If you want a backyard that feels more like a peaceful retreat and less like a neighborly fishbowl, fast-growing bushes are a brilliant place to start. These leafy workhorses grow tall and thick in no time, giving you that lush green privacy screen without the years-long wait.
Below are 13 fast-growing shrubs that shoot up faster than a 6-foot fence—and bring seasonal color, texture, and even fragrance to your outdoor space.
1. Forsythia
- Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
- Height: 8-10 feet
- Width: 6-8 feet
- Features: Known for its bright yellow flowers in early spring, Forsythia grows densely and rapidly, creating an effective privacy barrier. Its vibrant blooms make it a stunning addition to any yard.
2. Lilac (Syringa)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 8-15 feet
- Width: 6-12 feet
- Features: Lilacs are loved for their fragrant, showy blooms in spring. These fast-growing bushes fill out with dense foliage in summer, ensuring both privacy and beauty.
3. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
- Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Width: 4-6 feet
- Features: Butterfly Bushes produce colorful flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Their rapid growth and dense foliage make them a vibrant privacy option.
4. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
- Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
- Height: 8-12 feet
- Width: 6-8 feet
- Features: Mock Orange is cherished for its highly fragrant white flowers that bloom in late spring or early summer. This bush grows quickly and adds elegance to privacy screens.
5. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 10-12 feet
- Width: 6-10 feet
- Features: With its large, gorgeous blooms, Rose of Sharon is perfect for creating a colorful and dense privacy hedge. It thrives in full sun and provides summer-long beauty.
6. Elderberry (Sambucus)
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Height: 8-12 feet
- Width: 6-10 feet
- Features: Elderberry bushes grow quickly and offer edible berries. Their thick foliage and spreading branches make them an excellent natural privacy screen.
7. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 10-20 feet
- Width: 8-15 feet
- Features: Crape Myrtles feature vibrant summer blooms and multi-season interest, thanks to their attractive bark. They are a beautiful and functional choice for privacy.
8. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Height: 8-10 feet
- Width: 6-8 feet
- Features: With its striking foliage, clusters of pink or white flowers, and peeling bark, Ninebark adds visual interest while forming a dense hedge for privacy.
9. Chokeberry (Aronia)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Width: 3-5 feet
- Features: Chokeberry bushes produce white flowers in spring and vibrant fall foliage. Their dense growth and edible berries make them a versatile choice for privacy.
10. Weigela
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 6-10 feet
- Width: 6-10 feet
- Features: Weigela’s bell-shaped flowers bloom in spring and summer, adding a pop of color to your backyard while forming a thick, privacy-enhancing hedge.
11. Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 10-15 feet
- Width: 10-12 feet
- Features: Smokebushes are known for their dramatic, smoke-like plumes and vibrant foliage in shades of purple or green. They create a striking and private backyard space.
12. Beautyberry (Callicarpa)
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Width: 4-6 feet
- Features: Beautyberry bushes produce vibrant purple berries in the fall, which contrast beautifully with their green foliage. Their fast growth makes them ideal for privacy screens.
13. Spirea (Spiraea)
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Height: 6-8 feet
- Width: 5-6 feet
- Features: Spirea bushes bloom in clusters of white, pink, or red flowers during spring and summer. Their rapid growth and compact size make them a charming option for privacy.
Clive’s Tips for a Thriving Privacy Hedge 🌿
🌞 Sunlight Matters: Most of these bushes love full sun. Make sure your chosen spot gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day unless the plant prefers partial shade.
📏 Spacing Counts: Don’t cram them in. Give your plants enough room to breathe and grow—overcrowding leads to poor airflow and disease.
💧 Water Smart: Keep the soil consistently moist while your bushes establish. Once they’re settled, many are drought-tolerant.
🌱 Feed With Care: Use a balanced fertilizer in early spring to give your bushes a boost, but don’t overdo it.
✂️ Prune with Purpose: Pruning helps shape your hedge and encourages thicker growth—just check the best time to prune your particular plant.
With these fast-growing bushes, you can build a private, colorful retreat in just a few seasons. Whether you love bold blooms, fragrant flowers, or eye-catching foliage, there’s a perfect plant (or two!) on this list to suit your backyard style.
About Your Guide
