I'm probably going to get slammed for this since there are those who despise privet hedges, but they are a great privacy screen. We have the Cheyenne privets. Some don't like them because they are known to be invasive (check your municipality), depending on your zone and the variety you choose. When they flower (inconspicuous), they emit a strong odor, some like it, some hate it. They can cause allergies to those who suffer from hayfever. On the flipside, they have grown well for me. We staggered them and planted maybe 18 inches apart, they stood maybe 2 feet high. The first year they were tiny twigs. We are now on the second year, they've almost reached the top of my 4 1/2 foot fence, and they're nice and full. For every 12 inches they grow, you cut them back six to form the hedge shape, and to prevent leggy growth at the bottom. Within 3 years, they will maintain their hedge shape. They grow anywhere from 6 feet to ???? in height, easy to trim as a hedge. I maintain a 3 foot width (depth), we live on 1/8 acre lots, so I have these lining our fence between our patio as a screen from our neighbors. I've also come across articles about Siberian Elm - resistant to Dutch Elm disease, makes a great hedge, faster growing than the Privets, though admittedly I don't know enough about the pros and cons of this tree (it's not a shrub, but a tree that can be trimmed into a hedge). We had a row of Techy arborvitae, everyone raves about these, but they looked horrible after a bad winter, the leaders were arched and height-wise they grew slow, though they did fill out nicely width-wise within a couple years. We've since removed them. I did like the fact that they were evergreen. The privets and siberian elm are deciduous. Good luck.

Boxwood is nice but very slow growing. Nandina (heavenly bamboo) works well and has good winter interest with berries and orangey new foliage. Nandina domestica is too tall for your requirements. N. domestica 'Compacta' may be too tall as well (about 4-5'). N. domestica 'Gulf Stream' is about 3-3.5' and very tidy. Do you really mean giant arborvitae? That is a monster - probably grows 3' per year, not 3' total. There are other evergreen shrubs that you might consider, but first determine if you want solid green or the more multi-colored foliage of the Nandina. There are dwarf Pittosporums, Rhaphiolepis umbellata 'Minor', and probably some others as well. I'd not hesitate to get the smaller plants. If they are planted in appropriate soil and given adequate irrigation until the rainy season (and you have to keep checking them if we have dry spells during the winter - you cannot let the root balls dry out and those root balls will be fairly small) they should do just fine and yes, will catch up within a relatively short time.

The only shrub I know of is a Photina Fraseri. Grows to 15 feet pretty fast. It also likes to be wide but could be kept pruned closer, if you kept up with it could be shaped and leafed out nicely enough I believe. Quickness of growth also depends on where you live, I grew it last in the mtns, with a 3 month growing season it took a lot longer. Here in the valley I've seen new plants get to 5' in a season.

Lots of great ideas here! In fact, I did plant irises in front of them, but not close enough to do the job. Here's a picture of the bed when it was just beginning to turn: Here's a picture from this morning: This picture is more washed out, but you get the gist. It's pretty bad! I also put in some coreopsis, but only two seedlings have started from those seeds, and are only about 10" tall so far. I'm just hoping these will flower enough for me to get more seeds. You all are so helpful! Thanks for all the great suggestions, and if any more come to mind, please share! :-)