How to Create a Green Privacy Wall in Your Backyard

Five evergreens that work as living privacy walls. Fast Ficus, soft Waterhousea, fragrant Murraya, formal Bay, dense Teddy Bear Magnolia.

BayFicus Hillii FlashLiving FenceMagnolia Teddy BearMurrayaPrivacy WallScreeningWaterhousea

A green privacy wall delivers the same result as a fence with more depth, more shade, and zero maintenance bills for stain or paint. The right species delivers full privacy in one to two seasons.

Why a green wall

Living screens absorb noise, lift the visual scale of a small block, and give year round privacy. The maintenance is two or three trims a year against painting and replacing fence panels every decade.

Ficus Hillii Flash privacy wall

Ficus hillii Flash

The fastest formal screen we grow. Lime green new growth against dense dark foliage, takes a clip beautifully.

Waterhousea floribunda

Soft weeping native screen with pink new growth and glossy leaves. Great for a less formal privacy wall.

Waterhousea privacy wall

Magnolia grandiflora Teddy Bear

Compact dense magnolia with large fragrant white flowers. Works at smaller suburban scale where Coolwyn Gloss is too big.

Laurus nobilis, Bay Tree

Tight formal evergreen wall that holds a precise height. Slow steady growth makes long term maintenance simple.

Murraya privacy wall

Murraya paniculata

Fragrant warm climate evergreen. White summer flowers perfume the garden while the foliage gives privacy.

Planting a green wall

Space tight, 0.6 to 1 metre, mulch heavily, water deeply through the first summer. Trim formally from the start so the wall forms cleanly.

FAQ

How fast can I get full privacy? Ficus Hillii Flash gives full privacy in 12 to 18 months from 100L stock.

What height should I aim for? 2 to 3 metres is standard for residential privacy walls.

1. Ficus hillii Flash (Flash Weeping Fig)

Flash is a brighter selection of Ficus Hillii with lime green new growth against dense dark foliage. Fast, formal, the standard for high privacy walls.

Type: Evergreen privacy screen
Height: 3 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 2 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Dense glossy with lime green new flush
Form: Upright, takes a formal clip
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Trim two or three times a year
Best for: High privacy walls, formal screens, pleached lines

Why choose it

Fast fill, tight clip, brighter foliage colour than standard Hillii.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature to break the green wall at corners or gates.

Tips for planting

Vigorous roots are a feature, easily managed with regular pruning. Trim formally twice a year.

The privacy wall default for warm to temperate gardens.

Shop Ficus hillii Flash

2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Weeping Lilly Pilly forms a soft dense privacy wall with relaxed weeping habit. Great when you want privacy without a hard formal edge.

Type: Evergreen native privacy screen
Height: 4 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 2 to 3 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green with pink new growth
Form: Weeping habit dense to the ground
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, most soils
Maintenance: Trim once or twice a year
Best for: Soft privacy walls, native gardens, water features

Why choose it

Soft natural form gives privacy without looking forced.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Bay Tree feature within the planting line for contrast.

Tips for planting

Water through dry spells in the first year. Mulch well.

A soft privacy wall with weight.

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3. Magnolia grandiflora Teddy Bear (Teddy Bear Magnolia)

Teddy Bear stays compact and dense with the same large fragrant white flowers as larger Magnolia grandiflora cultivars. Excellent for privacy walls at suburban scale.

Type: Evergreen privacy and feature tree
Height: 3 to 5 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1.5 to 2.5 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy dark green with rust undersides
Flowers: Large fragrant white
Form: Compact upright dense
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Privacy walls at small scale, screens, fragrant feature

Why choose it

Compact form holds dense privacy at smaller heights.

Perfect pair

Pair with a deciduous Crepe Myrtle nearby for summer colour.

Tips for planting

Mulch well, water deeply in dry spells.

A compact magnolia that doubles as a privacy wall.

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4. Laurus nobilis (Bay Tree)

Bay Tree forms a tight evergreen privacy wall when planted closely. Aromatic, edible, and slow enough to maintain at a precise height.

Type: Evergreen formal privacy hedge
Height: 2 to 4 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 0.6 to 1.2 metres
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Aromatic dark green leathery
Form: Upright dense formal hedge
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Trim twice a year
Best for: Formal privacy walls, courtyards, Mediterranean plantings

Why choose it

Holds a precise height with two trims a year.

Perfect pair

Pair with an Olea Manzanillo as a feature within a Mediterranean privacy garden.

Tips for planting

Plant at 0.6 to 0.8 metre spacings for a tight wall.

A formal privacy wall with culinary use.

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5. Murraya paniculata (Orange Jasmine)

Orange Jasmine forms a fragrant evergreen privacy wall in warm climates. Glossy foliage and white flowers that perfume the garden through summer.

Type: Evergreen warm climate privacy hedge
Height: 1.5 to 3 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 0.6 to 1 metre
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Glossy dark green
Flowers: Fragrant white through summer
Form: Upright dense formal hedge
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well drained soils
Maintenance: Trim two or three times a year
Best for: Warm climate privacy walls, courtyards

Why choose it

Fragrance plus privacy in one hedge.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Teddy Bear feature near gates or entries.

Tips for planting

Avoid hard pruning in winter. Water through hot dry spells.

A fragrant privacy wall for warm climates.

Shop Murraya paniculata

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Ficus hillii Flash Flash Weeping Fig	3 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 2 metres	Upright, takes a formal clip	Dense glossy with lime green new flush	High privacy walls, formal screens, pleached lines
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	4 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	2 to 3 metres	Weeping habit dense to the ground	Glossy green with pink new growth	Soft privacy walls, native gardens, water features
Magnolia grandiflora Teddy Bear Teddy Bear Magnolia	3 to 5 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1.5 to 2.5 metres	Compact upright dense	Glossy dark green with rust undersides	Privacy walls at small scale, screens, fragrant feature
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree	2 to 4 metres, can be pruned to desired height	0.6 to 1.2 metres	Upright dense formal hedge	Aromatic dark green leathery	Formal privacy walls, courtyards, Mediterranean plantings
Murraya paniculata Orange Jasmine	1.5 to 3 metres, can be pruned to desired height	0.6 to 1 metre	Upright dense formal hedge	Glossy dark green	Warm climate privacy walls, courtyards