well to pruning, but be careful to remember that it benefits from a sheltered location in cooler areas.
Where to buy Escalonia:
4. Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’
(Image credit: Getty Images / Photo)
For something a little more exciting, ‘Red Robin’ offers year-round screenings with a splash of seasonal color. Especially since its dark green foliage is offset by vibrant red new growth in spring and early summer, creating a vibrant, layered look.
‘I love it because it’s low maintenance and hardy, making it ideal for those who want privacy without spending a lot of time on maintenance,’ says Charlotte.
Tolerant of both sun and partial shade, it is a versatile choice that simply requires Light pruning to maintain its shape. Win!
Where to buy Photinia:
5. Buddleja
(Image credit: Getty Images/Clive Nicholls)
And now for something completely different! If you prefer a softer, more natural-looking screen, buddleja is an excellent choice, even when grown in a pot.
Fast-growing and airy, it quickly fills spaces with tall, arching stems and nectar-rich flowers in shades of lilac, white or pink. Which means, yes, ‘buddlejas can quickly fill in empty spaces and create wild-looking privacy screens…attracting bees and butterflies,’ explains Maurice Hankinson, director. Hops Grove Nursery..
Morris is the founder and managing director of Hankinson Hops Grove Nursery Ltd., is the UK’s only specialist manufacturer-retailer of hedging plants. Shortly after graduating with a degree in commercial horticulture from Rittle College, Essex, he established a thriving business in 1992.
Remember that the butterfly makes the bush Benefits from hard pruning To keep it tidy each year and encourage fresh growth, not to mention prevent it from getting too tangled.
Where to buy Badleja:
6. Clematis
(Image credit: Getty Images/grafxart8888)
For vertical privacy without taking up too much ground space, clematis is a great option. Can be grown on a trellis, fence or over PergolaIt creates a living wall of flowers in a wide range of colors and forms.
‘If you need vertical privacy, clematis is an excellent climber… different varieties will flower at different times of the year,’ explains Morris.
For maximum effect, he recommends that you try pairing it with him climbing rose For a layered, romantic look that enhances both coverage and color.
Where to buy clematis:
FAQs
What to plant against a fence for privacy?
There are plenty of plants that are famous for being best planted against a fence for privacy, but Morris Hankinson of Hops Grove Nursery has a surprising addition to the list: a hydrangea.
‘With large, showy flower heads, hydrangeas can make a beautiful privacy screen. Varieties such as Hydrangea paniculata can grow tall and dense, making them great for partial privacy in sheltered gardens,’ he says.
That being said, most hydrangeas can provide privacy in a variety of colors. Leaving the flower heads in winter will also provide winter interest and some privacy.’
Alternatively, Morris recommends camellias for year-round screening.
‘They thrive in slightly acidic soils and look stunning when used as a formal hedge, especially when in flower,’ he says.
What plants are good to use as a fence?
If you want to create a low hedge, Maurice Hankinson of Hops Grove Nursery recommends planting lavender.
‘An excellent choice for low hedging, lavender offers dense growth, fragrance and soft lilac flowers throughout the summer,’ he says. Bees and butterflies will love it too. It is perfect for lining a pathway or creating a fragrant border screen in sunny spots.’
With the right mix of flowering shrubs and climbers, it’s entirely possible to create a garden that feels private without sacrificing beauty.
Whether you choose one of the more structured evergreens on our list or a looser one, Wildlife-friendly plantings, we believe all these options prove that screening your space can be as much about style as it is privacy.
Time to plant in earnest, then…
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