Palm trees are beautiful but require quite a bit of maintenance. The fronds grow extremely large and heavy and must be removed by a professional at a cost. Just keep that in mind before you make your final decision.

If you prefer to plant outdoor palm trees for privacy, the European fan palm or lady palm are two of your best choices. The European fan palm reaches up to 15 feet tall when mature and has a short trunk and dense crown. It forms an effective privacy screen.

It depends on the location. We have bottle brush plants on the east side. They have never filled in. We tried fertilizer and that didn't help. I think they need more sun to grow better. We have one in the front, west facing, and it is great.

Palm trees are a lot of work - I have the 3 branch one he described in front of my house. I would not suggest any the of palm trees. Other suggestions are much better. Good luck!

Podocarpus

2nd vote for Pindo Palm. Don't get Robellini palms (3 trunks) as they have the most nasty thorns (4" long). As stated earlier, Pindo's are cold hardy. I removed two Robellin's...look great, horrible to maintain!

Ligustrums are boring and ugly. Find a smaller plant you like and put nearer your lanai that will grow under pindo palm that should be put 6-8' from your lanai.

Camellias are nice. Beautiful flowers, slow growing and many like shade. Also consider Coontie palms, Easy plant, slow grower and can grow in sun or shade. Would be perfect under a pindo palm. Remember to consider the light you have and get the right plant for the conditions or you're wasting your money.

We planted a Philodendron for a similar reason and it has done well near our lanai with a pindo a little further out.

If you want boring --do a ligustrum or bottle brush.

I agree. Install a shade and paint a palm tree on it.

Totally agree, and a good trim once a year keeps them looking good. It is easy to trim the flyers that grow towards the screen every few months or so. Way better than palms- palms will not give you privacy - you see right through them.

lanai shades....who does these type of shades and I assume they are water proof??? thanks

Privacy for Patio from nearby Neighbor
 

Not all bamboo is invasive. I have clumping type bamboo planted now for over three years. Has not spread. We prune it to keep off our pool birdcage screen. Great for borders, privacy.

Have had black clumping Bamboo for years in our UK garden.
Easy to maintain, and I get free Pole Bean canes every year.
Regarding the OP. I would go with villagetinker's suggestion.

lagustrom or a evergreen hedge,but you have to prune.

Palms?
 

I would suggest you drive around the villages and look at the landscaping. You will get some great ideas.

I would suggest New Zealand red tea tree plants. Bushy and grow into small trees in a few years. Provides privacy from the bikepath even though they are only 4 feet tall and about a year old.

Bamboo, clumping.
 

You will find that The Villages has effectively used clumping Bamboo in many places to provide privacy.