Fast-Growing Privacy Trees for Oregon: Ranked by Growth Rate (and Top Landscape Tips)
When a new neighbor's second-story window looks straight into your backyard, you don't want to hear that privacy is a ten-year project. You want a screen, and you want it fast. At The Nursery Outlet, "what's the fastest-growing privacy tree?" is the single most common question we field—especially from homeowners in growing Willamette Valley neighborhoods where lots keep getting closer together.
In Oregon, the smart move is picking a tree that grows quickly and holds up to Pacific Northwest conditions for decades. This guide ranks your real options by annual growth rate—starting with Oregon's #1 best-selling privacy tree—tells you exactly how far apart to space them, and helps you pick the perfect fit for your lot.
If you're weighing privacy against wind protection, or want the full regional breakdown, start with our companion guide on the best privacy trees in Oregon. This article zooms in on one thing: speed.
What "Fast-Growing" Actually Means in Oregon
Growth rate is usually described in feet of height gained per year. Our cool, wet springs and mild summers in western Oregon provide optimal growing conditions for fast-growing evergreen screening trees.
There's also a trade-off worth planning for: the faster a tree grows, the bigger it usually gets. A screen that races up 3 to 5 feet a year rarely stops at a tidy 12 feet. It keeps going to 30, 40, or 50 feet, which is wonderful along a back property line. Matching the tree's mature size to your space matters just as much as how quickly it fills in.
Finally, spacing is key. Plant too far apart and you wait longer for the gaps to close. Plant too tight and you crowd the roots. The spacing numbers below are the field-tested figures that produce a solid, healthy screen in Oregon.
Fast-Growing Privacy Trees, Ranked by Growth Rate
Here are the evergreens that give Oregon homeowners the most privacy per year, ordered by annual growth rate.
1. Leyland Cypress — 3 to 4 feet per year (⭐ Oregon's #1 Best-Seller)
Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) is hands-down the #1 best-selling privacy tree at The Nursery Outlet for Oregon homeowners and landscapers. If rapid height and lush, full screening are your top priorities, Leyland Cypress delivers unbeatable performance.
Growing 3 to 4 feet per year, its thick, year-round evergreen foliage and soft, feathery sprays block wind, dust, and unwanted views all 12 months of the year. It adapts well across the Willamette Valley, coastal breezes, and varied Pacific Northwest soils. Plant Leyland Cypress 5 to 7 feet apart for a dense, continuous privacy wall.
2. 'Green Giant' Arborvitae — 3 to 5 feet per year
If raw height and rapid growth are needed for large boundaries, 'Green Giant' is a top performer. This vigorous hybrid of Western Red Cedar and Japanese Arborvitae adds 3 to 5 feet of height in good growing conditions and stays dense from the ground up.
Mature specimens reach 40 to 60 feet tall and 12 to 18 feet wide, making it great for spacious property lines. Its aromatic foliage is also one that deer consistently leave alone. Space 'Green Giant' 6 to 8 feet apart for a solid screen.
3. 'Excelsa' Western Red Cedar — 2 to 3 feet per year
For homeowners who want a fast, disease-resistant screen with a classic Pacific Northwest look, 'Excelsa' is a standout cultivar of our native Western Red Cedar. It gains 2 to 3 feet per year, matures around 30 to 40 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, and holds a rich green color through winter. Space 'Excelsa' 8 to 10 feet apart.
4. Western Red Cedar (Native) — 2 to 3 feet per year
The straight species, Thuja plicata, is a Pacific Northwest icon. Given the moisture it loves, it grows 2 to 3 feet per year and eventually becomes a stately 40 to 60+ foot tree—ideal for large properties, acreage, and back windbreaks. Space 6 to 10 feet apart.
5. 'Virescens' Western Red Cedar — 1 to 2 feet per year
When your side yard can't accommodate a wide tree, 'Virescens' is the answer. This narrow, upright cultivar grows 1 to 2 feet per year and stays slim (4 to 6 feet wide), making a beautiful mid-sized hedge that fits tight spaces. Space 'Virescens' 3 to 5 feet apart.
