17 Fast-Growing Shrubs to Transform Your Landscape Quickly

When you’re looking to make significant changes to your landscape without waiting decades, fast-growing shrubs offer the perfect solution. These versatile plants can quickly provide privacy, create structure, add seasonal interest, and transform bare spaces into lush, vibrant gardens. The best fast-growing shrubs combine rapid growth with attractive features like colorful foliage, beautiful flowers, or interesting form. This comprehensive guide explores 17 outstanding fast-growing shrubs that can dramatically change your landscape in just a few growing seasons.

Best Fast-Growing Shrubs to Grow

Fast-growing shrubs are considered those that add anywhere from 1.5 to 3 feet of growth annually. These landscape workhorses offer quick solutions for privacy screens, windbreaks, and filling empty garden spaces. While rapid growth is desirable, it’s important to balance this characteristic with overall plant health, longevity, and maintenance requirements. The following selections provide excellent options for various landscape needs and growing conditions.

Arborvitae (Thuja spp.)

Arborvitae stands as one of the most popular choices for fast-growing evergreen screening and hedging. These coniferous plants offer year-round greenery and come in various shapes and sizes to suit different landscape needs.

• Zones: 2-9, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Slender pyramidal or low mounding
• Height/Spread: 2 to 70 feet tall, 2 to 25 feet wide
• Growth rate: Several inches to 3-5 feet per year
• Bloom time: Inconspicuous flowers

Varieties like North Pole®, Sting®, and ‘Emerald Green’ are particularly well-suited for narrow spaces and formal hedges. Their dense foliage creates effective privacy screens, while their architectural form adds structure to the landscape throughout all seasons. For the fastest growth, plant in well-draining soil and provide adequate water during establishment.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.)

Beautyberry offers exceptional multi-season interest with its elegant growth habit, subtle summer flowers, and showstopping purple berries that persist well into fall and winter.

• Zones: 5-10, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Mounding or arching habit
• Height/Spread: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide
• Growth rate: Several inches to 3-5 feet per year
• Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer

This deciduous shrub truly shines in fall when its branches become laden with clusters of vibrant purple berries that persist after leaf drop. Pearl Glam® beautyberry offers enhanced ornamental features with darker foliage that contrasts beautifully with the bright berries. Beautyberry works well in mixed borders, as a specimen plant, or when grouped to create informal screens.

Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet ranks among the fastest-growing shrubs available, making it a go-to choice for quick hedges and privacy screens. Its adaptability to different soil conditions and pruning tolerance makes it highly versatile.

• Zones: 4-10, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Upright, dense growth
• Height/Spread: 4 to 15 feet tall, 4 to 8 feet wide
• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2 feet per year
• Bloom time: Spring to early summer

Varieties like Cheyenne Privet offer excellent cold hardiness and can be maintained at 8 feet tall with a width of 4-6 feet. While privet’s rapid growth is advantageous, it’s important to note that some varieties can be invasive in certain regions, so check local recommendations before planting. Regular pruning maintains a neat appearance and encourages dense growth.

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

Ninebark has gained tremendous popularity for its colorful foliage, interesting exfoliating bark, and excellent adaptability to various growing conditions.

• Zones: 2-8
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Upright, arching branches
• Height/Spread: 5 to 10 feet tall and wide
• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2 feet per year
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Cultivars like Diablo Ninebark offer dramatic burgundy-purple foliage that provides striking contrast in the landscape. This native North American shrub tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and requires minimal maintenance once established. Pruning after flowering helps maintain shape and encourages vigorous new growth.

Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

Forsythia announces spring’s arrival with a spectacular display of bright yellow flowers that appear before the leaves emerge, creating a dramatic golden display.

• Zones: 3-8, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to light shade
• Habit: Upright arching branches
• Height/Spread: 4 to 10 feet tall and wide
• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2 feet per year
• Bloom time: Early spring

Northern Gold Forsythia offers exceptional cold hardiness and can grow 6-7 feet tall with a 4-foot spread. This low-maintenance shrub adapts to various soil types and requires minimal care once established. For the best flowering, plant in full sun and prune immediately after flowering to maintain shape and size.

Willow (Salix spp.)

Willows represent some of the fastest-growing woody plants available, with many varieties adding 2 feet or more of growth annually. Their graceful form and adaptability make them popular landscape choices.

• Zones: 4-9, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Varies by type: weeping, upright, or spreading
• Height/Spread: 6 to 80 feet tall, 6 to 80 feet wide
• Growth rate: 2+ feet per year
• Bloom time: Early spring

Dappled Willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’) offers particularly ornamental value with its variegated pink, white, and green foliage. This versatile shrub can be maintained at 6-10 feet with regular pruning. While willows thrive in moist conditions, their aggressive root systems make them unsuitable for planting near houses, sewers, or septic systems.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.)

