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Key Takeaways: Natural privacy screens offer Virginia Beach homeowners an attractive alternative to traditional fencing by providing privacy, beauty, wildlife habitat, noise reduction, and increased property value. Native plants such as Eastern Red Cedar, American Holly, and Wax Myrtle thrive in the region’s coastal conditions, while climate-adapted options like Green Giant Arborvitae and Nellie R. Stevens Holly provide fast-growing, low-maintenance screening. With proper planning and plant selection, a living privacy screen can transform any yard into a beautiful, secluded outdoor retreat that continues to improve over time. |
What Are The Best Plants for Natural Privacy in Virginia Beach?
When homeowners think about creating privacy in their yard, fencing is often the first solution that comes to mind. However, many native and climate-adapted plants thrive in our coastal conditions and can be used to establish effective natural borders between properties. These plants can provide beauty, shade, wildlife habitat, and year-round visual interest while creating a secluded outdoor environment. Whether you’re looking to block a neighboring view, reduce street noise, create a backyard retreat, or enhance your landscape’s curb appeal, the right combination of trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses can provide an attractive living privacy screen.
Why Choose a Natural Privacy Screen?
Natural borders can soften hardscape features and create a more welcoming outdoor living space. Living privacy screens offer several advantages over traditional fencing which include:
- Enhancing property aesthetics
- Providing habitat for birds and pollinators
- Reducing noise and wind
- Improving air quality
- Increasing property value
- Blending naturally into the landscape
- Offering seasonal color and texture
Native Plants That Make Excellent Privacy Screens
Native plants are often the best choice because they are adapted to Virginia Beach’s climate, rainfall patterns, humidity, and coastal conditions.
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar is one of the most reliable native evergreen trees for privacy screening. This fast-growing tree (mature height of 30–50 ft.) provides dense year-round coverage and tolerates drought, salt spray, and poor soils. Other benefits of the Eastern Red Cedar tree are:
- Evergreen privacy
- Excellent windbreak
- Wildlife-friendly
- Salt tolerant
- Low maintenance
American Holly
American Holly is a beautiful native evergreen that provides dense foliage throughout the year (mature height of 15-30 ft.). Its glossy green leaves and bright red berries create visual interest while offering excellent screening. Other benefits of the American Holly evergreen include:
- Year-round privacy
- Attractive berries
- Bird-friendly
- Highly adaptable
Wax Myrtle
Wax Myrtle is one of the most popular privacy shrubs in coastal Virginia. This fast-growing evergreen (mature height of 10–20 ft.) creates a dense screen and performs exceptionally well in Virginia Beach’s sandy soils and humid climate. Other benefits of the Wax Myrtle include:
- Fast growth
- Salt tolerant
- Native species
- Dense screening
What Are Some Non-Native Plants That Thrive in Virginia Beach?
While native plants are often preferred, several non-native species have proven to perform exceptionally well in our coastal region and are frequently used by professional landscapers for privacy applications.
Nellie R. Stevens Holly
This hybrid holly has become one of the most popular privacy screening plants in Hampton Roads due to its rapid growth (mature height of 15–25 ft.) and dense evergreen foliage. Other benefits of the Nellie R. Stevens Holly include:
- Fast-growing
- Dense coverage
- Low maintenance
- Disease resistant
Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae has become a favorite for homeowners wanting a fast-growing living fence (mature height of 30–40 ft.). Its lush green foliage provides excellent year-round privacy. Other benefits of the Green Giant Arborvitae include:
- Rapid growth
- Evergreen screening
- Minimal pruning required
- Wind resistant
Leyland Cypress
For homeowners seeking privacy quickly, Leyland Cypress remains a popular option due to its exceptionally fast growth rate (mature height of 40–60 ft.). Because of disease concerns in some situations, proper spacing and maintenance are important when using Leyland Cypress. Other benefits of the Leyland Cypress tree include:
- Extremely fast growing
- Dense evergreen coverage
- Effective visual barrier
Evergreen Plant Comparison Table
The table below compares some of the most popular evergreen plants used for natural privacy screens in Virginia and the Tidewater region.*Installed costs vary significantly based on initial plant size, spacing, and local contractor pricing.
