Best South Florida Privacy Hedges
If you want some natural privacy in your yard, a hedge is a great solution. Luckily, there are a variety of plants that thrive in South Florida. These are not the only ones available, and not all hedges do well in every yard. We suggest when planting Florida privacy hedges that you consult a professional. We can help you with sunlight and placement. Soil PH and salt tolerance as well. You certainly don’t want to plant the wrong hedge and struggle with them for years. Here are 7 of our favorites!
Arborvitae
Height: 40-60 inches tall
Growth rate: 1-2 feet annually
Soil needed: Well-drained, nutrient-rich
Sunlight: Full sun, but will still grow in partial sunlight
Water: Once per week
Arborvitae is excellent for hedges because they grow very uniformly. They grow into tall, thin cones that are lush to help you maintain privacy. The Arborvitae is an evergreen and is very easy to maintain as South Florida privacy hedges.
Areca Palm
Height: 12-30 feet tall
Growth rate: 6 to 10 inches per year
Soil needed: Moist, well-drained
Sunlight: Full to partial sun
Water: Maintain moist soil
The Areca Palm is a very low-maintenance palm tree. As long as it is kept in the sun, they are easy to grow in your yard.
Bay Laurel
Height: 10-60 feet tall, but are generally pruned to 4-6 feet tall
Growth rate: 2-4 inches per year
Soil needed: Nutrient-rich soil. Fertilize your Bay monthly
Sunlight: Full to partial sun
Water: Water regularly, but wait for the soil to dry between watering
Bay Laurels are easy outdoor plants to care for as long as they are planted in a warm climate. They can live up to 50 years and grow very high. Because they grow so high, it is important to prune them to your desired height.
Clusia
Height: 60 feet tall, but are generally pruned to a smaller height
Growth rate: Up to 12 inches per year
Soil needed: Fertile soil with a lot of drainage
Sunlight: Full sunlight
Water: Water regularly, about twice per week
Clusia is a fast-growing hedge plant that thrives in warm, sunny climates like South Florida. They are very low maintenance, and although they love a lot of water, they are very drought tolerant. Clusia makes great privacy hedges because they grow very thick and wide and grow very tall.
Cherry Hedge (Eugenia Hedge)
Height: 8-20 feet tall, but are generally pruned to a smaller height
Growth rate: Up to 4 feet per year
Soil needed: Any well-draining soil
Sunlight: Full sunlight
Water: Water often, but wait for soil to dry between watering
The Cherry Hedge or Eugenia is native to South America, thriving in a hot, humid climate. Most variants will also produce a white flower and edible cherries!
When trimming the Cherry Hedge, focus on trimming the top, which will encourage the plant to become denser from top to bottom, creating a great privacy hedge.
Gardenia
Height: 4-5 feet tall (There are Gardenia trees that grow from 8-10 feet tall)
Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
Soil needed: Acidic, moist, and well-draining soil
Sunlight: Full sunlight to partial shade. May need protection from direct afternoon sunlight.
Water: Water often, but wait for soil to dry between watering
* Gardenias are poisonous to pets and children
Make sure you love the beautiful Gardenia scent before planting a row of hedges because the scent may become overwhelming for some. They also can be challenging to maintain for those without a green thumb, but once you figure out how to best care for them, they are absolutely worth it.
If your Florida privacy hedges are near the beach, you may want to opt for another plant as Gardenias are very salt sensitive. They also do not do well near concrete due to the changes in soil pH near concrete.
Walter’s Viburnum
Height: 10-15 feet tall
Growth rate: Up to 12 inches per year
Soil needed: Moist to wet soil. Can use sandy, clay or calcareous soils.
Sunlight: Full shade to full sunlight
Water: Water enough to keep soil moist
Walter’s Viburnum is native only to the Southeast and thrives in South Florida, which is probably why it is one of the lowest maintenance plants on this list. It is a very dense flowering hedge plant. Its white flowers even attract butterflies in the Spring. They are frequently compared to boxwoods because they have similar characteristics. However, Walter’s Viburnum grows much better in Southern Florida.
We look forward to helping you beautify your property with Florida privacy hedges. Give us a call or complete our online form for a free estimate. We also do hardscapes, sod, tree planting and removal. We are centrally located in Punta Gorda and serve all of Southwest Florida.
