13 Privacy Trees That Stay Green All Winter

Posted by TJ Hopkins on Aug 5th 2026

13 Privacy Trees That Stay Green All Winter

If you're looking for year-round privacy, evergreen trees are one of the best investments you can make for your landscape. Unlike deciduous trees that lose their leaves each fall, evergreen privacy trees keep their foliage throughout the winter, providing a natural screen against neighbors, roads, wind, and noise. Many also add beauty, wildlife habitat, and property value.

Here are 13 of the best privacy trees that stay green all winter.

1. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata)

Green Giant Arborvitae is one of the most popular privacy trees because it grows quickly and requires very little maintenance.

Highlights

  • Grows 3–5 feet per year
  • Mature height: 40–60 feet
  • USDA Zones: 5–8
  • Excellent for tall privacy hedges
  • Deer resistant compared to many other arborvitae varieties

2. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')

Perfect for smaller yards, Emerald Green Arborvitae forms a dense, narrow screen that stays bright green throughout the winter.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 12–15 feet
  • Width: 3–4 feet
  • USDA Zones: 3–8
  • Low maintenance
  • Ideal for property lines

3. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Leyland Cypress is one of the fastest-growing evergreen privacy trees available.

Highlights

  • Grows up to 4 feet annually
  • Mature height: 40–70 feet
  • USDA Zones: 6–10
  • Dense evergreen foliage
  • Excellent windbreak

4. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Native to much of North America, Eastern Red Cedar is hardy, drought tolerant, and attractive year-round.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 30–50 feet
  • USDA Zones: 2–9
  • Produces blue berries for birds
  • Excellent winter color
  • Very adaptable

5. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Norway Spruce develops dense branches that provide outstanding privacy and shelter from wind.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 40–60 feet
  • USDA Zones: 3–7
  • Fast-growing
  • Dark green needles
  • Long-lived tree

6. White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Eastern White Pine is a beautiful native evergreen with soft blue-green needles.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 50–80 feet
  • USDA Zones: 3–8
  • Fast-growing
  • Excellent natural screen
  • Wildlife-friendly

7. American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American Holly combines glossy evergreen leaves with bright red berries that brighten winter landscapes.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 15–30 feet
  • USDA Zones: 5–9
  • Attracts birds
  • Decorative winter berries
  • Excellent specimen or hedge

8. Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Known for its striking blue needles, Colorado Blue Spruce offers both beauty and privacy.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 30–60 feet
  • USDA Zones: 2–7
  • Excellent winter color
  • Dense branching
  • Very cold hardy

9. Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)

Also called Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria grows into an elegant evergreen privacy tree with soft foliage.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 30–50 feet
  • USDA Zones: 5–9
  • Moderate to fast growth
  • Soft, feathery appearance
  • Excellent screening tree

10. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

In warmer climates, Southern Magnolia offers glossy evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 40–80 feet
  • USDA Zones: 6–10
  • Large fragrant blooms
  • Evergreen foliage
  • Attractive year-round

11. Nellie R. Stevens Holly

This fast-growing holly forms a dense hedge with shiny green leaves and colorful red berries.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 15–25 feet
  • USDA Zones: 6–9
  • Fast-growing
  • Excellent hedge plant
  • Low maintenance

12. Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara)

Deodar Cedar creates an elegant privacy screen with graceful branches and soft evergreen needles.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 40–70 feet
  • USDA Zones: 7–9
  • Drought tolerant once established
  • Attractive pyramidal shape
  • Great focal point

13. Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

Canadian Hemlock is one of the finest evergreen trees for formal privacy hedges and natural screens.

Highlights

  • Mature height: 40–70 feet
  • USDA Zones: 3–7
  • Dense foliage
  • Tolerates partial shade
  • Excellent for trimming into hedges

Tips for Planting Privacy Trees

For the best results, follow these planting tips:

  • Plant trees according to their mature width to avoid overcrowding.
  • Water regularly during the first two growing seasons.
  • Apply mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
  • Avoid planting too close to buildings, fences, or utility lines.
  • Fertilize in early spring if needed, following soil test recommendations.
  • Prune only to remove damaged or dead branches unless growing a formal hedge.

Benefits of Evergreen Privacy Trees

Evergreen privacy trees provide much more than a visual barrier. They can:

  • Block unwanted views year-round.
  • Reduce road noise and wind.
  • Increase property value.
  • Provide shelter and nesting sites for birds.
  • Improve energy efficiency by reducing winter winds.
  • Create a beautiful green backdrop in every season.

Final Thoughts

Evergreen privacy trees are one of the best long-term landscaping investments you can make. Whether you need a fast-growing screen like Green Giant Arborvitae or Leyland Cypress, or prefer the classic beauty of Norway Spruce, American Holly, or Canadian Hemlock, these trees will provide lasting privacy and year-round color.

Choose species suited to your climate, give them proper spacing and care, and you'll enjoy a lush, green privacy screen for decades.