6. 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae — about 1 foot per year
'Emerald Green' is perfect for tight lot lines and property borders where space is limited. Topping out around 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, it's naturally compact, needs minimal pruning, and stays bright green year-round. Plant 2 to 3 feet apart for a tight, tidy wall.
Growth Rate & Spacing at a Glance
Use this chart to match speed, mature size, and spacing to your space before you buy.
| Tree | Growth/Year | Mature Size (H × W) | Spacing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leyland Cypress (⭐ #1 Best-Seller) | 3–4 ft | 30–50 ft × 10–15 ft | 5–7 ft | Fastest thick evergreen privacy wall |
| 'Green Giant' Arborvitae | 3–5 ft | 40–60 ft × 12–18 ft | 6–8 ft | Fast, tall screens; deer country |
| 'Excelsa' Western Red Cedar | 2–3 ft | 30–40 ft × 10–15 ft | 8–10 ft | Disease-resistant classic PNW look |
| Western Red Cedar (native) | 2–3 ft | 40–60+ ft × 15–25 ft | 6–10 ft | Acreage, windbreaks, long-term |
| 'Virescens' Western Red Cedar | 1–2 ft | 15–20 ft × 4–6 ft | 3–5 ft | Narrow side yards; mid-size hedge |
| 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae | ~1 ft | 10–15 ft × 3–4 ft | 2–3 ft | Tight borders, fences, between homes |
How to Get the Fastest Screen from Any Tree
The species sets the ceiling, but how you plant and care for your trees decides whether you hit it. A few field-tested moves that get you to full privacy sooner:
Buy a size up—but not too big. Starting with a 5- to 7-foot tree instead of a 2-footer buys you two or three years of instant height. Container-grown nursery stock establishes quickly when planted with root-flare at soil level.
Plant at the right time. Fall is ideal in Oregon. Roots keep growing through our mild, wet winter while the top is dormant, so the tree hits spring already anchored and ready to push growth. Spring planting works great too—just keep up with watering through the first summer. Our fall planting guide walks through the whole process.
Water deeply the first two years. Nothing speeds up a young screen like deep, consistent hydration. Deep soaking during dry summer months encourages the deep root systems that fuel fast top growth.
Mulch generously. A 2-to-4-inch ring of bark or compost mulch (kept a few inches off the trunk) conserves moisture and suppresses weeds that compete for nutrients.
Which Fast-Growing Tree Is Right for You?
Match the tree to the problem you're actually solving:
"I need maximum speed and thick year-round privacy." Plant Leyland Cypress, 5 to 7 feet apart. It's Oregon's #1 best-seller for fast, dense privacy walls.
"I have large acreage and need a tall boundary screen." Plant 'Green Giant' Arborvitae or native Western Red Cedar.
"My side yard is narrow but I still want height." Go with 'Virescens' Western Red Cedar or a tight row of 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae.
"I'm between two close houses on a small lot." 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae, 2 to 3 feet apart, is the tidy, low-maintenance answer.
"Deer eat everything I plant." Choose 'Green Giant' or Leyland Cypress—deer reliably pass them by.
Get Your Privacy Screen Started at The Nursery Outlet
At The Nursery Outlet, we're a wholesale and retail nursery open to the public in Woodburn, Oregon—right in the heart of the Willamette Valley. We stock Oregon's #1 best-selling Leyland Cypress along with all top-performing privacy trees in a wide range of sizes so you can start your screen tall. Our knowledgeable staff can walk your spacing, help you match a species to your Oregon hardiness zone and lot size, and provide direct nursery pricing.
Visit us in Woodburn, OR or call for current live inventory and pricing. We also offer plant delivery within 40 miles. Tell us what you're screening out—we'll tell you exactly what to plant and how far apart.
Additional Resources
- What's a Fast-Growing Tree for a Privacy Screen? – OSU Extension
- How to Plant and Care for Arborvitae Hedges in Oregon – OSU Extension
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Best Privacy Trees in Oregon for Seclusion & Wind Protection – The Nursery Outlet
- Fall Planting of Trees and Shrubs in Oregon – The Nursery Outlet