Having some privacy in your outdoor living space is crucial for relaxation and enjoyment. Tall screening plants grown in pots are an excellent way to create seclusion and block out unwanted views. With the right choices, you can cultivate a lush green barrier perfect for patios, porches, and balconies.

When selecting the best tall plants for pots there are a few key factors to consider

Fast Growth Rate

Look for plants that grow rapidly to establish your privacy screen quickly. Fast-growing annuals like sunflowers and zinnias are great short-term options that can provide cover in one growing season. For a permanent solution, focus on fast-growing perennials, shrubs, trees, and ornamental grasses that gain height rapidly.

Bamboo, arborvitae, yew, and holly are excellent evergreen choices that can grow over 6 feet tall in just a few years. Fast-growing tropical plants like elephant ear and banana also make stunning screens in frost-free climates.

Mature Height

Consider how tall you need the plants to be for adequate screening. For partial seclusion, 3-4 foot plants like boxwood may suffice. For more complete privacy, look for plants that grow 6 feet or taller at maturity.

Tall varieties of shrubs like arborvitae yew holly, and bamboo can easily reach 10 feet or more. Ornamental grasses like miscanthus and pampas grass grow enormous plumes up to 12 feet tall when mature.

Dense Foliage

Plants with dense full foliage will create the most effective privacy barriers. Choose plants with layered overlapping leaves or needle-like foliage that fills in thickly as the plants mature.

Arborvitae, yew, boxwood, and holly have very dense evergreen foliage. Bamboo forms an impenetrable wall of leaves and stems when it reaches maturity. Pampas and fountain grass have slender leaves, but grow so densely they make superb screens.

Appropriate Pot Size

Select generous pots that give screening plants adequate room for root and canopy growth. Small, cramped pots will restrict plant size and lead to poor performance.

For arborvitae, holly, and bamboo, use very large pots at least 2-3 feet wide. Grasses need long rectangular or oval planters to accommodate root spread. Make sure pots have drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.

Full Sun Exposure

Sun-loving plants will achieve the greatest height and densest growth in full sun. Choose a sunny location with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily for your privacy screen.

Arborvitae, yew, holly, bamboo, and ornamental grasses thrive in full sun exposure. If your site is shaded, try hydrangea, camellia, or fatsia for screens.

Wind Protection

Secure very tall screens like bamboo and ornamental grasses to sturdy supports like fences or railing to protect them from toppling in high winds. Positioning your planters against walls or corners will also shelter plants.

Low Maintenance Choices

Opt for easy care plants that don’t require much pruning or training to form an effective privacy screen. Arborvitae, yew, boxwood, bamboo, and pampas grass are naturally dense and upright in habit.

Avoid plants like forsythia, grapevines, or wisteria that need meticulous pruning and training to create screens. This will save you time and effort.

Watering Needs

Choose plants suited to your local climate so your privacy screen won’t require frequent watering. Drought tolerant choices like bamboo, yucca, grasses, and succulents are ideal for dry regions. In humid climates, select moisture lovers like elephant ears and banana.

Winter Hardiness

If you live in an area with cold winters, stick with hardy evergreen plants rated for your region to maintain privacy year-round. Arborvitae, yew, holly, and boxwood handle freezing temperatures well.

In frost-free climates, you can use tropicals like banana and elephant ear. Just move potted tropicals to sheltered areas on exceptionally cold nights.

The Best Tall Screening Plants for Growing in Pots

Here are some of the top options for creating tall privacy screens in planters:

Arborvitae

With its towering pyramidal form and dense evergreen foliage, arborvitae is ideal for privacy screens. Mature heights of 30-70 feet make it a great choice for large planters. Columnar varieties like Green Giant work well in narrow spaces.

Bamboo

Bamboo is the quintessential privacy plant thanks to its super tall mature heights up to 50 feet. Dense upright canes form impenetrable hedges. Containing bamboo’s vigorous spreading roots requires large pots and regular division.

Banana

In warm climates, banana plants create lush tropical screens. Their huge paddle-shaped leaves unfurl from stout stalks. Varieties like Basjoo can grow 20-25 feet tall in containers. Provide rich soil and ample water.

Boxwood

Neat, compact boxwood shrubs maintain excellent dense foliage even in pots. They’re ideal shaped into short formal hedges around entryways and patios. Protect boxwood from winter winds in cold climates.

Camellia

For semi shaded areas, camellias are outstanding screening shrubs with glossy evergreen leaves. The dense branches interlace to form deep green walls up to 10-12 feet tall at maturity. Protect from harsh sun exposure.

Elephant Ear

Elephant ear’s gigantic 2-4 foot leaves provide tropical jungle vibes on decks and patios. These fast growing plants can easily reach 6-8 feet tall in a single season. Only hardy in USDA zones 8-11.

Eucalyptus

Valued for their peeling bark and fragrant foliage, many eucalyptus trees grow well in containers. Fast growing species like lemon gum and red ironbark reach 35-75 feet at maturity, so give them lots of root room.

Fatsia

This Asian evergreen with glossy palmate leaves flourishes in shade and forms thick 8 foot screens. Fatsia’s tolerance for pruning makes it very adaptable for planters. Protect from intense sun exposure.

Fountain Grass

Graceful arching leaves and fluffy seed heads give fountain grass a refined, ornamental look. Dense stands reach 6 feet tall at maturity. Pots should be wide to accommodate their spreading growth.

Holly

Holly’s prickly evergreen leaves make it an unmatched barrier hedge. Left unpruned, varieties like English holly can mature into 20 foot trees. Needs some shade in hottest zones. Protect from winter wind and salt spray.

Hydrangea

Grow mophead, oakleaf, and panicle hydrangea in pots to create lovely layered screens 4-6 feet tall. Give them rich, moist soil and shade from hot afternoon sun. Leave spent blooms on plants over winter.

Miscanthus

Miscanthus is prized for its towering arched foliage and large feathery plumes. Dense stands provide stellar windbreaks up to 10 feet tall. It needs lots of root space in pots to reach full size.

Pampas Grass

Pampas grass is an excellent choice for quickly establishing tall privacy screens in pots. Plants can grow 6 to 12 feet tall in one season when provided rich soil. Pendant flowering plumes add drama.

Rose of Sharon

This highly resilient flowering shrub grows vigorously to 8-12 feet tall in pots. It produces masses of hibiscus-like blooms in summer. A mature rose of Sharon hedge forms a dense, impenetrable wall of glossy foliage.

Yew

With its dense spreading branches and mounding form, yew makes a classic hedge plant. Slow growing varieties like English yew reach 10 feet tall in pots. Only plant in shady gardens and protect from harsh winds.

Tips for Growing Successful Privacy Screens in Pots

Follow these guidelines to help your potted screens thrive:

• Place containers in sunny spots where plants will get maximum light exposure.

• Use the largest pots you can to allow ample root room for plant growth.

• Make sure pots have drainage holes to prevent roots from sitting in water.

• Check soil regularly and water whenever the top few inches become dry.

• Apply a controlled release fertilizer at the start of each growing season.

• Prune plants only lightly to shape growth and improve density. Avoid heavy pruning.

• Move potted screens to protected areas on exceptionally cold nights if they are not fully hardy.

• Secure tall grasses and bamboo by staking stems or tying them to supports.

• Propagate overgrown plants by division in early spring to keep growth controlled.

Designing With Potted Privacy Screens

Here are some ways to use potted screens for maximum design impact:

Define Spaces

Use rectangular planters as living walls to divide and enclose seating areas on patios and decks. This creates intimate spaces for dining