Fast-growing shrubs are a great choice for homeowners seeking quick privacy hedges. For that matter, homeowners simply hoping to enjoy stand-alone specimen bushes sometime in the not-too-distant future will also be glad to find plants as impatient for growth as are their owners.
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01 of 17
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
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Its leaves are gone. Its berries have disappeared. Its flowers are absent. It is winter, and yet red twig dogwood still stands out. Despite having lost so many features, red twig dogwood may be at its best when nothing blocks the view of its finest feature: its signature fire-red bark color (the same applies to yellow twig dogwood, but in a different color). Looking at such a plant can lift your spirits on the gloomiest of winter days.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, fertile, moist soil
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02 of 17
Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
The wonderfully fragrant shrub, mock orange is rather unfortunately named for what it is not, rather than for what it is. As the "mock" in its name suggests, mock orange is not a true orange. But the citrusy smell of its white blossoms is enough to invite comparison. Another white-flowered option is doublefile viburnum.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy soil
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03 of 17
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Like mock orange, the traditional lilac is an olfactory treasure with fragrant flowers that you probably remember from your grandparents' yard. There are plenty of new cultivars available.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy soil
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04 of 17
Forsythia (Forsythia)
There should be a special place in your heart for forsythias. When their flower buds start yellowing up, forsythia flowers herald nothing less than spring, itself. Among the bushes, they are some of the earliest spring flowers.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
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05 of 17
Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
The branching of rock cotoneaster is stiff and dense, giving the plant a rather bristly look. Stems shoot off the branches in what is often referred to as a "herringbone pattern," a term also used in hardscaping. The bristly look is significantly softened once the red berries appear, as your attention will be drawn to their fleshy orbs. But for a privacy hedge, go with one of the taller types of cotoneaster, such as C. lucidus.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained, evenly moist soil
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06 of 17
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Beautyberry is such a fast-growing bush that many recommend pruning it down to within a foot or so of the ground in early spring. The resulting new growth, laden with berries by autumn, is sufficiently large to make for a compelling display.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
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07 of 17
Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Even though ninebark was named for its bark, it is not in quite the same class as red twig dogwood. The Diablo cultivar offers something beyond an interesting bark: Dark foliage that makes it one of the so-called "black" plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Clay or loamy soil
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08 of 17
Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Forsythia may be one of the earliest heralds of spring, but it's not as early as pussy willow, which displays its characteristic fuzzy white catkins even before the arrival of forsythia's yellow blooms. You can also try another willow shrub that grows quickly, Flamingo Japanese willow.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
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09 of 17
Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
Loropetalum's use is not restricted to the American Southeast, but that region may well be considered its "capital" in the New World, where it is evergreen and an immensely popular plant.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy, acidic soil
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10 of 17
Arborvitae (Thuja)
There are many kinds of evergreen arborvitae that are used in hedges (including the relatively small 'North Pole'), and they do not all exhibit the same rate of growth. Therefore, not all arborvitaes are equally suited for use in privacy hedges. A good choice for large privacy hedges is the fast grower 'Green Giant', which can reach 50 to 60 feet tall (with a spread of 12 to 20 feet). If you want a bush that is more compact and do not mind waiting a bit longer, 'Emerald Green' arborvitae is a better option. The latter usually reaches just 12 to 14 feet tall, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. Its foliage comes in flat sprays and, if you look closely, the needles appear covered in scales.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy soil
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11 of 17
Yew (Taxus)
One advantage that yews have over many similar evergreens is that these shade-tolerant plants will thrive in north-facing foundation plantings, no matter how sunlight-deprived. Yet they can be grown in full sun, too.
Warning
If you have small children, make sure they do not eat the berries: Their toxic seeds classify yew as poisonous plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade, depending on type
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
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12 of 17
Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
This is not the poisonous plant that famously killed the Greek philosopher Socrates. No part of this tree is poisonous. Moreover, whether you think of hemlock as a tree or shrub may well depend on where you live. If you dwell in a rural area of North America, you probably know hemlock as a towering tree. But some of the finest privacy hedges in suburbia are composed of scaled-down Canadian, or Eastern, hemlocks.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist soil
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13 of 17
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Barry Winiker / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Burning bush may be the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America. It is a fast grower with a terrific fall color that ranges from red to pinkish-red. Burning bush also produces reddish-orange berries in fall. Just be aware that this is an invasive shrub and should be planted with care.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy soil
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14 of 17
Leylandii (Cupressus × leylandii)
Garden fence with leylandii (Cupressocyparis leylandii) hedge. Also known as leyland cypress, leylandii is a hybrid of Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress. It is an aggressive grower, capable of growing up to 3 feet per year, and it gets a bad rap for being difficult to handle. However, if you keep up with annual or semi-annual pruning, leylandii makes an excellent privacy hedge or windbreak.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Clay, loamy, sandy soil
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15 of 17
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
Like most maples, the amur maple is prized for its brilliant fall color, but it's also a fast-growing shrub that makes a great privacy hedge as well as a winter windbreak. The most popular cultivar for hedges is 'Flame', which grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 8. It can grow up to 2 feet per year and needs only annual pruning to keep its shape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Clay or loamy to sandy, well-drained soil
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16 of 17
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel, also commonly called English laurel, is a good option for those in relatively warm climates, as it's hardy only to zones 6 to 8. In ideal conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet per year. Its glossy green leaves are evergreen and do not change color in fall. Creamy white flowering clusters bloom in spring.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
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17 of 17
Privet (Ligustrum)
The privet is the quintessential (or at least the most familiar) privacy hedge plant. It grows quickly, prunes nicely, and has flowers that lead to fruit clusters that last through the winter. While Ligustrum vulgare was once the most common type of privet planted, it has lost popularity to some of the more ornamental varieties, such as Japanese privet (L. japonicum).
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, rich soil
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Which evergreen is the fastest to grow?
Leyland cypress (× Cuprocyparis leylandii) is one of the fastest-growing evergreen conifers, growing 3 to 5 feet per year.
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Which privacy shrub gets the tallest?
One of the tallest shrubs is arborvitae (thuja) which can grow up to 50 feet tall, particularly the 'Green Giant' cultivar. These plants naturally have a pyramidal shape and wider spread but can be trimmed and shaped however you like.
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How often do you prune a hedge shrub?
Once your plant has been established, usually within two years, you'll likely want to regularly trim your hedges every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season to help them keep their shape. If the plant is a spring-flowering shrub, wait until after its bloom period to trim it. If it flowers in summer, it's safe to give it a trim in winter or spring.