As a homeowner, you take your privacy seriously. You want your yards and gardens to be your own little oasis, a place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One solution is to plant privacy shrubs. Shrubs provide you with the seclusion you crave, but they’ll also add beauty and interest to your landscape. Let’s look at privacy shrubs Georgia.
Georgia USDA Hardness Zone
When choosing privacy shrubs for your garden, it’s important to consider the mature size of the plants. You don’t want to end up with shrubs that are too large for your available space.
Likewise, you don’t want plants that will take years to reach their full size. The best privacy shrubs for Georgia gardens will reach their mature size within a few years.
Georgia is in USDA hardiness zones 6-9. The state experiences relatively mild winters and hot, humid summers. When selecting privacy shrubs for your Georgia garden, choose varieties well suited to the state’s climate.
Best Shrubs for Privacy in Georgia
When planting for privacy, it is important to consider your garden’s needs. Many gardens are plagued by deer, rabbits, and other pests in Georgia. You can keep these pests out of your garden by planting a privacy hedge and enjoying your privacy.
Many different types of shrubs can be used for privacy hedges in Georgia. Some of the most popular include:
1. Viburnum Species
Viburnum is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub that can reach 6-10 feet when mature. The most common viburnum include arrowwood viburnum, Shasta Viburnum, Korean Spice Viburnum, and the Chinese Snowball Viburnum.
They produce white flowers in early spring through June, followed by dark blueberries in the fall. Viburnum is native to temperate and subtropical Eurasia and North America and is very adaptable to various growing conditions.
Viburnum growing conditions
Light requirement: Needs at least 4-5 hours of sunlight
Water requirement: Average except for when it’s newly planted and during drought conditions
Soil type: Prefers slightly acidic, well-drained, moist soil
USDA hardiness zones: 2 to 9
2. Camellias
Camellias are a type of evergreen shrub that is native to North America. They can reach heights of 25 feet, but they can reach 6 to 12 feet, depending on the variety.
Some of the most popular varieties include the sasanqua camellia, which blooms from September to December, and the japonica camellia, which blooms from October and finish in mid-March. These shrubs provide colorful blooms in many red, pink, and white shades.
Camellias growing conditions
Light requirement: Dappled or full shade
Water requirement: Prefers moist, well-drained soil
Soil type: Acid or ericaceous soil, and a pH of 5.5-6.5
USDA hardiness zones: 6-9
3. Calycanthus floridus or Sweet Shrub (also called Carolina Allspice)
Calycanthus floridus is a fast-growing shrub that can reach heights of 6 to 9 feet. It is native to the Appalachians south of New England and blooms in early spring with fragrant, red flowers that are described as combining hints of strawberry, pineapple, and banana.
People enjoy this Shrub for its unique flowers and its ability to attract pollinators to the garden. The fruits that follow the bloom are edible and have a cinnamon-like flavor.
Sweet Shrub growing conditions
Light requirement: Prefers full sun to deep shade
Water requirement: Water regularly, but don’t overwater
Soil type: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
USDA hardiness zones: 4-9
4. Ligustrum
Also known as Privet, Ligustrum is a type of evergreen shrub that can reach 8 to 12 feet. They create tall, dense privacy hedges and are very popular in the southern United States.
Ligustrum is a fast-growing shrub and is relatively easy to care for. It can be pruned to create a variety of shapes and sizes. These shrubs are also tolerant of a wide range of soil and growing conditions.
Ligustrum growing conditions
Light requirement: Needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day
Water requirement: Water every 10-14 days and increase frequency as need be during drought conditions
Soil requirement: Prefers moist, well-drained soil
USDA hardiness zones: 7 – 10
5. Little Gem Magnolia
The Little Gem Magnolia is a deciduous shrub that can reach heights of 15–20 and 7–10 wide. This Shrub provides all the charm of a southern Magnolia with a more manageable size. It blooms in the spring with large, white flowers that are very fragrant.
The Little Gem Magnolia is native to North Carolina in the U.S.A and is very adaptable to a variety of soil types and growing conditions. They are a slow grower but are worth the wait for their beauty and fragrance.
Little Gem Magnolia growing conditions
Light requirement: Prefers partial shade to full sun
Water requirement: Water young plants deeply 3 times per week and 1 to 2 times per week for mature plants
Soil requirement: Prefers moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH
USDA hardiness zones: 6- 10
Related Article: Tall Ornamental Grasses For Privacy