Plants for Screening & Privacy


Screening and privacy plants for UK gardens. Fast-growing, evergreen and semi-evergreen species that hide a fence, block a view or soften a boundary, from clumping bamboo to tall ornamental grasses.

50 products

    50 products
    Gynostemma pentaphyllum 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Jiaogulan (Sweet Tea Vine)

    Gynostemma pentaphyllum

    £15.99
    1
    Fargesia rufa Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Clumping Bamboo

    Fargesia rufa

    £22.99£28.99Save 20%
    1
    Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Wisteria 'Prolific' (Blue Wisteria)

    Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'

    £30.99
    1
    Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon' 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Double Black Dragon Japanese Wisteria ('Yae-kokuryu')

    Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon'

    £31.99
    1
    Miscanthus x giganteus Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Miscanthus, Elephant Grass

    Miscanthus x giganteus

    £13.99
    1
    Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Star Jasmine (Winter Ruby)

    Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby'

    £16.99£18.99Save 10%
    1
    Miscanthus sinensis Strictus 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Porcupine Grass

    Miscanthus sinensis Strictus

    £12.99
    1
    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    False Spiraea

    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'

    £14.99£18.99Save 21%
    1
    Hydrangea hydrangeoides var. hydrangeoides 'Roseum' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pink Japanese hydrangea vine

    Hydrangea hydrangeoides var. hydrangeoides 'Roseum'

    £21.79£25.99Save 16%
    1
    Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Sweet Box

    Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

    £15.99£19.99Save 20%
    1
    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Golden Kiwi

    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi)

    £19.29£19.99
    1
    Hardenbergia violacea Rosea Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Native Lilac (Purple Coral Pea)

    Hardenbergia violacea Rosea

    £7.99£9.99Save 20%
    1
    Aristolochia macrophylla 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dutchman's Pipe

    Aristolochia macrophylla

    £28.99
    1
    Fargesia 'Red Dragon' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Clumping Bamboo

    Fargesia 'Red Dragon'

    £18.99
    1
    Fuchsia 'Lady Boothby' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Climbing Hardy Fuchsia

    Fuchsia 'Lady Boothby'

    £7.99
    1
    Sarcococca saligna (Willow-leaf Sweet Box) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Willow-leaf Sweet Box

    Sarcococca saligna (Willow-leaf Sweet Box)

    £18.29£22.99Save 20%
    1
    Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Eliott' 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    White passion flower

    Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Eliott'

    £12.49£14.99Save 16%
    1
    Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple Passion Fruit

    Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit)

    £17.99£18.99Save 5%
    1
    Magnolia laevifolia 'Honey Velvet' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Fairy Magnolia 'Honey Velvet'

    Magnolia laevifolia 'Honey Velvet'

    £24.99
    1
    Hydrangea anomala subsp. glabra 'Crûg Coral' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Climbing hydrangea 'Crûg Coral'

    Hydrangea anomala subsp. glabra 'Crûg Coral'

    £18.49£21.99Save 15%
    1
    Akebia quinata | Chocolate Vine 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Chocolate Vine (Five-leaf Akebia)

    Akebia quinata | Chocolate Vine

    £17.99£19.99Save 10%
    1
    Griselinia littoralis 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Kapuka (New Zealand Broadleaf)

    Griselinia littoralis

    £6.99
    1
    Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Climbing Hydrangea

    Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

    £25.49£31.99Save 20%
    1
    Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris 'Flying Saucer' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Climbing hydrangea 'Flying Saucer'

    Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris 'Flying Saucer'

    £21.79£25.99Save 16%
    1
    Hydrangea hydrangeoides f. concolor 'Moonlight' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Japanese hydrangea vine 'Moonlight'

    Hydrangea hydrangeoides f. concolor 'Moonlight'

    £25.99
    1
    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Hardy orange

    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata

    £30.49£35.99Save 15%
    1
    Passiflora caerulea 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Blue Passion Flower

    Passiflora caerulea

    £14.29£14.99
    1
    Wisteria floribunda 'Alba' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    White Japanese Wisteria

    Wisteria floribunda 'Alba'

    £25.49£31.99Save 20%
    1
    Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Banana shrub

    Magnolia figo 'Stellar Ruby'

    £40.29£49.99Save 19%
    1
    Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dragon Gate Sweet Box

    Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'

    £15.99£19.99Save 20%
    1
    Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Stem' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Purple Stem Sweet Box

