10 Outdoor Shower Privacy Ideas Using Natural Green Screens

If you’re starting from scratch and need coverage fast, clumping bamboo is one of the most effective options. Unlike running varieties that can take over your yard, clumping bamboo grows densely in place; perfect for forming a tall, natural wall.

We planted Bambusa textilis on one side of our shower. Within a year, it was 10 feet tall and created a private, leafy barrier. The sound of the stalks in the breeze is a bonus.

Tip: Bamboo needs space and root control, especially if you’re near structures. Use large trough planters or install a root barrier.

If you already have a fence or structure to work with, consider turning it into a living privacy wall. Vines like star jasmine, clematis, and honeysuckle offer fast vertical growth, sweet fragrance, and excellent coverage during the warmer months.

You can install a simple wooden trellis, metal grid, or even run tension wire for a minimalist look. In summer, these vines can completely cloak a frame and create the feel of a green curtain around your shower.

One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to create privacy is with native shrubs. Depending on your location, look for evergreens like manzanita, wax myrtle, viburnum, or pittosporum. These grow well without much fuss and support local pollinators.

Plant them in a loose hedge near your shower and allow them to grow naturally for a softer look. Add seasonal flowers in front for color and interest – this plant pairing guide is helpful for selecting combinations that thrive near water and humidity.

Grasses like Miscanthus, switchgrass, or feather reed grass can add a veil of privacy while keeping the space feeling open. These plants aren’t totally opaque, but they do a great job at breaking up sightlines—especially when planted in staggered clusters.

This option works well if your shower is already a bit secluded and you just want to soften the space. They also hold up well in wind and don’t need much maintenance beyond a late-winter cutback.

If you have limited room around your shower, training fruit trees or ornamental varieties along a trellis (espalier) is a brilliant solution. It’s a bit of an investment up front, but espaliered trees create structured, beautiful screens that also offer seasonal interest.

Try figs, pears, or olives depending on your climate. Just be aware these will need pruning and a bit of patience as they fill in.

Here’s where personal experience comes in again. After planting bamboo on one side of our shower, we added vertical herb planters on another wall using an old pallet. We filled it with rosemary, oregano, mint, and thyme.

The result? A soft green screen, a wonderful scent while rinsing off, and a surprising number of summer meals improved by last-minute herb snips. This method won’t provide full coverage, but paired with other plants, it can make your outdoor shower feel layered and immersive.

If you love sensory experiences, check out the fragrant plants list for outdoor showers to add even more aroma.

For showers that are built with overhead structure; like pergolas or arbors, you can add privacy by training vines to drape down. Wisteria, trumpet vine, or passionflower work well depending on your zone. This setup creates an intimate, almost enclosed space.

It’s especially effective if you combine it with fabric panels or outdoor curtains, letting plants fill the gaps.

If you’re renting or don’t want to commit to in-ground planting, large pots with tall plants can do the job. Consider placing containers of Italian cypress, ficus, or even dwarf bamboo along the shower’s perimeter.

This approach gives you flexibility. You can rearrange pots for seasonal sun, and if you move homes, the plants come with you.

Don’t forget: if you’re in a cooler climate, check our guide to winter-proof plants for outdoor showers to avoid replanting every spring.

Rather than relying on one type of plant, combine multiple species at varying heights for a layered look. For example, use taller grasses or shrubs in the back, mid-sized flowering plants in the middle, and groundcover or herbs near the base.

This approach creates depth, texture, and a more natural look. It’s also more resilient—if one plant dies back, others still offer coverage.

If your climate allows, or you’re designing a shower in a humid area, large-leafed plants like tree ferns, banana plants, or elephant ears can create privacy through mass and width instead of height. These work well if you want an enclosed feeling without erecting walls.

Use mulch and good drainage, especially if your shower drains into the garden directly. These plants often thrive with the extra moisture.