For a clipped, formal hedge, Texas privet and ficus are the two classic answers. They diverge on height and speed — not on price.
Height ceiling
Texas privet tops out around 8–12 feet — perfect for eye-level privacy and garden structure. Ficus keeps going to 25, which is why second-story screening is almost always a ficus job.
Speed and maintenance
Ficus grows noticeably faster (about 2.5 feet a year to privet's 1.75), which cuts both ways: faster privacy, more frequent shearing. Privet holds a crisp line longer between trims.
Price is the same — so pick on fit
Species doesn't move our number: at any given container size a privet costs exactly what a ficus costs. So the choice is purely about the wall you want. If 8–12 feet of eye-level privacy is enough and you want the tightest formal line, plant privet; if you need real height or maximum speed, plant ficus. Same price either way.
Put it to work
Draw your hedge line on a satellite view of your property and get one fixed installation price in about two minutes.
Get your exact price