    Sarcococca hookeriana 'Purple Stem'

    £17.49£21.99Save 20%
    1
    Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Star of Milano' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Star Jasmine (Variegated)

    Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Star of Milano'

    £24.79£30.99Save 20%
    1
    Acacia longifolia 19cm / 3L (Collection Only) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Sydney Golden Wattle (Long-leaved Wattle)

    Acacia longifolia

    £15.99£19.99Save 20%
    1
    Fargesia 'Jiuzhaigou' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Red Panda Bamboo

    Fargesia 'Jiuzhaigou'

    £44.29£54.99Save 19%
    1
    Olearia traversii Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Chatham Island Daisy Bush (Akeake)

    Olearia traversii

    £12.99£14.99Save 13%
    1
    Fargesia angustissima Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Narrow-leaved Bamboo

    Fargesia angustissima

    £44.99
    1
    Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Fragrant Sweet Box

    Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box)

    £15.99£19.99Save 20%
    1
    Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Pink Japanese Wisteria ('Hon-beni')

    Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'

    £30.99
    1
    Frangula alnus 'Fine Line' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Fine Line Buckthorn

    Frangula alnus 'Fine Line'

    £83.29£99.99Save 16%
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Screening Plants

    What are the best screening plants?

    For most UK gardens, clumping bamboo is the single best screening plant. Fargesia species reach 2 to 3 metres with dense, evergreen foliage that moves gently in wind, and unlike running bamboos they never invade the rest of the garden. Tall ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus give summer-only screening with autumn interest. Evergreen shrubs and hardy palms fill out the year-round mix. For the fastest results, plant screening in a staggered line 60 to 100 cm apart. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for screening plants

    • Position: Full sun to partial shade. Match the species to the aspect of the boundary you are screening.
    • Spacing: Plant clumping bamboo 80 to 100 cm apart in a single line, or 60 to 80 cm apart in a staggered double row for faster density.
    • Soil: Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained. Enrich the planting trench with compost and water in generously.
    • Hardiness: Screening bamboos stocked here are RHS H6. Individual product pages carry the specific rating.
    • Establishment: Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers. Screening reaches useful density in years three to four; final height typically in years five to seven.

    Explore the screening range

    Combine screening with hardy bamboo, hardy climbers for vertical coverage, and architectural foliage for accent specimens. See the wider Hardy Exotics range for pairings.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Bamboo is one of the best, growing tall and evergreen for fast, year-round screening, alongside tall ornamental grasses and dense evergreen plants. This collection brings together hardy plants that all screen well in UK gardens.

    Bamboo is among the fastest, putting up tall canes quickly to screen a view or fence. For a row of pots on a balcony or terrace it is hard to beat, giving height and evergreen cover in a season or two.

    Yes, a row of screening plants in large containers makes an excellent privacy screen for a balcony, roof terrace or patio. Bamboo and tall grasses work especially well, and pots also keep vigorous plants neatly contained.

    Choose evergreen screening plants, such as many bamboos, and they keep their leaves and screening power right through winter. Deciduous plants thin out in the cold months, so mix in evergreens where year-round privacy matters.

    Pick a clump-forming variety, grow it in a large pot, or install a root barrier around running types. Removing any stray shoots as they appear keeps a screening bamboo exactly where you want it.

    Plants for screening and privacy

    The quickest, greenest way to gain privacy is to grow it. Screening plants put up a living wall of foliage that blocks an unwanted view, softens a hard fence and filters wind and noise, all far more beautifully than a panel of timber. This collection gathers hardy plants that screen well, led by bamboo and backed up by tall grasses and dense evergreens.

    Screening for balconies, terraces and small gardens

    You do not need a boundary border to gain privacy. A row of screening plants in pots makes an instant green divider on a balcony, roof terrace or patio, shielding a seating area or blocking an overlooking window. Bamboo in particular grows tall in a container and stays evergreen all year.

    Screening a fence or boundary

    Along a fence or boundary, screening plants give height and cover that a fence alone cannot. Evergreen types screen all year, while a mix of heights and textures looks more natural than a single clipped hedge. Most establish quickly and need little once settled.

    Planting and care

    Plant in spring in improved soil, water well for the first year or two, and mulch in spring. Choose clump-forming bamboos or contain vigorous ones in pots or with a root barrier. A little thinning of older stems each year keeps a screen looking fresh.