You're at a friend's house, lounging on the back patio, enjoying the sunny spring day, when a gust of wind hits you right in the face. You look around, but it seems like they've got themselves a line of windbreak trees, so what's happening?
They might be running into this snafu because the leaves of their deciduous trees are high enough off the ground to allow the occasional breeze by. This can offer a cool reprieve in the summer months, but if you're looking for a foolproof windbreak, consider shrubs!
Along with planting evergreens and deciduous trees, shrubs are an essential part of windbreak design. Because they provide another layer of protection from harsh winter winds, consider using these shrubs in your windbreak to maximize protection in every season.
- American Elderberry
- Hazelnut
- Dogwood Trees
- Serviceberry Bushes
- Common Lilac
- Magnolia Shrubs
- Viburnum
- Mock Orange
- Rose of Sharon
- Holly Shrubs
- Shrubs That Won't Leave You Blown Away
Best Shrubs For Blocking Wind
A good windbreak shrub needs to have dense branching, sturdy stems, and foliage that extends close to the ground so it can effectively block and slow harsh winds.
American Elderberry - Sambucus spp.
Prized for its fragrant flowers and delicious fruits, Elderberry serves a multitude of purposes in a windbreak. Along with providing protection from severe winter winds, Elderberry is favored by pollinators and birds alike. People even benefit from the berries because of their immune system-boosting properties!
- Zones 3-9, grows 6-12 feet tall and wide
- Produces clusters of fragrant flowers followed by edible berries
- Attracts pollinators and birds, adding habitat value
Hazelnut - Corylus americana
Another shrub with edible nuts, the Hazelnut is an ideal addition to a windbreak. Mature height is anywhere from 8 to 15 feet tall, and will spread to approximately the same size. You'll gain privacy, tasty fall nut harvests, and some new neighborhood squirrels.
- Zones 4-9, grows 8-15 feet tall and wide
- Provides edible nuts, with both culinary and wildlife value
- Excellent fall foliage in shades of yellow, orange, and red
Dogwood Trees - Cornus spp.
With shrub-like branches that fill out to the ground when not pruned, Dogwood ranges in colors from bright red to yellow to grey. Dogwood shrubs provide winter interest and color in a windbreak. Flowers appear in the spring, and in the fall can range in color from yellow to bright red.
- Zones 3-8, grows 6-12 feet tall and wide
- Four-season interest with colorful stems, flowers, and berries
- Adaptable to many soil types, including wet sites
Serviceberry Bushes - Amelanchier canadensis
Serviceberry is a hardy native shrub that doubles as both ornamental and functional in a windbreak. Its dense branching and sturdy stems help break up gusts of wind, while in spring it dazzles with clouds of white flowers. Summer brings edible blue-purple berries loved by birds, and in autumn, the leaves blaze in shades of orange and red.
- Zones 3-8, grows 10-15 feet tall and wide
- Dense branching and sturdy stems provide excellent wind resistance
- Multi-season interest with white spring flowers, edible berries, and fiery fall foliage
Common Lilac - Syringa vulgaris
The Common Lilacs are known for their beautiful spring flowers and the fragrance that goes along with them. Growing to approximately 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide, these shrubs add ornamental charm along with wind protection. Besides the classic purple form, the White Common Lilac is also a great option!
- Zones 2-7, grows 8-10 feet tall and wide
- Highly fragrant clusters of spring flowers in purple or white
- Low-maintenance, hardy, and adaptable to many soils
Magnolia Shrubs - Magnolia spp.
Magnolias aren't just trees - shrub-form cultivars like Ann Magnolia (Magnolia 'Ann') or Jane Magnolia (Magnolia 'Jane') stay in the 8-12 foot range, making them perfect large shrubs for windbreaks. Smaller evergreen Southern Magnolias like Sweet Bay and more all work beautifully, too!
- Zones 4-8, grows 8-12 feet tall and wide
- Large, showy, spring blooms with fragrance
- Sturdy structure with dense branching for wind buffering
Viburnum - Viburnum spp.
Viburnums are versatile shrubs with dense growth, making them superb for windbreaks! Species like American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum) or Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) offer multi-season interest. From spring flowers, lush foliage, colorful berries for birds, and great fall color! Some Viburnum are even broadleaf evergreen for four-season privacy and year-round greenery!
- Zones 2-9, grows 8-15 feet tall and wide
- Flowers in spring, fruit in summer, bold fall color for wildlife
- Dense growth habit creates effective wind resistance
Mock Orange - Philadelphus coronarius
This large shrub fills gaps in windbreak plantings with dense growth. Its main claim to fame is the sweet, citrus fragrance of its creamy white blooms in late spring. Known as the North's Gardenia, these are gorgeous shrubs for a wide range of landscape uses, while wafting their perfume on the bit of breeze that does make through its branches.
- Zones 4-8, grows 8-12 feet tall and wide
- Sturdy stems and dense growth for reliable wind buffering
- Sweetly fragrant flowers in late spring to early summer
Rose of Sharon - Hibiscus syriacus
For a flowering shrub that doubles as a seasonal windbreak, Rose of Sharon is an excellent choice. Growing 8-12 feet tall, it produces tropical-looking blooms in late summer when other shrubs are winding down.
- Zones 5-9, grows 8-12 feet tall and wide
- Large, colorful summer flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies
- Tolerates heat, humidity, and urban conditions while blooming all summer long!
Holly Shrubs - Ilex spp.
Holly is a classic choice for windbreaks, offering year-round foliage, dense branching, and glossy evergreen leaves that stand firm against strong winds. Many large Holly varieties grow tall enough to serve as living walls, while also providing red berries for winter wildlife.
- Zones 5-9, depending on variety, with heights from 8-20 feet
- Evergreen foliage creates year-round privacy and wind protection
- Many produce bright red berries when planted with male pollinators nearby
- Excellent for layering with deciduous shrubs in mixed windbreak plantings
Recommended large Holly varieties for windbreaks:
-
American Holly (Ilex opaca): Reaches 15-30 feet, a native with classic Christmas-red berries.
-
Nellie Stevens Holly (Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'): Fast-growing to 15-25 feet, dense and pyramidal.
- Oakleaf Holly (Ilex x 'Conaf'): Upright, fast-growing variety reaching 10-15 feet with broad leaves and abundant red berries.
Shrubs That Won't Leave You Blown Away
Shrubs used by themselves or interwoven within deciduous and evergreen trees make an exceptional and effective windbreak. Picking the right shrubs can even guarantee you flowers in the spring, colorful foliage in the fall, and berries for birds in the winter!
Remember, when planting your shrubs, it's important to take note of the conditions they'll be living in. If you're planting under larger trees or evergreen conifers, you'll want to select shrubs that thrive in shade areas.
Try using these shrubs in your windbreak and enjoy the added benefits: edible fruits, fragrant flowers, and habitat for wildlife!
Happy Planting!
