• Hedge shrubs give you the chance to bask in a bit of privacy while using natural beauty to do so. For privacy hedges in Tennessee, as with other areas, the climate of the region must be taken into consideration. Hedges grown in Tennessee should be able to withstand the range in climate, from the subtropical areas of Memphis to the cooler mountain regions of the Great Smoky Mountains. Native shrubs work best, since they have evolved for centuries to adapt to the region.
  
  

Witch Hazel

• Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) grows in small tree or tall shrub form, reaching between 10 and 15 feet tall upon maturity. A native to Tennessee, witch hazel requires partial to full shade for growth. Soil can be either wet or dry as long as it is well-drained, as the shrub grows in moist woods and bottomlands. The shrub blooms in fall through early winter, producing flowers in orange, yellow, green and brown.
  
  

Smoke Tree

• Branch of the smoke treesmoke tree image by Gail Ranney from Fotolia.com
  
  Smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus), also called chittamwood, grows natively within Kentucky and Tennessee and west toward Oklahoma. It can be in either small tree or multitrunked shrub form. This shrub prefers rocky, dry soils and full sun to partial shade. It is highly drought tolerant, in addition to being heat and cold tolerant. During April and May, this shrub blooms and reveals yellow flowers, which then turn pink or purple as they grow older. At full maturity, this shrub can be 15 to 30 feet tall.
  
  

Inkberry

• The inkberry shrub (Ilex glabra) grows natively within Tennessee and other areas of the Eastern United States. This evergreen plant is a medium-sized shrub that can be used as a border, hedge or massing. Inkberry shrubs prefer moist to wet well-drained soil. It can tolerate full sun to full shade conditions as well as salty or compacted soil. When fully mature, inkberry reaches between 6 and 9 feet tall. During fall and winter, the shrub produces dark berries, giving it its common name.
  
  

Anglojap Yew

• This hybrid, known as Taxus x media, grows within Tennessee. It prefers moist, well-drained soil of multiple types. It can tolerate full sun, partial shade and full shade, making it a versatile plant for numerous garden types. This evergreen shrub can grow between 2 and 20 feet, depending upon the cultivar; the tallest cultivar is Hicksii. The Anglojap yew shrub may be used as border, foundation, screening and hedges. Red fruit appears on the plant during fall and winter.
  
  

Nellie Stevens Holly

• A hybrid of English holly and Chinese holly, Nellie Stevens holly (Ilex x "Nellie R. Stevens") grows throughout Southern states like Tennessee. It has high drought resistance and high heat tolerance. This shrub prefers full sun and acidic soil, but is highly adaptable and can handle partial shade and multiple soil types, as long as the soil is moist. This evergreen shrub grows between 15 and 25 feet tall. During winter, the shrub produces red berries. The shrub attracts birds like woodpeckers and robins, who use the shrub for food and shelter.