Jamie Lee Curtis Uses a Wise Mature-Planting Trick to Ensure Total Backyard Privacy – It's the Ultimate 2026 Summer Seclusion Solution
Skip the traditional fence – landscape experts break down the exact fast-growing tree varieties behind Jamie's Southern California oasis
Living in Los Angeles, actress Jamie Lee Curtis is no stranger to public attention. However, as the peak of the summer heat arrives in 2026, she has successfully crafted a completely secluded oasis in her backyard using nature's most reliable screening tools.
A photo captures Jamie nestled in a corner of her garden, offering a wealth of inspiration for summer outdoor design.
While her crisp, white-painted gate (you can get her look with this trellis from Amazon) and 'Spanifornia-style' tiled flooring are stunning features, her strategic choice of plants for privacy steals the show. Reflecting on the space while surrounded by the cool shade of the trees, Jamie Lee shares: 'This was the last moment before Deb went home after surprising me to sit with me during these nominations.'
Beyond offering a shield from onlookers, these trees provide vital organic shade – an absolute necessity for enduring the intense midsummer Southern California sun. Fortunately, this design approach is easily replicable far beyond the West Coast for anyone looking to refresh their garden this season.
Shop the Jamie Lee Curtis-Inspired Planting Edit
A well-placed trellis can make a small garden feel both greener and more secluded. This design stands out for its soft white finish (like Jamie's garden) and timeless lattice detailing, providing support for climbing roses, jasmine, or other trailing plants.
This premium seed-starting blend features a carefully balanced mix of growing materials and nutrients, creating the ideal conditions for healthy germination and vigorous young plants.
If you love the lush evergreen look of cedar trees but don't have space for their towering height, Cheer Drops Arborvitae is a fantastic alternative. Its distinctive form offers a fresh take on traditional privacy planting, making it ideal for borders and hedges.
It's easy to see why ficus is such a popular hedge in Southern California. Growing quickly and maintaining its rich green foliage year-round, it creates an effective privacy screen while bringing a lush look to outdoor spaces.
Few shrubs offer as much visual interest across the seasons as Japanese Willow. Its spring display begins with soft catkins and blush-pink foliage, which develops into a marbled blend of green and cream through summer.
Vining hydrangeas are always high on my list of favorite climbers, and these selections are particularly impressive. Their large, cloud-like flowers and robust vines bring texture, volume, and a romantic feel to outdoor spaces.
According to David Andersen, the design director at David Andersen Garden Design, living elements are ideal for warm-weather garden transformations: 'If you're looking for an attractive way to add privacy to your outdoor space, plants and shrubs are a great option.'
To establish an immediate shield for the summer entertaining season, Andersen recommends investing in shrubs and trees in their mature forms, noting that you can often purchase trees that are already six meters tall. He suggests planting them directly into the ground or strategically placing large pots around your seating area.
For the best results, he points to Photinias, or Red Robin (Red Tip Photinia, available at Amazon) – a dense plant that offers 'complete privacy'. Andersen also highlights the benefits of Laurel: 'Laurel is a brilliant garden screening idea too. It's evergreen, so it's effective all year round and tolerant to all types of weather,' and adds, 'It also grows quickly, creating a lush, long-lasting screen – and its glossy bright green leaves are the perfect aesthetic for contemporary spaces.'
Marcus Eyles, the horticultural director at Dobbies Garden Centers, also praises Jamie Lee Curtis's use of lush greenery, viewing it as a more natural and visually appealing alternative to traditional fencing. 'Instead of using walls or fences, plants can be used to create your own secluded slice of paradise,' he says.
For homeowners looking to fast-track their backyard privacy this summer, Eyles recommends several excellent options for dense, non-invasive screening.
His top selections include Pyracantha, Prunus Laurocerasus – also known as Cherry Laurel – or Lusitanica. For those focusing on sustainability, wildlife hedges including Hawthorn, Holly, and Field Maple are great options, while hedging conifers, Privet, and traditional Laurel also work well for screening and grow quickly.
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