Secret garden: Privacy trees that won’t outgrow a small space

These plants offer some height to block out unwanted sights without taking over your yard.

Monrovia                                “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” is a Japanese maple with brilliant red colors and an upright shape. The tree is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing “Bloodgood” Japanese maple. The new foliage emerges bright red, with scarlet fall leaf color.                                “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” is a Japanese maple with brilliant red colors and an upright shape. The tree is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing “Bloodgood” Japanese maple. The new foliage emerges bright red and turns scarlet in the fall. (Monrovia)

Monrovia “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” is a Japanese maple with brilliant red colors and an upright shape. The tree is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing “Bloodgood” Japanese maple. The new foliage emerges bright red, with scarlet fall leaf color. “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” is a Japanese maple with brilliant red colors and an upright shape. The tree is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing “Bloodgood” Japanese maple. The new foliage emerges bright red and turns scarlet in the fall. (Monrovia)

Expanding urban density and shrinking lot sizes often leave gardeners with the need for trees that will provide some privacy or serve as a focal point without taking over the yard in a couple of years.

Some frequently planted trees, such as Leyland cypress, may quickly outgrow their space, leading to an expensive removal and redesign of the area.

Don’t get me wrong — I have nothing against Leyland cypress. The fast-growing coniferous evergreen can certainly offer quick screening if the garden has room for its width of 15 to 20 feet and height of 25 to 30 feet in 10 years. As Leyland cypress matures, it can reach heights of over 50 feet and may become wider than 20 feet. If your yard does not have room for a tree this size, maintenance can become expensive.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Fortunately, there are a multitude of other plants that offer interesting foliage texture and color, have a strong upright presence and will keep to a relatively smaller size.

Is the neighbor’s second-story window just beyond your fence something you’d prefer not to look into each time you walk out onto the back deck?

A great plant to give some height in a narrow space is Picea abies “Cupressina,” or columnar Norway spruce. This evergreen has a tight, columnar growth habit and dark green needles. Its 10-year height is around 20 feet with a width of 5 to 6 feet. At maturity, the columnar Norway spruce can reach heights of over 30 feet. It can serve as a narrow screen or a vertical focal point in the landscape. Plant this tree in full sun.

Another columnar conifer that has unusual foliage is Sciadopitys verticulla “Joe Kozey.” Commonly known as umbrella pine, the “Joe Kozey” variety grows smaller than the species.

Its whorls of long green needles and the tight, columnar habit make this an interesting addition to the garden. “Joe Kozey” is a slow grower, eventually attaining a height of 20 feet and a width of up to 6 feet. This umbrella pine can also be strategically situated in a large container on a patio to add a vertical element. Or plant it in between wooden screen panels as a background to a garden room. Umbrella pine prefers full sun and soil with no standing water.

Here’s a conifer that’s sure to be a conversation starter: Abies pinsapo “Aurea,” or golden Spanish fir.

Golden Spanish fir can offer some height as well as being a spectacular presence in the garden. With its unique foliage and narrow pyramidal form, it deserves a spot in the garden where it can be appreciated.

Stiff needles glow with golden-yellow color in the summer months, radiating outward from the branches. Its color is best in full sun, but protect it from a very hot spot, such as a patio that radiates heat or a south-facing wall. The growth rate is fairly slow, but this plant may eventually reach a height of over 20 feet and possibly grow as wide as 10 to 15 feet. This unusual plant may be hard to find, but it is worth the effort.

Add a bit of blue to the yard with the small growing pine Pinus parviflora “Aoi.” The short needles of this tree are a silvery blue on one side and green on the other side, with an abundance of small cones. The word “Aoi” means blue in Japanese. This pine has a sculpted, Asian feel to its appearance. Its growth habit is slender and upright, offering an architectural presence. Pinus p. “Aoi” will grow to 6 to 15 feet tall in 10 years. Give “Aoi” full sun and good drainage.

For an narrow-growing conifer that offers more height, Cupressus macrocarpa “Donard Gold” may be just the ticket. This broadly pyramidal conifer will eventually reach 20 to 30 feet and be 8 feet wide or wider at maturity. Give this plant the room it needs.

Its distinctive two-toned foliage features chartreuse new growth with lemon-yellow inner needles. The foliage is somewhat fragrant, with a slight citrus scent. This plant can be a focal feature and offer some height in a planting bed. The bright color of the foliage can be eye-catching enough to detract from a tall building in the background.

Deciduous trees also can provide seasonal screening, with the framework of bare branches in winter sometimes being just enough of a visual distraction to draw attention away from an unsightly object.

I like Acer palmatum “Twombly’s Red Sentinel” for its brilliant red colors and upright shape. This Japanese maple is a “sport,” or a plant mutation, of the larger growing variety “Bloodgood.” The new foliage emerges bright red and turns scarlet in the fall. Its mature heigh is 10 to 15 feet.

Any of the above trees can be planted to create privacy while adding an interesting mix of textures and foliage color without overgrowing their place in your garden.

Pam Roy of Planscapes is an award-winning landscape designer with more than 30 years of experience. Contact her at 425-252-9469 or info@planscapesdesign.com. Or go to www.planscapesdesign.com for more information.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

Audi SQ8 Wows In Motion Or At Rest. Photo provided by Audi America MediaCenter.
2025 Audi SQ8 Is A Luxury, Hot Rod, SUV

500 Horsepower and 4.0-Second, 0-To-60 MPH Speed

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Everett High School graduate Gwen Bundy high fives students at her former grade school Whittier Elementary during their grad walk on Thursday, June 12, 2018 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Literally the best’: Grads celebrated at Everett elementary school

Children at Whittier Elementary cheered on local high school graduates as part of an annual tradition.

A bear rests in a tree in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest transitioning to cashless collections on June 21

The Forest Service urges visitors to download the app and set up payments before venturing out to trailheads and recreation sites.

The 2025 Jeep Gladiator pickup, in one of its more outrageous colors (Provided by Jeep).
2025 Jeep Gladiator is a true truck

The only 4x4 pickup with open-air abilities, Gladiator is more than a Wrangler with a bed.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.