Best Trees for Privacy: Our Top 9 Hedging Picks

Five dense privacy hedges that consistently deliver across Australian gardens.

EvergreenHedgingPrivacyPrivacy Trees

A privacy hedge has one job — to give you back the corner of the garden where you actually want to sit. The right tree screens the neighbour without crowding the boundary, holds its density year-round, and stays in scale with the space you have. We grow every tree on this list as a tall advanced hedging specimen so you start with screening height, not a row of seedlings waiting five years to do their job.

These are the nine privacy hedges we recommend most often, why each one earns a spot, and how to pick between them.

Ficus hillii — fast, dense and incredibly forgiving. The benchmark for tall screening in warm-temperate gardens where you want a full hedge inside two seasons.
Waterhousea floribunda — soft weeping form and dense fine foliage that handles the trickier sites. The classic choice when you want a hedge that reads as green rather than architectural.
Magnolia grandiflora 'Teddy Bear' — compact upright Magnolia with cinnamon-backed leaves and large white summer flowers. A formal screen with feature presence built in.
Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' — the improved Bay with denser habit and consistent dark green foliage. A clipped Mediterranean privacy hedge that reads as formal and edible.
Syzygium 'Resilience' — psyllid-resistant Lilly Pilly bred for hedging. Tidy upright habit with bronze new growth that holds a clipped face cleanly.
Syzygium 'Backyard Bliss' — compact Lilly Pilly that hedges to a softer scale. The pick for shorter privacy hedges that still want a full dense face.
Cupressus 'Leighton Green' — the classic conifer hedge. Tall fast formal screening with the fine texture only a conifer gives.
Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' — improved native Water Gum with broader thicker glossy leaves and copper-toned new growth. A native privacy screen with non-invasive roots.
Podocarpus elatus — native conifer with soft needle foliage and a naturally tidy upright habit. The Cupressus density alternative with Australian heritage.

How to choose a hedging tree for privacy

Dense year-round foliage

The single most important quality in a privacy hedge. Evergreen density means the screen works every month of the year, not just summer. Every species in this guide holds dense foliage from spring through winter.

Mature height above standard fence

A privacy hedge needs to screen above the standard 1.8m fence line - typically 3 to 5m mature height is the sweet spot for residential properties. For larger gardens, 5 to 10m hedges (Ficus, Waterhousia) deliver full privacy from windows and upper storeys.

Fast establishment

Customers want privacy now, not in 10 years. Every species here builds full screening within 1 to 3 years of planting from advanced sizes - much faster than waiting for a small tree to grow.

Holds density with regular clipping

A good privacy hedge gets denser with pruning, not thinner. Each species here responds well to one or two light clips a year, holding a clean formal screening line.

Width that fits your boundary

Mature width matters as much as height. Compact cultivars (Teddy Bear, Bay) suit tight side gardens at 2 to 3m wide. Larger species (Ficus, Waterhousia) need more boundary space but build privacy faster.

Low to moderate maintenance once established

Every species in this guide is happy on one to two light prunes a year after the first two years. Privacy hedges should give you privacy, not work.

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

Ficus hillii is the most-planted privacy hedge in Australia, and for one reason: it builds full dense privacy faster than any other reliable hedging species. Thick glossy dark green leaves hold density from the ground up to ceiling height, and a regular clip keeps a tight formal line. For properties near pools, paving, or building foundations, install a commercial root barrier (geocomposite or HDPE, 600mm minimum depth) at planting time. With that setup Ficus is reliable, low maintenance, and gives you decades of fast dense screening.

Type: Evergreen hedging tree
Height: 5 to 10 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy dark green
Form: Dense upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Moderate
Best for: Fastest dense privacy on larger properties where a root barrier can be installed at planting time.

Why choose it

Industry standard for fast dense privacy in Australia. Builds full screening in 2 to 3 years - faster than any other reliable hedge. Holds density from ground level up. Requires a root barrier near pools and services, but with that setup it is reliable long term.

Perfect pair

Plant Ficus hillii as the boundary screen with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or Olive feature tree as the front corner anchor.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Install a commercial root barrier (600mm minimum depth) between the planting line and any pool plumbing, paving or building foundations. Use 1m spacing for a continuous dense hedge. Water deeply through establishment. Trim two to three times a year to maintain a clean formal line.

Industry privacy standard.

Shop Ficus microcarpa var. hillii

2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousia floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly) is the Australian native answer to fast dense privacy. Long pendulous branches and small glossy leaves hold soft dense colour year-round, and the weeping habit gives a more relaxed informal screen than upright cultivars. New growth flushes pink and orange through spring. Native heritage, dense screening, and soft form - the three qualities most native-garden customers ask for, all in one plant.

