Lady Palm
Also called Bamboo palm, Rhapis
A dense, clumping fan palm that makes a shade-loving privacy screen where little else grows.
From $28–$35 per plant (3 gal)
See Lady PalmPrivacy hedges installed · Jupiter Farms since 1989
Privacy hedges, planted for you
Pick the right plant for your fence line, then text us for a price.
- Since 1989
- Same family, same town
- Price in 24 hours
- Text photos and what you need
- 3-year warranty
- On every palm, tree and hedge we plant
- Insured
- No charge to come look
Which privacy hedge should I plant?
Clusia for most sides and rear lines, podocarpus for a tidy front hedge. Here is the short answer by goal.
Tall privacy on the sides and rear (up to 10 ft)
Low-maintenance front hedge (6 ft rule)
Salt spray and wind
Fastest to fill in
Clusia
Also called Small-leaf clusia, Clusia guttifera
A thick, glossy privacy hedge that fills in fast and handles salt and drought.
From $7–$8 per plant (3 gal)
See Clusia
Areca palm (Eureka)
A tall, feathery screen of palms that gives soft, tropical privacy.
From $14–$17 per plant (3 gal)
See Areca palm (Eureka)
Podocarpus
Also called Yew pine, Japanese yew
A clean, dark-green hedge that stays neat with little work.
From $8–$9 per plant (3 gal)
See Podocarpus
Green Buttonwood
A tough native hedge that takes wind, salt and drought and grows tall fast.
From $8–$10 per plant (3 gal)
See Green Buttonwood
Silver Buttonwood
A silver-leaved native hedge that stays tidy and loves salt and sun.
From $9–$10 per plant (3 gal)
See Silver Buttonwood
Cocoplum
Also called Red Tip cocoplum
A native hedge with round glossy leaves that fills in quickly and tolerates salt.
From $7–$8 per plant (3 gal)
See Cocoplum
Simpson's Stopper
Also called Twinberry
A fragrant native that makes a soft, low-care screen and feeds birds.
From $10–$12 per plant (3 gal)
See Simpson's Stopper
Sweet Viburnum
Also called Viburnum odoratissimum, Awabuki
A fast, full, glossy-leaf hedge for tall privacy away from salt spray.
From $7–$8 per plant (3 gal)
See Sweet Viburnum
Fishtail Palm
A fast clumping palm with unusual fishtail leaves that builds a tall, tropical screen.
From $17–$21 per plant (3 gal)
See Fishtail Palm
Clumping Bamboo
Also called Graceful bamboo, Weaver’s bamboo
The fastest tall, narrow privacy screen you can plant, and it does not run.
From $51–$62 per plant (7 gal)
See Clumping BambooHow do the hedge plants compare?
Cost is a ballpark for the plants per foot of hedge in 7 gallon size, at the usual spacing. Planting is priced with the job, and we confirm it within 24 hours.
| Plant | Hedge height | Speed to fill in | Spacing | Trimming | Cost | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Palm | 6 to 10 ft | Slow, about 2 to 4 years from 7-gallon | 30 to 48 in | Little trimming; remove dead fronds and old canes | $$ Premium$23–$28 a foot | Burns in full afternoon sun, slow to fill, and low salt tolerance. Ask us about height limits for your lot. |
| Clusia | 6 to 10 ft | Moderate to fast, about 2 ft a year | 24 to 36 in | About 2 to 3 trims a year, 3 to 4 to hold a tight edge | $ Middle$8–$10 a foot | On a long run, mix in a second species to spread the risk. |
| Areca palm (Eureka) | 8 to 15 ft | Moderate, about 1 to 2 ft a year | 36 to 48 in | Little trimming; remove dead fronds and thin old canes | $ Middle$8–$9 a foot | UF/IFAS rates Areca palm Caution for South Florida (manage to prevent escape). Frost-tender, low salt tolerance, and iron or manganese shortages can yellow the leaves. The county code does not say whether a palm row counts as a hedge. |
| Podocarpus | 6 to 12 ft | Slow to moderate, about 1 ft a year | 24 to 36 in | About 1 to 2 trims a year; hand-prune | $ Middle$10–$12 a foot | Slow to fill in. Needs good drainage; scale or aphids can show up, and alkaline soil can cause yellowing. |
| Green Buttonwood | 6 to 15 ft | Moderate, about 1 to 2 ft a year | 30 to 42 in | About 2 to 4 trims a year | $ Budget$7–$8 a foot | The base tends to thin out. Occasional galls or psyllids. |
| Silver Buttonwood | 6 to 10 ft | Moderate, about 1 to 2 ft a year | 30 to 42 in | About 2 to 3 trims a year | $ Budget$7–$8 a foot | Avoid wet shade. Sooty mold or scale are possible. |
| Cocoplum | 4 to 8 ft | About 1 year for Red Tip; moderate, 1 to 2 ft a year | 24 to 36 in | Up to 3 trims a year (UF/IFAS) | $ Budget$8–$10 a foot | Cold injury in a freeze; needs moisture. Scale and leaf spot are possible. |
| Simpson's Stopper | 6 to 10 ft | Slow, about 1 ft a year | 36 to 60 in | About 2 light trims a year | $ Middle$7–$8 a foot | Slow to fill in. Plant closer (about 3 ft) for a faster screen. |
| Sweet Viburnum | 8 to 15 ft | Fast, about 2 to 3 ft a year | 36 to 48 in | About 2 to 4 trims a year | $ Middle$7–$9 a foot | Poor salt tolerance. Whitefly, scale, thrips, mites and sooty mold. |
| Fishtail Palm | 10 to 20 ft | Moderate to fast, about 1 to 2 ft a year | 48 to 72 in | Little trimming; remove each stem after it flowers | $ Middle$6–$7 a foot | Spreads easily in South Florida, so we help you place it where it stays put. Low salt tolerance; mites and lethal yellowing. |
| Clumping Bamboo | 15 to 30 ft | Fast, about 3 to 6 ft a year | 48 to 72 in | Thin old canes yearly and top at the legal height, 1 to 2 times a year | $$ Premium$10–$12 a foot | Clumping types only. Leaf litter, and drought stress browns the leaves. Hard to remove later. Never plant running bamboo. |
Why we do not recommend ficus
Ficus benjamina is the fastest hedge (fast, about 2 to 3 ft a year), but it needs about 4 to 6 trims a year, the roots run near the surface, and the ficus whitefly can strip it of leaves. Palm Beach County has ficus planting rules for some landscaping, so ask us before planting it. We usually suggest clusia or buttonwood instead.
