Don’t want to see your neighbour? Don’t want them to see into your backyard? What you need are screening plants!

Screening plants can involve tall shrubs and even small trees that are dense – very dense – to block views. These species need to have the capacity to create a natural thick foliage cover. Ideally, a plant that is self-shaping, dense and reaches the preferred height is the golden chalice.

Pruning may be needed to keep the plant dense or within ideal dimensions. Maintenance to some degree will be needed.  

Here is a list we highly recommend as the best ten screening plants for the local South East Queensland region, for both professional landscape projects and domestic gardens. Order is according to the alphabet.

• Bottlebrushes (Callistemon viminalis cultivars) – these natives are often overlooked as potential screening plants. Selecting the right cultivar will give you success so we recommend ‘Hannah Ray’, ‘Wildfire’, ‘Wilderness White’, ‘Pink Champagne’, plus others. They have an excellent reputation for attracting wildlife and give a more ‘Aussie’ look to the garden.
• Emerald Lustre (Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’) – big glossy leaves make this plant a popular plant for landscapers for blocking out views to the neighbours. Although it does have white flowers in spring, the main feature is the foliage. Normally grown to 2-4m as a hedge or boundary screen.
• Fairhill Gold / Expo Gold (Xanthostemon chrysanthus ‘Fairhill Gold’ / ‘Expo Gold’) – this compact large shrub (small tree) has been used by councils as a screening plant between main roads and housing estates for good reason – it works! The cultivar sold as ‘Fairhill Gold’ (same as ‘Expo Gold’) has fatter leaves, shorter internodes which means it creates a much denser habit compared to the original species. 
• Green Supreme (Radermachera ‘Green Supreme’) – a far superior form of Radermachera that is fastigate in habit – i.e. grows upright and narrow. This is ideal for small gardens when you don’t have space for a tree but need to block out a neighbour. These grow to 3-4m high. Foliage is dark green and glossy. Currently limited stock on the market but this will become more popular in years to come.
• Heliconia – some heliconia cultivars make the perfect screening plant. They complement a tropical style garden and never reach tree proportions. Heliconias may need old stalks cut out (each stalk known as pseudostem only flowers once) to make room for new stalks that will flower. After a many (10) years rhizomes may need to be dug out and replanted. Some of the best screening Heliconias are ‘Hot Rio Nites’, ‘Rauliniana’, ‘Jacquinii’, ‘Kawauchi’, Heliconia pendula ‘Waxy Red’, plus others.
• K’Gari Apple / Fraser Island Apple (Acronychia imperforata) – this native small tree is idea for exposed windy and sandy sites. Normally grown as a traditional tree with trunk and canopy, it is very adaptable to be grown as a bushy screening hedge plant, pruned or unpruned. 
• Lillypillies (Syzygium paniculatum / Syzygium australe) cultivars such as ‘Resilience’, ‘Hinterland Gold’, ‘Aussie Gem’, ‘Big Red’, etc. There are many cultivars on the market that make perfect screening plants. Multiple cultivars mean you can select one that fits your space and leaf colour preference. These Aussie native plants tick all the boxes for environmental reasons.
• Mock Orange/Orange Jessamine (Murraya paniculata) – one of the most popular and hardy plants for our climate. These can be hedged down to 1m height but are best grown at 2-3m height for screening and blocking out neighbours. It is worth noting it can grow into a small tree but is generally grown as a shrub. White flowers are scented which attract abundant bees. Rarely affected by bugs or pests but is known to get borers if stressed. Full sun to part shade is preferred to achieve best dense foliage. [Note: considered a weed in some areas of Australia]
• Polyscias/Falsa Aralia (Polyscias fruticosa / Polyscias filicifolia / Polyscias guilfoylei) – these are a favourite for tropical-style garden designers. These plants fit into tight corners and narrow garden beds where they grow straight up like a cordyline. Tip prune them to create a bushier specimen for best screening results. Rarely affected by pests. Typically 2-3m height range for best screening habit.
• Summerscent / Everlasting Beauty (Radermachera ‘Summer Scent’ / ‘Everlasting Beauty’) – this is a small tree that is becoming more popular as an alternative to Murraya. Leaves are a lovely dark green and the scented flowers are white to pale pink with yellow throat. Flowers appear abundantly over the warmer months. This plant prefers full sun to part shade. Pruning helps to reinforce the dense habit. Not known to have major pest problems.

There are other possible species to use, and there will be more interesting species in the future, but this article list is a great start.

Here at Plant Connections, we can supply these for your landscape projects. Some we grow here and others we can get in for you.