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Planting shrubs along a fence line can serve multiple purposes, from increasing privacy to creating a beautiful garden boundary. Fence line shrubs can be evergreen or deciduous, and they range from compact varieties to taller, more substantial plants. The best shrubs for this purpose typically tolerate a variety of light conditions, as fence lines may receive full sun, partial shade, or even full shade depending on their orientation and surrounding structures.
When selecting shrubs for a fence line, it’s important to consider factors such as mature size, growth rate, maintenance requirements, and compatibility with your local climate. Some shrubs may require regular pruning to maintain their shape and size, while others are more naturally suited to linear planting.
This article presents 12 of the best shrubs for fence lines, each chosen for its ability to thrive in various conditions while providing effective screening, visual interest, or both along your property boundary.
Boxwood
Boxwood shrubs are low-maintenance, evergreen plants suitable for year-round landscaping. Best planted in spring or fall, they prefer well-drained soil and partial to full sun. Generally disease-resistant, boxwoods may occasionally face issues like boxwood blight.
Their dense, small leaves remain green throughout the year, with slight bronzing in winter. Popular varieties include ‘Green Velvet’ for its compact form, ‘Winter Gem’ for cold hardiness, and ‘Variegata’ for its green and cream foliage.
Privet
Privet, a fast-growing hedge plant, requires regular pruning to maintain shape and density. Best planted in spring or fall, it adapts well to various soil types. While generally hardy, privet can be susceptible to leaf spot and scale insects. The plant displays small white flowers in summer and dark berries in fall, with leaves typically remaining green year-round in warmer climates.
Common varieties include Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet), Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet), and Ligustrum vulgare (European privet), each offering slightly different growth habits and leaf characteristics.
Holly
Holly trees are low-maintenance, preferring acidic soil and partial to full sun. Best planted in spring or fall, they generally show good resistance to pests and diseases. Evergreen varieties maintain glossy green leaves year-round, while deciduous types display fall color changes.
Female plants produce bright red berries in winter if a male pollinator is nearby. Popular varieties include ‘Blue Princess’, ‘China Girl’, and ‘Red Beauty’, each offering unique leaf shapes and berry production. Hollies serve well as privacy screens or focal points in landscapes.
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush requires regular pruning to maintain shape and encourage blooming. Best planted in spring after frost risk passes, it generally exhibits good resistance to pests and diseases. Foliage remains green throughout growing season, with long, fragrant flower spikes appearing in summer through fall in shades of purple, pink, white, or blue.
Popular varieties include ‘Black Knight’ with deep purple blooms, ‘Pink Delight’ featuring rosy-pink flowers, and ‘White Profusion’ boasting pure white clusters.
Arborvitae
Arborvitae trees require low maintenance, preferring full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They can be planted in spring or early fall. These evergreens generally show good resistance to pests and diseases. While they maintain green foliage year-round, some varieties may display bronze tones in winter.
Popular cultivars include ‘Green Giant’, known for rapid growth and dense foliage, and ‘Emerald Green’, prized for its compact form and deep green color. ‘Techny’ offers excellent cold hardiness and retains its color well in winter.
Forsythia
Forsythia, a low-maintenance shrub, is best planted in spring or fall. It exhibits strong disease resistance when grown in well-drained soil and full sun. Known for its early spring display of bright yellow flowers on bare branches, forsythia’s leaves emerge green after blooming and may turn purplish in fall.
Popular varieties include ‘Lynwood Gold’ with its profuse blooms, ‘Golden Bells’ for its compact size, and ‘Northern Gold’ for improved cold hardiness. Pruning after flowering helps maintain shape and promote vigorous growth.
Rose of Sharon
Rose of Sharon, a hardy deciduous shrub, requires minimal pruning and tolerates various soil types. Best planted in spring or fall, it shows moderate disease resistance, though may suffer from fungal issues in humid climates. The plant displays green foliage in summer, followed by large, showy flowers in white, pink, purple, or blue from mid-summer to fall.
Popular varieties include ‘Blue Chiffon’ with double blue flowers, ‘Red Heart’ featuring white blooms with red centers, and ‘Sugar Tip’ with variegated leaves and pink double flowers.
Azalea
Azaleas are low-maintenance shrubs best planted in spring or fall in acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade. They show moderate disease resistance but can be susceptible to root rot in overly wet conditions. Azaleas bloom in spring with flowers in white, pink, red, or purple, and some varieties offer evergreen foliage.
‘Encore’ series for reblooming, ‘Gumpo’ for compact growth, and ‘Formosa’ for large flowers are popular cultivars. To maintain the shape and encourage new growth, the plant must be pruned back after flowering.
Yew
Yew trees are low-maintenance, evergreen conifers best planted in spring or fall. They exhibit good disease resistance when grown in well-drained soil. Yews maintain dark green needles year-round, with new growth appearing lighter in spring. Female plants produce red berries in autumn.
Common varieties include the upright ‘Hicksii’, the spreading ‘Densiformis’, and the columnar ‘Fastigiata’. Yews tolerate heavy pruning, making them suitable for hedges and topiary. Caution: all parts of the plant, except the berry flesh, are toxic if ingested.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are low-maintenance shrubs best planted in spring or fall. They prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. While generally hardy, they can be susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew. Hydrangeas offer color changes throughout the season, with blooms typically appearing in summer and lasting into fall.
Flower colors range from pink to blue, depending on soil pH. Popular varieties include ‘Endless Summer’, known for reblooming, and ‘Annabelle’, featuring large white flowers. Some cultivars also provide attractive fall foliage.
Spirea
Spirea, a low-maintenance shrub, thrives when planted in spring or fall. It shows good resistance to most diseases and pests. The plant undergoes notable seasonal changes, with white or pink flowers blooming in spring or summer, followed by green or gold foliage that often turns red or orange in autumn. Popular varieties include ‘Goldflame’ with its pink flowers and gold-to-bronze leaves, ‘Little Princess’ for compact growth, and ‘Bridal Wreath’ featuring cascading white blooms. Pruning after flowering maintains shape and promotes healthy growth.
Rhododendron
Rhododendrons prefer acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade. Plant in spring or early fall for best results. While generally hardy, they can be susceptible to root rot in poorly drained areas. These shrubs offer year-round interest, with evergreen foliage and showy flower clusters in spring, ranging from white to pink, red, or purple.
Popular varieties are ‘Nova Zembla’ with its bright red blooms, ‘Catawbiense Album’ featuring white flowers, and ‘PJM’ known for its compact size and purple flowers.