Type: Evergreen native hedging tree
Height: 6 to 10 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Weeping mid-green
Form: Weeping
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Soft layered native privacy along long fence lines and contemporary boundaries.

Why choose it

Australian native with weeping habit and dense year-round foliage. Soft visual character vs upright cultivars. Fast establishment for native privacy within 2 to 3 years. Bonus pink-orange new growth flush in spring.

Perfect pair

Plant Waterhousia as the soft native screen with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or Brachychiton feature as the corner anchor.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense privacy hedge. Water deeply morning and evening for the first two weeks in summer, then deeply twice a week through establishment. Light prune after the spring growth flush to maintain shape.

Soft native privacy.

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3. Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' (Teddy Bear Magnolia)

Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' is the compact privacy Magnolia. The densely packaged habit screens from the ground up (unusual in the Magnolia family), making Teddy Bear one of the few feature-tree-quality species you can use as a continuous formal hedge. Thick glossy dark green leaves with cinnamon-felted undersides hold year-round density, and large fragrant cream-white summer blooms add seasonal feature interest. Compact 4 to 5m mature size suits tight side gardens and front-of-house boundaries.

Type: Evergreen feature hedge
Height: 4 to 5 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Dark green with cinnamon undersides
Form: Densely upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Compact formal privacy with seasonal feature interest.

Why choose it

Privacy hedge with feature-tree presence. Screens from the ground up - unusual in the Magnolia family. Dense year-round foliage plus fragrant white summer flowers. Compact mature size makes it suitable for tight gardens.

Perfect pair

Plant Teddy Bear as the dense formal hedge with a Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss' or Bay 'Miles Choice' as the corner feature.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense formal hedge. Water deeply through the first two summers. Mulch 75mm out to the dripline. Light tip prune for shape after flowering.

Privacy with presence.

Shop Magnolia 'Teddy Bear'

4. Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' (Miles Choice Bay Tree)

'Miles Choice' is an improved Bay Tree selection with denser habit and consistent dark green foliage compared to standard Bay. Aromatic essential oils in the leaves give Bay its distinctive Mediterranean character, and the tight upright form makes 'Miles Choice' one of the most refined privacy hedges available. Slow steady growth with virtually no leaf, berry, or flower drop. The same leaves are the culinary bay used in cooking, so the hedge doubles as a productive kitchen ingredient. Best for classic Mediterranean and formal gardens needing narrow refined privacy lines.

Type: Evergreen hedging tree
Height: 3 to 5m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 1.5 to 2.5m
Foliage: Aromatic dark green
Form: Upright dense, easy to clip
Best for: Formal Mediterranean privacy lines, classic gardens, and culinary-hedge crossover.

Why choose it

Improved Bay selection with denser habit and consistent dark green colour. Formal aromatic Mediterranean privacy hedge with culinary leaves. Slow steady growth holds tight formal shape with one or two clips a year. Virtually no leaf, berry or flower drop.

Perfect pair

Plant 'Miles Choice' as the formal narrow privacy hedge with an Olive 'Manzanillo' or Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' as the Mediterranean corner feature.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense formal hedge. Water consistently through the first year. Light clip in late spring and late summer to keep formal shape.

Shop Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice'

5. Syzygium 'Resilience' (Resilience Lilly Pilly)

Syzygium 'Resilience' is a compact Australian native lilly pilly bred specifically for fast privacy plus reliable cold tolerance and strong psyllid resistance. Glossy green leaves with bronze new growth give year-round colour, and the dense upright habit fills out quickly. The cold-hardy genetics make Resilience the lilly pilly of choice for cooler-climate gardens where standard lilly pillies struggle. Fast growth, low maintenance, frost tolerance, psyllid resistance - rarely all combined in one hedge.

Type: Evergreen hedging tree
Height: 4 to 6 m
Width: 2 to 3 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green with bronze new growth
Form: Dense upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Cooler-climate gardens needing fast reliable privacy with low maintenance.

Why choose it

Fast-growing lilly pilly bred for cold tolerance and psyllid resistance - rare combination in one plant. Glossy bronze-flushing new growth for year-round colour. Reliable in cooler-climate gardens where standard lilly pillies struggle.

Perfect pair

Plant Resilience as the dense privacy hedge with a Magnolia 'Little Gem' or Bay 'Miles Choice' as the corner feature tree.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense privacy hedge. Water deeply through the first eight weeks. Trim two to three times a year to maintain dense screening shape.

