Maximising Privacy with Tall Hedging Trees

Five tall hedging trees that deliver serious privacy at scale. Fast formal, soft natural and conifer options.

BayCupressusFicusMagnoliaPrivacyScreeningTall HedgesWaterhousea

A tall hedge gives privacy beyond fence height. Two storey overlook becomes a non issue, neighbour windows disappear, the garden feels enclosed. The right species at the right spacing fills in quickly.

What tall hedging needs

Species that reach 4 to 10 metres comfortably, hold dense foliage to the ground when planted close, and respond to clipping if you want a formal line. Climate match is critical at this scale.

Ficus Hillii tall hedge

Ficus Hillii

Fast tall formal hedge. Holds a sharp line at 4 to 8 metres.

Waterhousea floribunda

Soft tall native hedge. Dense to the ground without constant shaping.

Cupressus Better Green tall hedge

Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss

Premium tall hedge with glossy dark foliage and large fragrant white flowers.

Laurus nobilis, Bay Tree

Tight formal tall hedge. Slow steady growth makes long term maintenance simple.

Bay tall hedge

Cupressus leylandii Better Green

Fastest fill for very tall conifer hedges. Improved Leighton Green selection.

Planting a tall hedge

Space 0.8 to 1.5 metres apart depending on species. Plant 100L or larger stock for fastest results. Trim from year one to encourage density.

FAQ

How tall can these grow? Better Green reaches 15 metres. The others sit comfortably at 4 to 10 metres.

What spacing? Ficus Hillii and Bay at 0.8 metres. Waterhousea and Magnolia at 1.2 to 1.5 metres. Cupressus at 1.5 metres.

1. Ficus microcarpa var. hillii (Hill's Weeping Fig)

Ficus Hillii fills in fast and takes a sharp clip at heights of 4 to 8 metres. The default tall privacy hedge in temperate and warm climates.

Type: Evergreen tall formal hedge
Height: 4 to 10 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 3 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Dense glossy dark green
Form: Upright takes formal clipping
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Trim two or three times a year
Best for: Tall formal hedges, privacy walls

Why choose it

Holds a tall tight line cleanly.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss feature at the entry to break the green wall.

Tips for planting

Keep clear of paving and pipes. Trim while soft.

The tall formal hedge default.

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2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea grows fast to tall hedge heights with a soft natural form. Glossy foliage to the ground without needing constant shaping.

Type: Evergreen tall native hedge
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 dense to the ground
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Light trim
Best for: Tall soft hedges, native gardens

Why choose it

Tall privacy without the formal clip.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Banksia integrifolia as a flowering native feature.

Tips for planting

Water through dry spells in the first year.

A tall soft native hedge.

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3. Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss (Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia)

Coolwyn Gloss reaches 5 to 8 metres with dense glossy foliage. Premium tall hedge for entries and boundaries.

Type: Evergreen tall premium hedge
Height: 5 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 3 to 4 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Very glossy dark green
Flowers: Large fragrant white
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Premium tall hedges, formal entries

Why choose it

Glossy finish lifts the planting at scale.

Perfect pair

Pair with an Acer palmatum feature for seasonal contrast.

Tips for planting

Mulch well, water deeply in dry spells.

Premium tall hedging.

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4. Laurus nobilis (Bay Tree)

Bay Tree holds a tight tall formal hedge with two trims a year. Aromatic and very long lived.

Type: Evergreen tall formal hedge
Height: 3 to 5 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 1.5 metres
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Aromatic dark green leathery
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Trim twice a year
Best for: Formal tall hedges, courtyard boundaries

Why choose it

Tight precise line at tall heights.

Perfect pair

Pair with an Olea feature within the planting.

Tips for planting

Plant in free draining ground.

Formal tall hedge with culinary leaf.

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5. Cupressus leylandii Better Green (Better Green Leyland Cypress)

Better Green reaches tall hedge heights fast with dense soft foliage. Improved selection over standard Leighton Green.

Type: Evergreen tall conifer hedge
Height: 5 to 15 metres, can be pruned to desired height
Width: 1 to 2 metres
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Dense soft green
Form: Upright columnar
Conditions: Full sun, well drained soils
Maintenance: Trim once or twice a year
Best for: Very tall privacy walls, large blocks, windbreaks

Why choose it

Fastest fill for very tall hedges.

Perfect pair

Pair with a Bay Tree or Magnolia feature at the entry.

Tips for planting

Trim while soft. Do not cut into old wood.

Fast tall conifer hedge.

Shop Cupressus leylandii Better Green

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii Hill's Weeping Fig	4 to 10 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 3 metres	Upright takes formal clipping	Dense glossy dark green	Tall formal hedges, privacy walls
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	4 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	2 to 3 metres	Weeping dense to the ground	Glossy green with pink new growth	Tall soft hedges, native gardens
Magnolia grandiflora Coolwyn Gloss Coolwyn Gloss Magnolia	5 to 8 metres, can be pruned to desired height	3 to 4 metres	Upright dense	Very glossy dark green	Premium tall hedges, formal entries
Laurus nobilis Bay Tree	3 to 5 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 1.5 metres	Upright dense	Aromatic dark green leathery	Formal tall hedges, courtyard boundaries
Cupressus leylandii Better Green Better Green Leyland Cypress	5 to 15 metres, can be pruned to desired height	1 to 2 metres	Upright columnar	Dense soft green	Very tall privacy walls, large blocks, windbreaks