I Recommend These Fastest Growing Shrubs

Whether you want to improve your garden’s privacy or fill space in flowerbeds quickly while waiting for slow-growing plants to establish themselves, I think you’ll find my list of five fast-growing shrubs insightful.

Update 2024: I’ve expanded this topic further by revealing the very best plants for garden privacy, this updated list includes shrubs and hedges that grow tall and dense, not just quickly.

Hydrangeas

I’ve been growing hydrangeas for years and have six different types in my garden right now, including in four containers.

All of my hydrangeas, even the smaller, compact varieties, produce an abundance of large green leaves that fill space quickly.

If you’re in a hurry to fill space with a non-invasive and easy-to-control shrub, consider hydrangeas.

Key points: Mine grow best in moist soil and next to plants that I water more often than others. All of my hydrangeas produce more flowers reliably year after year and I rarely have issues with pests.

Tip: Choose a hydrangea that will fill but not outgrow the available space. I have seen some grow four and even five metres and if you don’t have the space, they will require aggressive pruning which may result in fewer blooms.

Cherry Laural

Cherry Laural is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that gardeners often plant as a privacy hedge and screen.

I have this around one side of my property and it grows around 60-70cm per year and I cut it back twice a year to keep it in check.

I suggest Cherry Laural as a perimeter hedge or screen as it produces a deep green backdrop and the leaves stay on all year.

Bamboo

While not technically a shrub, bamboo, which is a grass, shares many characteristics with its woody companions. Bamboo has thick wood-like stems, grows tall and fast and produces plenty of green leaves.

You can split bamboo into two varieties; clumping and running.

Running bamboo can be a nuisance as the roots, known as rhizomes, can grow laterally for many metres and colonise surrounding areas. Expect running bamboo to grow vertically by up to 1.5 metres each year. I’ve had to remove this type of bamboo from a property as it was causing damage to a driveway, I suggest planting it carefully with consideration to blocking the roots.

Clumping bamboo is quite different; the rhizomes grow in a “u” shape, so the next stem grows vertically and not horizontally. Clumping bamboo has a lateral spread of around 10cm per year but grows vertically by up to half a metre per year.

I’ve grown bamboo in containers before but if you want to grow it as a screen, I suggest the clumping variety and plant it at least two metres from any walls.

Weigela

This is another easy-to-grow shrub that has done well in my garden over the last few years.

I’ve barely spent any effort or time on my Weigelas and they’ve flowered profusely year after year.

The blooms and leaves are fairly small but numerous and the shrub grows at a reasonable rate – about 45cm per year in my garden and most of mine are about 1.25 metres tall with a good spread.

Viburnum Tinus

Viburnum Tinus is another popular evergreen shrub that sits well in borders as hedging but I’ve also seen it grown as a specimen. 

Its evergreen foliage grows dense and quickly, filling space within a reasonable amount of time.

The flowers are pinkish-white and slightly scented, these complement the dark fruits that follow the flowers.

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Privacy Hedging

Discover the best hedges for garden privacy. We take a look at plants with dense, thick foliage offering year-round cover. Start here