| Plant | Avg. Installed Cost* | Time to Reach Effective Privacy Screen (10-15 ft.) | Density / Screening Ability | Maintenance Level | Avg. Annual Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Red Cedar | $75–$250 per tree | 8–15 years | Medium-High (natural, somewhat irregular) | Low | 1–2 ft. |
| American Holly | $100–$400 per tree | 10–20 years | Very High (dense branching) | Low | 6–12 in. |
| Wax Myrtle | $50–$200 per shrub | 3–7 years | Medium-High | Medium | 2–4 ft. |
| Nellie R. Stevens Holly | $100–$350 per tree | 5–8 years | Very High | Low | 2–3 ft. |
| Green Giant Arborvitae | $75–$300 per tree | 4–8 years | High | Low | 3–5 ft. |
| Leyland Cypress | $75–$250 per tree | 3–6 years | Very High | Medium-High | 3–4 ft. |
Quick Comparison Rankings
| Category | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Fastest Privacy Screen | Leyland Cypress |
| Best Long-Term Durability | Eastern Red Cedar |
| Most Dense Screen | Nellie R. Stevens Holly |
| Lowest Maintenance | Eastern Red Cedar |
| Best Native Species | Eastern Red Cedar, American Holly, Wax Myrtle |
| Best for Wildlife | American Holly |
| Best Salt-Air Tolerance | Wax Myrtle |
| Best Overall Privacy + Longevity | Green Giant Arborvitae |
| Best Formal Appearance | Nellie R. Stevens Holly |
Best Choices for Natural Privacy Borders in Virginia Beach & Coastal Tidewater
Creating a natural privacy screen is one of the most attractive and environmentally friendly ways to enhance your outdoor living space. With thoughtful planning and proper installation, a living privacy screen can provide decades of beauty, functionality, and enjoyment while increasing the value of your Virginia Beach home. For most homeowners in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and the surrounding Tidewater area, the top performers are:
- Green Giant Arborvitae – Excellent growth rate, strong disease resistance, dense year-round screening, and relatively low maintenance.
- Nellie R. Stevens Holly – Beautiful, dense evergreen foliage with attractive red berries and a more refined appearance.
- Wax Myrtle – Ideal for coastal properties due to exceptional salt tolerance and rapid growth.
- Eastern Red Cedar – Native, drought-tolerant, and extremely durable for naturalized privacy borders.
Hear it from the Experts at Dr. Dan’s Landscaping & Architectural Design
With well over 30 years of experience transforming Virginia Beach with beautiful custom landscapes, we understand that professional landscape design makes all the difference. Designing an effective natural privacy screen with trees and shrubs involves more than blindly planting a row of trees. It requires consideration for; proper plant selection, spacing, soil preparation, irrigation planning, and long-term growth, all play a critical role in creating a successful landscape. Our professional landscape designers will evaluate your property, identify site-specific challenges, and recommend a customized planting plan that provides privacy while enhancing the overall beauty and value of your home. Call today for a consultation on your new natural privacy border installation.
*Pro Tip: Use Ornamental Grasses for Softer Privacy Borders
Not every privacy screen needs to consist of large bulky trees or dense shrubs. Ornamental grasses also create a natural border that creates seasonal screening while adding unique movements and textures to the landscape. Read to learn more about our favorite ornamental grasses.
Switchgrass – Native Switchgrass provides vertical growth and beautiful seasonal color changes.
Maiden Grass – A popular ornamental grass that creates dense clumps and attractive plumes during late summer and fall.
Muhly Grass – Known for its stunning pink blooms, Muhly Grass adds beauty while helping define property lines and outdoor spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Privacy Screens in Virginia Beach
What is the fastest growing shrub for privacy?
One of the fastest-growing shrubs for privacy in Virginia Beach is Wax Myrtle. This evergreen shrub can grow 2 to 4 feet per year under ideal conditions and quickly forms a dense natural screen. Other fast-growing privacy plants include Nellie R. Stevens Holly and Green Giant Arborvitae, both of which provide excellent year-round coverage.
What plants make the best privacy screens?
The best privacy screen plants depend on your property, desired appearance, and maintenance preferences. Popular choices in coastal Virginia include Green Giant Arborvitae for rapid growth, Nellie R. Stevens Holly for dense evergreen coverage, Wax Myrtle for salt tolerance, American Holly for wildlife benefits, and Eastern Red Cedar for a durable native option. Combining multiple species can also create a more natural and resilient privacy border.
Which plants offer year-round privacy?
Evergreen plants are the best choice for year-round privacy because they retain their foliage throughout all seasons. Green Giant Arborvitae, Nellie R. Stevens Holly, American Holly, Eastern Red Cedar, Wax Myrtle, and Leyland Cypress all provide consistent screening and visual privacy during both summer and winter months.
Which trees offer year-round privacy?
Several evergreen trees provide excellent year-round privacy in the Tidewater region. Green Giant Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress are popular for creating tall, dense screens quickly, while Eastern Red Cedar and American Holly offer long-term durability and a more natural appearance. These trees can effectively block views, reduce noise, and create a secluded outdoor environment.
What plants grow well in Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach’s coastal climate supports a wide variety of native and adapted plants. Popular choices include Wax Myrtle, American Holly, Eastern Red Cedar, Southern Magnolia, Green Giant Arborvitae, Nellie R. Stevens Holly, Loropetalum, and various ornamental grasses. These plants are generally well-suited to local soil conditions, humidity, and occasional salt exposure.
What should I plant now in Virginia Beach?
The best plants to install depend on the season. In spring and fall, most trees, shrubs, and perennials establish successfully due to moderate temperatures and increased rainfall. Evergreens such as Green Giant Arborvitae, Nellie R. Stevens Holly, American Holly, and Wax Myrtle are excellent choices for creating privacy screens. Before planting, consider your sunlight conditions, drainage, available space, and long-term growth requirements to ensure success.