Low-fuss privacy.

Shop Syzygium 'Resilience'

6. Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss' (Backyard Bliss Lilly Pilly)

Syzygium 'Backyard Bliss' is a compact Magenta Lilly Pilly bred for strong resistance to psyllid pests and reliable dense privacy. Tight glossy green foliage with bronze new growth holds year-round colour, and the upright habit fills out quickly for fast screening. Suits tight side gardens and narrow boundary lines where larger lilly pillies would overgrow. Small pink-purple berries appear in summer but drop tidily, and the plant maintains dense screening density with minimal pruning.

Type: Evergreen native hedging
Height: 3 to 5m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 2 to 3m
Foliage: Glossy green with bronze new growth
Flowers: Small white in late spring, tidy pink-purple berries in summer
Form: Upright, compact
Best for: Tight side gardens and narrow boundary lines needing compact dense privacy.

Why choose it

Compact psyllid-resistant lilly pilly bred for narrow privacy lines. Tight upright habit fills out quickly. Glossy bronze-flushing new growth for year-round colour. Stays dense with minimal pruning.

Perfect pair

Plant 'Backyard Bliss' as the compact privacy hedge with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or Bay 'Miles Choice' as the corner feature tree.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense privacy hedge. Water deeply morning and evening for the first two weeks in summer, then deeply twice a week through establishment. Light trim after the spring growth flush.

Shop Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss'

7. Cupressus leylandii 'Leighton Green' (Leighton Green Cypress)

Cupressus 'Leighton Green' is the original Leyland Cypress hybrid - 50+ years of proven garden performance and one of the most widely planted fast-growing privacy hedges in Australia. Fine dark green needle-like foliage forms a dense wall that blocks views completely. Builds full-height privacy faster than any other species at this size class, making it the standard for tall boundary screening on larger properties. Negligible leaf drop, no berries, no flowers, low maintenance once shape is set.

Type: Evergreen conifer hedging tree
Height: 8 to 12m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 3 to 4m
Foliage: Dense, dark green, fine textured
Form: Upright, conical
Best for: Tall fast traditional boundary privacy screening on larger properties.

Why choose it

The original Leyland Cypress hybrid - fastest tall boundary privacy available in Australia. Dense fine needle-like foliage forms a complete view-blocking wall. Builds full-height privacy in 2 to 3 years from advanced sizes. Negligible drop and low maintenance once established.

Perfect pair

Plant Leighton Green as the tall back boundary screen with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or 'Coolwyn Gloss' as the corner feature.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a continuous boundary screen. Water deeply through establishment, especially through the first summer. Annual prune in early spring holds a clean formal hedge line.

Shop Cupressus leylandii 'Leighton Green'

8. Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' (Luscious Water Gum)

'Luscious' is an improved selection of the Australian native Water Gum with broader thicker glossy leaves and warm copper-toned new growth. As a privacy hedge it builds dense year-round screening with native heritage and a tidy non-invasive root habit. Small fragrant yellow summer flowers appear without heavy debris. A reliable performer in suburban gardens and along boundary lines wanting native screening without sacrificing density or formality.

Type: Evergreen native hedging
Height: 5 to 8m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Shiny green with copper-toned new growth
Flowers: Small fragrant yellow clusters in summer
Form: Upright dense
Conditions: Full sun, tolerates most soil types including clay
Maintenance: Low - light trim after summer flowering
Best for: Native privacy screens for suburban gardens and contemporary boundary lines

Why choose it

Improved Australian native Water Gum bred for broader thicker leaves and warm copper new growth. Dense year-round privacy with native heritage. Tidy non-invasive root habit suits planting near paving and hardscape.

Perfect pair

Plant 'Luscious' as the native privacy screen with a Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' or Brachychiton feature as the corner anchor.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Tolerates most soil types including clay. Use 1m spacing for a dense privacy hedge. Water deeply through the first eight weeks of establishment. Light trim after summer flowering to maintain shape.

A native privacy choice that earns its place on density alone.

Shop Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious'

9. Podocarpus elatus (Brown Pine / Plum Pine)

Podocarpus elatus is a hardy Australian native conifer descended from a 270-million-year-old plant family. Soft dark green needle-like foliage forms a dense year-round privacy screen, and the naturally tidy upright habit needs minimal training. A strong native alternative for boundaries wanting Cupressus-like density without the imported species.