We do not sell Green Island ficus (Ficus microcarpa). It is on the Florida Invasive Species Council Category I list.
What are the hedge rules in unincorporated Palm Beach County?
For a single-family lot, a hedge can be 6 ft tall in the front setback of an AR or RSA lot (most of Jupiter Farms) and 10 ft along the side, side-street and rear property lines. This is from the county code, ULDC Art. 7.D.4.A.1.a.
- Height. Front setback: 6 ft on AR and RSA zoning, 4 ft on other residential zoning. Side, side-street and rear lines: 10 ft. Height is measured from the lowest ground on either side of the hedge (Art. 7.D.4.A.3). These limits changed under Ordinance 2024-004, so older websites that say 6 ft everywhere are out of date.
- Setback. Plant the hedge at least 2 ft back from the property line so it can be trimmed from your side (Art. 7.D.4.A.4).
- Hedge versus a row of shrubs or palms. The code defines a hedge as a continuous, dense planting of shrubs that forms a continuous visual screen (Art. 1.I). It does not mention palms. A tight row of Areca planted as a screen may be treated as a hedge, so confirm with the county before counting on a palm row to go taller.
- Driveways and corners. Near a driveway or street corner, keep the view clear between 30 in and 8 ft above the road (Art. 7.C.6). That means low plants, or trees limbed up above 8 ft. The exact size of the sight triangle is in a county drawing, so ask the county for it.
- Power lines. Under overhead lines, only plants that stay under 14 ft. Keep 8 ft clear in front of an FPL transformer box and 3 ft on the sides and back (Art. 7.C.5.A.2 and FPL guidance).
- Swales and canals. In Jupiter Farms, the South Indian River Water Control District does not allow landscaping that blocks swales, outfalls or canals. Call them at 561-747-0550 before planting near one.
- Septic. UF/IFAS advises no trees or shrubs on or near the drain field.
Please confirm with Palm Beach County Zoning (561-233-5200) before you plant, and check your HOA rules, which can be stricter. Jupiter, Martin County and other towns have their own rules, so the numbers above are for unincorporated Palm Beach County only.
How many plants do I need?
Enter the length of your fence line and pick a plant. Then text us the result for a price.
41 plants
Clusia, 30 in apart, over 100 ft.
Plants, 7 gal: about $820–$1,025$20–$25 per plant. Planting is priced with the job.
A starting count. Spacing and sizes are confirmed when we look at your photos or the line, and the count changes with corners, gaps and gates.
What is the best privacy hedge to plant?
It depends on the spot. For tall privacy along the sides and back, clusia and green buttonwood are the usual picks. For a low-maintenance front hedge, podocarpus, silver buttonwood or Simpson's stopper. Tell us the length, the height you want and whether it gets salt spray, and we will point you to one.
How fast does Clusia grow?
Moderate to fast, about 2 feet a year. A hedge planted from 7-gallon plants usually fills in within a couple of years, depending on spacing, water and sun.
How far apart do I plant a hedge?
It depends on the plant. Clusia is typically 24 to 36 inches apart, podocarpus 24 to 36, green buttonwood 30 to 42 and Areca palm 36 to 48. Closer fills in faster and takes more plants. The "How many plants do I need?" tool above does the math for your line.
How tall can a hedge be in unincorporated Palm Beach County?
Under the county code (ULDC Art. 7.D.4.A.1.a), a hedge in the front setback of an AR or RSA lot is limited to 6 feet, and 4 feet on other residential zoning. Along side, side-street and rear property lines the limit is 10 feet. Height is measured from the lowest ground on either side, and the hedge sits at least 2 feet back from the property line. Always confirm with Palm Beach County Zoning at 561-233-5200, and check any HOA rules. Jupiter, Martin County and other towns have their own rules.
What is an Areca (Eureka) privacy hedge?
Areca palms, which many people call Eurekas, grow in clumps and make a tall, soft, tropical screen. Ask us about height limits for your lot, and confirm with the county before counting on a palm row to go taller. They are frost-tender and do not like salt spray.
How much does an installed privacy hedge cost?
For the plants, a clusia hedge runs about $8–$10 a foot in 7 gallon size and $20–$25 a foot in 15 gallon, at 30 inches apart. So 100 feet of 7 gallon clusia is about $800–$1,000 in plants. Every hedge plant page shows its price per plant and per foot by size. Planting and access are priced with the job. Text photos of the spot with the length and we confirm it within 24 hours. Planting is backed by a 3-year warranty.
Is there a warranty on the plants?
Yes, we back our planting with a 3-year warranty. Terms in writing with your quote.
Want a privacy hedge planted?
Text photos, get a price within 24 hours. Insured. Jupiter Farms since 1989.
561-262-4700