Suggestions for a tallish/dense tree for privacy?

[cpp gardener]

Skip the avocado, you’re too cold for it to do well. Magnolias work, even deciduous ones. You could use Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, it’s a native that has nice white flowers in the spring and red berries in the winter. Another nice native is Madrone, Arbutus menziesii. Nice pink/white flowers in the spring, also red berries, and awesome smooth red bark.

 

[Mick Emery]

I'm familiar with those...I'm lukewarm on those, but you may be right, there may not be good fruit trees.

The thing I don't like about the arborvitae is that they are tall and narrow and I'd love for something that looks more like a traditional tree (more mushroom shaped)

I needed privacy on my property by my driveway. I bought 25 Green Giant arborvitae. They were 12" tall when I bought them 8 years ago. They are now 20-25' tall. Christmas tree shaped. not narrow. They are also deer resistant. (we have MANY) My wife & I, decided this year, to open a nursery. Our 1st thing to sell? Green Giant Arborvitae. If you can wait a couple years, buy 12-18" trees. We sell ours for $10.

 

[anikkar]

Skip the avocado, you’re too cold for it to do well. Magnolias work, even deciduous ones. You could use Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia, it’s a native that has nice white flowers in the spring and red berries in the winter. Another nice native is Madrone, Arbutus menziesii. Nice pink/white flowers in the spring, also red berries, and awesome smooth red bark.

Thanks for the suggestions. I do like the floral aspect of the Magnolias. Of the ones listed, which grows the fastest? I'm not sure what the max size I can get from a local nursery

 

[cpp gardener]

Magnolia x soulangeana varieties grow reasonably quickly without getting enormous. Evergreen Magnolias all get big, even the ones with small leaves.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Magnolia x soulangeana varieties grow reasonably quickly without getting enormous. Evergreen Magnolias all get big, even the ones with small leaves.

to me those are not dense. I have a few. and cannot see how they could be used for privacy.

 

[cpp gardener]

Where you are you could use Bradford Pear. It isn’t invasive here (California) and would block the view nicely.

 

[anikkar]

Where you are you could use Bradford Pear. It isn’t invasive here (California) and would block the view nicely.

I'm in Redwood City, CA

 

[cpp gardener]

Yeah, they’re not invasive there. You could look up what they recommend as substitutes for Bradford Pears back east and use one of those if you want.