Type: Evergreen native conifer hedging
Height: 6 to 10m (can be pruned to desired height)
Width: 3 to 4m
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Foliage: Soft dark green needle-like
Flowers: Inconspicuous, followed by edible purple fruit on female plants
Form: Upright naturally tidy
Conditions: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil
Maintenance: Low - minimal pruning required
Best for: Native privacy boundaries wanting conifer density with Australian heritage

Why choose it

Australian native conifer with fine needle foliage and naturally upright habit. Dense year-round privacy from a native species. Low maintenance and drought tolerant once established.

Perfect pair

Plant Podocarpus as the native privacy screen with a Bottle Tree or Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' as the corner feature.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Use 1m spacing for a dense privacy hedge. Water deeply through establishment. Slow growing - minimal pruning needed. Mulch annually.

A native conifer for boundaries that want heritage with their density.

Shop Podocarpus elatus

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Ficus microcarpa var. hillii Hill's Weeping Fig	5 to 10 m	2 to 3 m	Dense upright	Glossy dark green	Fastest dense privacy on larger properties where a root barrier can be installed at planting time.
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	6 to 10 m	3 to 4 m	Weeping	Weeping mid-green	Soft layered native privacy along long fence lines and contemporary boundaries.
Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' Teddy Bear Magnolia	4 to 5 m	2 to 3 m	Densely upright	Dark green with cinnamon undersides	Compact formal privacy with seasonal feature interest.
Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' Miles Choice Bay Tree	3 to 5m (can be pruned to desired height)	1.5 to 2.5m	Upright dense, easy to clip	Aromatic dark green	Formal Mediterranean privacy lines, classic gardens, and culinary-hedge crossover.
Syzygium 'Resilience' Resilience Lilly Pilly	4 to 6 m	2 to 3 m	Dense upright	Glossy green with bronze new growth	Cooler-climate gardens needing fast reliable privacy with low maintenance.
Syzygium paniculatum 'Backyard Bliss' Backyard Bliss Lilly Pilly	3 to 5m (can be pruned to desired height)	2 to 3m	Upright, compact	Glossy green with bronze new growth	Tight side gardens and narrow boundary lines needing compact dense privacy.
Cupressus leylandii 'Leighton Green' Leighton Green Cypress	8 to 12m (can be pruned to desired height)	3 to 4m	Upright, conical	Dense, dark green, fine textured	Tall fast traditional boundary privacy screening on larger properties.
Tristaniopsis laurina 'Luscious' Luscious Water Gum	5 to 8m (can be pruned to desired height)	3 to 4m	Upright dense	Shiny green with copper-toned new growth	Native privacy screens for suburban gardens and contemporary boundary lines
Podocarpus elatus Brown Pine / Plum Pine	6 to 10m (can be pruned to desired height)	3 to 4m	Upright naturally tidy	Soft dark green needle-like	Native privacy boundaries wanting conifer density with Australian heritage

How to plant and care for them

Best time to plant

Autumn and spring are the strongest windows. Autumn planting lets roots establish through cool conditions ahead of summer heat. Spring planting also works well - just water consistently as soil warms.

Spacing for a hedge

Use the 1m rule of thumb between plants. This gives a dense, even hedge as growth fills in over the first 12 to 18 months. The 1m rule applies across all five species in this guide.

Root barriers near pools and services

Ficus hillii in particular benefits from a commercial root barrier (geocomposite or HDPE, 600mm minimum depth) installed at planting time between the hedge line and any pool plumbing, paving, or building foundations. Standard practice for any Ficus hedge near hardscape.

Soil preparation

Improve the planting hole with quality compost and well-rotted manure if your soil is heavy clay or very sandy. Mulch generously after planting to retain moisture and keep roots cool through the first summer.

Watering through establishment

Water deeply two to three times a week for the first eight weeks. Morning and evening watering through the warmer months helps plants settle in. After establishment, switch to deep weekly watering. The hedge is largely self-sustaining after year two.

Light pruning to maintain shape

One to two light trims a year keeps the hedge dense and the formal line clean. Light clip after the spring growth flush and an optional tidy in late summer. Avoid hard pruning in autumn or winter.

The wrap up

Privacy hedging splits cleanly along three lines — speed, form and origin. Ficus hillii and Cupressus 'Leighton Green' win on speed. Magnolia 'Teddy Bear' and Laurus 'Miles Choice' carry the formal feature look. Tristaniopsis 'Luscious' and Podocarpus elatus are the native picks when you want density without an imported species.

Whichever species you choose, plant at 1m spacing for a dense privacy face, water deeply through the first eight weeks, and trim lightly to shape rather than hard back. Every tree here can be pruned to a desired height — your boundary, your call.