Butterfly bush delivers on its name by attracting numerous pollinators with its fragrant, colorful flower panicles that bloom throughout summer into fall.

• Zones: 5-10, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun
• Habit: Upright, arching branches
• Height/Spread: 3 to 12 feet tall, 4 to 15 feet wide
• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2.5 feet per year
• Bloom time: Summer through fall

Modern cultivars like ‘Miss Molly’ offer improved features including more compact growth, enhanced flower color, and reduced seed production to prevent unwanted spreading. These shrubs perform best in well-draining soil with full sun exposure and benefit from regular deadheading to encourage continuous blooming.

Bluebeard (Caryopteris spp.)

Bluebeard, also known as blue mist shrub, offers late-season color when many other plants have finished blooming, with vibrant blue-purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees.

• Zones: 5-9
• Exposure: Full sun
• Habit: Compact, mounded
• Height/Spread: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide
• Growth rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Bloom time: Late summer to fall

BEYOND MIDNIGHT® Bluebeard features improved characteristics including darker foliage and more vibrant flower color. This drought-tolerant shrub performs exceptionally well in hot, sunny locations with well-draining soil. Prune in early spring to encourage dense growth and maximum flowering.

Abelia (Abelia spp.)

Abelia combines rapid growth with multi-season interest, featuring glossy foliage, fragrant flowers, and colorful fall display in many varieties.

• Zones: 5-9, depending on variety
• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Habit: Mounding to arching
• Height/Spread: 2 to 6 feet tall and wide
• Growth rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Bloom time: Summer through fall

BRILLIANTINA Abelia offers improved hardiness and a more compact growth habit while maintaining the attractive features of traditional abelias. These versatile shrubs work well in borders, as foundation plantings, or in containers. Regular light pruning encourages dense growth and abundant flowering.

Tips for Growing Fast-Growing Shrubs

To maximize the growth potential of these rapid-growing shrubs while ensuring their long-term health and vigor, consider these essential care tips:

Planting for Success

Proper planting techniques establish the foundation for healthy, vigorous growth. Dig planting holes twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the container depth. Amend poor soils with compost to improve drainage and fertility. Space plants according to their mature size to prevent overcrowding, even though it may look sparse initially.

Watering and Establishment

Even fast-growing shrubs require a thorough establishment period. Water deeply and consistently during the first growing season, typically providing 1-2 inches of water weekly. Create a watering basin around newly planted shrubs to direct water to the root zone. Once established, most shrubs will require less frequent watering except during periods of drought.

Fertilization

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to provide steady nutrition throughout the growing season. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can promote weak, lanky growth at the expense of flowering. Follow package directions for application rates based on plant size and species requirements.

Pruning and Maintenance

Fast-growing shrubs often require more frequent pruning to maintain desired shape and size. Establish a regular pruning schedule appropriate to each species—some benefit from pruning after flowering, while others are best pruned in late winter before new growth begins. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches to improve air circulation and plant health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How quickly will these fast-growing shrubs establish privacy?

A: Most fast-growing shrubs begin providing meaningful screening within 2-3 growing seasons. Varieties like arborvitae, privet, and willow can create substantial privacy barriers within 2-3 years when properly spaced and maintained. Starting with larger container sizes accelerates this timeline.

Q: Can fast-growing shrubs become invasive?

A: Some fast-growing shrubs like certain privet species and butterfly bush varieties have invasive tendencies in particular regions. Always check with local extension offices or native plant societies for region-specific recommendations before planting. Many modern cultivars have been developed with reduced invasive potential.

Q: Do fast-growing shrubs have shorter lifespans?

A: While some rapid-growing species may have shorter lifespans than slower-growing alternatives, proper maintenance practices can significantly extend their longevity. Regular pruning, appropriate fertilization, and optimal siting all contribute to long-term plant health and performance.

Q: What is the best time of year to plant fast-growing shrubs?

A: Fall and spring typically offer ideal planting conditions, allowing roots to establish before temperature extremes. Fall planting is particularly beneficial in regions with hot summers, giving plants time to develop root systems before the heat arrives. Container-grown shrubs can be planted throughout the growing season with proper care.

Q: How can I prevent fast-growing shrubs from outgrowing their space?

A: Regular maintenance pruning is essential for controlling the size of vigorous shrubs. Establishing boundaries early with proper pruning techniques helps maintain appropriate dimensions. Select varieties that naturally grow to a size compatible with your available space whenever possible.

By incorporating these fast-growing shrubs into your landscape design, you can achieve dramatic transformations in a relatively short time frame. Whether you’re seeking privacy, structure, or seasonal interest, these versatile plants offer solutions for nearly any garden challenge while providing beauty and ecological benefits for years to come.

Author

medha deb

 

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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