Fast-Growing Shrubs for Privacy

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) may be the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America. It is a fast grower at 2 feet annually 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.

The Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is not the plant that famously killed the Greek philosopher Socrates. This tree is completely safe.5 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 the hemlock as a towering tree. But some of the finest privacy hedges around the country are composed of scaled-down Canadian, or Eastern, hemlocks. These somewhat fast-growing and cold-hardy shrubs, or trees, grow 2 feet a year and form dense privacy walls.

One advantage that yews (Taxus) 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. Yew is a slower-growing hedge, however, so expect only a foot a year. If you have small children, keep them away from the shrubs: All parts are toxic to humans and animals.34

There are many kinds of evergreen arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) 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 you 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.

Loropetalum, also called Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense), is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub well-known for its delicate, fragrant, and frilly blooms. It has a fast growth rate of 2 feet annually.

Forsythia may be one of the earliest heralds of spring, but it's not as early as p***y willow (Salix discolor), which displays its characteristic fuzzy white catkins even before the arrival of forsythia's yellow blooms. P***y willows are extremely fast growers and can potentially add 4 to 6 feet of height a year. You can also try another willow shrub that grows quickly, the Flamingo Japanese willow.

Even though common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) was named for its bark, it is not in quite the same class as red twig dogwood. The Diablo cultivar especially offers something beyond an interesting bark: Dark foliage that makes it one of the so-called "black" plants. Diablo has a mature size of 8 to 10 feet tall with burgundy foliage. But the best part is that all ninebarks are such fast-growing shrubs they may reach their mature height in one year.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is such a fast-growing bush at 2 feet annually 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 and privacy hedge.

The branching of rock cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) 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. The berries of cotoneasters are toxic to humans and animals, although birds do fine with them.12

There should be a special place in your heart for forsythia bushes. 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 and make beautiful and wild yellow "walls" of privacy, growing at about 2 feet annually.

Like mock orange, the traditional and common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is an olfactory treasure with fragrant flowers. There are plenty of new cultivars available. They will grow about 2 feet a year and make a spectacular privacy bush when in full bloom in the springtime.