Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees for Your Northern Virginia Property

As Northern Virginia’s neighborhoods continue to grow, privacy is becoming a luxury. Whether you live in a tightly packed area like Arlington, where homes sit close together, or in a more spacious community like Fairfax Station, where you want to enhance your landscape’s natural beauty, the right trees can make all the difference. Fast-growing evergreens provide year-round coverage, reducing noise, blocking unwanted views, and adding a lush, natural border to your yard.

Key Takeaways:

• The ‘Green Giant’ is the fastest-growing option of our four recommended rapidly growing evergreens, with a growth rate of three feet per year.
• Fast-growing evergreens can serve multiple purposes beyond privacy, including increasing property value, blocking unsightly views, and providing wildlife habitat in the case of American holly.
• Each of these evergreen species has specific planting requirements and potential drawbacks – such as salt sensitivity in arborvitae, urban pollution intolerance in cryptomeria, and irregular growth patterns in Virginia pine.
• Despite being labeled as “fast-growing,” these trees still require 5-7 years to create effective privacy screens, and proper planning is essential regarding placement, soil conditions, and maintenance requirements.

4 Best Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees for Privacy and Aesthetics

Rapidly growing trees can serve numerous purposes for your Northern Virginia yard, such as:

• Create Privacy: Trees can act as natural fences and barricades to give you privacy from your neighbors. This is perfect for homeowners in areas like Arlington and Alexandria, where properties can be close together.
• Block Line of Sight: Quick-growing trees can block your sight of any eyesores or places you don’t want to look at, such as roads or utility lines.
• Better Aesthetics and Property Value: Planting a fast-growing evergreen tree on your property will increase its curb appeal and value. This is especially crucial for homeowners in more rural areas like Fairfax Station or McLean, where aesthetics are vital.

PRO TIP: There are pros and cons to fast-growing trees. Before planting, take a look at Fairfax County’s tree planting guide to ensure you use appropriate techniques.

‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’)

The ‘Green Giant’ is an exceptional landscape tree for use as a screen, hedge, or standout specimen tree. It adds about 3 feet of height per year, reaching up to 60 feet at full maturity, and typically lives 40 to 60 years in the home landscape if well cared for.

A hybrid of western redcedar and Japanese arborvitae, the ‘Green Giant’ features dense, rich green foliage and branches that extend close to the ground. It naturally maintains a pyramidal shape, requiring only minimal pruning when grown as a single specimen.

This evergreen is a great choice for windbreaks and large hedges. Young plants can be trimmed into privacy screens, but they require regular pruning every year or two to maintain their shape. Avoid hard pruning (cutting back to older wood), as the foliage won’t regenerate on older branches.

Why Choose ‘Green Giant’?

• Resistant to Pests & Disease: A hardy alternative to Leland cypress.
• Low-Maintenance Shape: Naturally forms a columnar structure.
• Fast Growth: Quickly creates a lush, private screen.

How to Plant for Maximum Privacy

• Single Row: A row of 5–6 ‘Green Giants’ creates a natural fence to separate properties.
• Two Staggered Rows: If you need extra noise reduction, especially in urban areas like Fairfax, plant two staggered rows about 10 feet apart.

PRO TIP: Arborvitae are sensitive to salt. Avoid planting near a driveway or road as salt spray damage may be an issue. Inspect these trees each spring for any signs of winter damage.

‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae Fast Facts

• Height: 30-60 ft
• Width: 10-20 ft
• Sun: Full sun (6 or more hours daily) to partial shade (4-6 hours daily)
• Planting Requirements: The ‘Green Giant’ is large! Don’t plant it under power lines, soffits, or any place that may limit its growth. It is sensitive to salt but otherwise grows in almost any type of soil. It favors moist soil conditions; it will do best with regular irrigation and a protective layer of mulch.

Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)

Cryptomeria, also known as Japanese cedar or Japanese redwood, is a fast-growing evergreen that adds unique texture and beauty to any landscape. It grows 2 to 3 feet per year and, while it can reach over 200 feet in its native Japan, it stays much smaller in our climate.

This tree features soft, bluish-green foliage and striking reddish-brown bark that peels in strips over time, giving the trunk a distinct shaggy appearance. In Japan, it’s called “Sugi,” meaning “hair tree” because of its fine, feathery foliage.

Why Choose Cryptomeria?

• Low-Maintenance: Naturally grows in a pyramidal shape with minimal pruning.
• Long Lifespan: Can live 60 to 100 years with proper care.
• Seasonal Color Change: Needles turn bronze in winter and green again in spring.

Planting Tips & Considerations

Cryptomeria works best as a specimen tree rather than a hedge. If its lower branches obstruct walkways or gathering areas, selective pruning can help open up space while maintaining its natural beauty.

However, keep in mind that Cryptomeria is wind-pollinated and may contribute to seasonal allergies. Additionally, its foliage can cause skin irritation, so wearing gloves when handling or pruning is recommended.

