The Best Shrubs for Privacy and Habitat in Large Landscapes

When you own a large property—whether it’s a rural homestead, a conservation area, or a recreational retreat—privacy and function often go hand in hand. Many property owners want to shield certain areas from view, control wind, reduce road noise, or simply define natural borders. But why settle for a plain fence or artificial barrier when you can use native shrubs that not only offer natural privacy, but also support wildlife and beautify the landscape?

At Cold Stream Farm, we provide a wide range of bare root shrubs at wholesale prices, specifically suited for large-scale planting. These plants offer dense growth, seasonal interest, and the added benefit of being eco-friendly by creating valuable habitat for birds, pollinators, and small mammals.

If you’re looking to strike the perfect balance between privacy, low maintenance, and habitat creation, here are some of the best shrubs to plant in large landscapes.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Height: 6–9 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Benefits: Colorful stems, bird-friendly berries, erosion control

Red Osier Dogwood brings both form and function to the landscape. While it’s often chosen for its brilliant red stems in winter, its dense, spreading habit makes it a strong candidate for privacy hedging. It thrives in moist soils, making it perfect for planting near ponds, wetlands, or drainage areas. Its white berries attract birds, and its strong root system helps stabilize soil—ideal for large, sloped properties or streambanks.

Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Height: 6–12 feet
Sunlight: Full sun
Benefits: Fast-growing, edible fruit, attracts birds and pollinators

Elderberry is a powerhouse plant for anyone interested in privacy, habitat, and food production. These shrubs grow quickly and form dense colonies, making them excellent for screening large areas. In summer, they produce clusters of white flowers followed by rich purple-black berries that are perfect for making jelly, syrup, or wine—and they’re equally loved by birds. Elderberry shrubs are a strong choice for wildlife corridors or along fencerows.

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

Height: 6–10 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Benefits: Ornamental bark, pollinator-friendly flowers, tough and resilient

Ninebark is an incredibly tough native shrub that tolerates poor soils, drought, and harsh winters—making it ideal for large, rugged properties. Its dense foliage creates excellent screening, while its spring flowers attract pollinators. The peeling, textured bark offers winter interest even after the leaves fall. Ninebark thrives in mass plantings and works well as a privacy hedge or buffer between open land and developed areas.

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Height: 6–10 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to shade
Benefits: Versatile, bird-friendly berries, tolerant of various conditions

Arrowwood Viburnum is prized for its adaptability. It can grow in sun or shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types. This makes it an excellent option for filling large, hard-to-plant spaces. The shrub produces white flowers in late spring, followed by blue-black berries that birds flock to. With a naturally dense, upright habit, Arrowwood Viburnum is an attractive and functional solution for natural screens or hedgerows.

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)

Height: 8–12 feet
Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Benefits: Showy berries, vibrant fall color, year-round wildlife value

If you’re looking for all-season interest, Highbush Cranberry delivers. In spring, it blooms with creamy white flowers. Summer brings lush foliage, followed by bright red berries that persist through winter—providing a valuable food source for birds when other options are scarce. The dense growth makes it a solid privacy shrub, and it can be planted alone or in mixed native hedgerows.

Why Native Shrubs Are the Smart Choice for Privacy

Using native shrubs to create natural privacy barriers comes with long-term benefits that outshine most artificial options:

Low Maintenance: Once established, native plants require less water and fertilizer than non-native alternatives.
Biodiversity: They support pollinators, birds, and mammals by providing food and shelter.
Soil Improvement: Deep-rooted shrubs help prevent erosion and improve soil structure over time.
Seasonal Beauty: Many native shrubs offer spring flowers, vibrant fall color, and winter interest.
Cost-Efficiency: When purchased as bare root from Cold Stream Farm, shrubs are affordable to plant at scale—perfect for landowners, developers, and restoration projects.

Order Wholesale Shrubs from Cold Stream Farm

Cold Stream Farm is proud to be one of the Midwest’s leading suppliers of bare root shrubs and trees for wildlife and privacy planting. Whether you’re enhancing a backyard, building a windbreak, or restoring native habitat on acres of open land, we offer:

No minimum order limits
Volume discounts for large projects
Fast, expert service and reliable shipping across the lower 48 states

Visit Cold Stream Farm’s website to browse our full catalog of native shrubs and trees. Need help choosing the right species for your property? We’re happy to assist with recommendations based on your region, soil type, and goals.