Indian Laurel (Ficus Nitida)
Our flagship hedge and Southern California's most planted privacy screen. Dense, fast growing, and evergreen year round.
View Indian LaurelEnter your ZIP code — we check it against our Service Areas coverage.
Ficus Nitida, also called Indian Laurel, is the gold standard for privacy screening in Southern California. It tolerates heat, recovers from heavy shearing, and grows tight enough that a single row delivers full privacy at maturity. Below are the five hedge varieties we grow and plant across Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County, each suited to a slightly different look, budget, and timeline.
Our flagship hedge and Southern California's most planted privacy screen. Dense, fast growing, and evergreen year round.
View Indian LaurelA softer-textured evergreen alternative to Ficus, with fine feathery foliage and a more naturalistic look.
View Podocarpus GraciliorA faster, lower-cost screening option with glossy foliage, well suited to lower walls and quicker fill-in.
View Waxleaf PrivetFragrant white blooms in spring paired with dense evergreen foliage, a hedge that works as hard as it looks good.
View Carolina Cherry LaurelA narrow, upright accent tree used to frame entries and property lines rather than form a solid wall.
View Italian CypressGrowth rate, mature width, and root behavior all matter more than looks alone. Ficus and Podocarpus grow fastest and fill in solid. Privet costs less and establishes quickly, but does not get as tall. Carolina Cherry Laurel adds seasonal fragrance. Italian Cypress is best as a vertical accent, not a solid screen, since it grows narrow rather than wide. For a solid wall, we typically plant 3 feet apart, center to center.
Send us a few photos of your space and we will recommend the right variety, size, and spacing for your goal and budget.
Most of our privacy hedge varieties grow 2 to 3 feet per year once established. Starter trees often reach full privacy height within two seasons.
Ficus roots in particular can be aggressive. We advise on safe planting distances from pools, foundations, and main lines based on your specific site, and root barriers are an option for tight installs. Ask us before you plant near any structure or line.
Yes. Every variety on this page is evergreen, so you get full privacy in every season, not just spring and summer.
A hedge is planted in a single tight row to form a continuous wall. A screen can be more spaced out or staggered for a softer, more naturalistic look. We will recommend the right approach for your yard.
We deliver every tree ourselves, protected and ready to plant, anywhere in our LA, Riverside, and Orange County service area. Planting is available as an add-on service.