PRO TIP: If you’re looking for something smaller, ‘Yoshino’ is a popular cultivar of Japanese cedar, growing to about 30-40 feet tall.

Cryptomeria Fast Facts

• Height: 50-60 feet
• Width: 20-30 feet
• Sun: Full sun (6 or more hours daily) to partial shade (4-6 hours daily)
• Planting Requirements: Cryptomeria requires well-drained acidic soil and a sheltered location (it does not thrive in dry, windy locations). It’s intolerant of urban pollution.

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American holly is native to Virginia. Its typical mature height is around 30 feet, though some specimens in the wild have grown to 40 feet. Growing 12 to 24 inches a year, this shrubby tree will quickly fill space in your landscape.

“American holly really has a traditional look: deep green foliage and those trademark bright red berries. It’s perfect as a Christmas tree, and you could even decorate it in your yard during the holiday season. It really is a great tree.” – Brad Porter, Riverbend Landscape Operations Manager

The berries are a wonderful winter food source for birds, attracting native species like yellow-bellied sapsuckers and robins to your yard. However, they will only grow on pollinated female trees. You’ll need to plant both male and female holly trees to ensure red berries.

American Holly Fast Facts

• Height: 15-40 ft
• Width: 10-20 ft
• Sun: Full sun (6 or more hours daily) to partial shade (4-6 hours daily)
• Planting Requirements: Protect hollies from winter wind (they’re prone to winter desiccation and winterburn). It grows best in well-drained, acidic soil.

Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana)

The Virginia pine is a fast-growing, hardy evergreen that reaches around 30 feet tall in cultivated areas, though it can grow up to 70 feet in the wild. With an annual growth rate of about one foot per year, it’s a great choice for adding privacy and greenery to your landscape.

Why Choose Virginia Pine for Your Property?

• Fast Growth & Low Maintenance: Grows quickly with little need for pruning.
• Excellent Privacy & Wind Protection: Dense, low-hanging branches create a natural barrier.
• Drought & Deer Resistant: Once established, it thrives with minimal water and won’t attract deer.
• No Major Pest or Disease Issues: A tough, resilient tree with minimal upkeep required.

What Does It Look Like?

• Twisting, yellow-green needles grow in pairs and add unique texture.
• Deep cinnamon-colored bark provides year-round visual interest.
• Spiny-scaled cones come in two types:
  • Pollen Cones: Small (under an inch long), circular, and reddish-brown to yellow, they release pollen in spring.
  • Seed Cones (pinecones): Woody, spiny, and 1.5 to 3 inches long, they can remain on the tree for up to five years, providing a long-term seed source for wildlife.
• Irregular shape gives it a wild, natural look – ideal for privacy but not for those who prefer a uniform tree canopy.

Because the Virginia pine is a resilient, fast-growing tree, it’s a popular and natural Christmas tree choice. A professional can prune these irregularly shaped trees into a more traditional pyramidal shape for the holiday season. In the home landscape, they can be left as-is for a more natural, open-branched look.

Virginia Pine Fast Facts

• Height: 25-40 feet, can grow to 70 feet in the wild
• Width: Trunk can reach 20 inches in diameter
• Sun: Full sun (6 hours or more daily)
• Planting Requirements: Tolerates a range of soils conditions, including poor dry soils, but prefers well-drained, sandy, acidic loam. Can grow in soil that’s too rocky or dry for other pine trees.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Evergreens

Growing and caring for evergreens, especially those with high growth rates, can feel daunting at times, so we’ve compiled a list of some common questions we get from homeowners to help them care for these trees.

What is the best time of year to plant rapidly growing evergreens in Fairfax County?

In general, in our climate, we recommend planting most trees in the fall from September to mid-October. This timing gives the trees enough time to establish their roots before the summer heat kicks in. Planting in spring is also acceptable, though you’ll have to be vigilant to watch for signs of summer heat stress.

How can I care for trees after planting them?

Some simple things you can do for your trees include:

• Pruning to help give them a sturdy shape
• Providing fertilizer to restore nutrients to the soil
• Watering to help a tree make it through a drought
• Inspecting to catch signs of pests and diseases early

Can I transplant a fast-growing evergreen tree?

Transplanting becomes more difficult as the tree grows larger, and we recommend only doing it when they are under 6 feet tall. Many trees do not survive the transplanting process. To help, ensure the tree gets plenty of water and nutrients to help it thrive in a new location.

How long will it take until a fast-growing evergreen can act as a privacy screen?

Even though these trees grow quicker than other species, you will still have to wait a few years before they make effective screens. Even the fastest growing tree on our list, the ‘Green Giant,’ will still take about 5-7 years before it makes an effective privacy screen for your landscape.

Riverbend Can Help You Care for Your Fast-Growing Evergreen Trees

Fast-growing evergreens are perfect for privacy and landscaping, but they need proper care to grow to the appropriate size. Our team has the expertise to help your trees thrive by providing fertilization, improving root health, or tackling insects and diseases. Call us today at 703-402-9366 or request an estimate online for help caring for your evergreens.