Are you planning to make the most of your outdoor space but find it hard because you feel like you are the center of attraction?
Look no further than fast-growing hedge plants, as they are the perfect option for homeowners who seek quick privacy hedges.
Additionally, if you’re tired of your neighbors spying on you anytime you plan to relax peacefully outside and have some privacy, think about planting fast-growing hedge plants around your home.
Not only do they offer privacy options, but they also keep their area peaceful and quiet, hide eyesores, are decorative, and provide shade. Read on to find out some of the most popular fast-growing hedge plants with flowers.
Jump to:
- Popular Fast-Growing Hedge Plants with Flowers
- 1. Skip Laurel Shrub (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)
- 2. Flame Amur Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’)
- 3. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
- 4. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
- 5. English Laurel or Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus spp.)
- 6. Common Purple Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
- 7. Lemon Lights Azalea Shrub (Rhododendron ‘Lemon Lights’)
- 8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
- 9. Forsythia (Forsythia)
- 10. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
- 11. Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
- 12. American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
- 13. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja ‘Green Giant’)
- 14. Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- 15. Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina Domestica ‘Gulf Stream’)
- 16. Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’)
- 17. Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
- 18. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
- 19. Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
- 20. Lavender Rhododendron Shrub (Rhododendron catawbiense)
- 21. Arctic Willow (Salix purpurea)
- 22. Yew (Taxus)
- 23. Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
- 24. Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
- 25. White Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
- Conclusion
Popular Fast-Growing Hedge Plants with Flowers
1. Skip Laurel Shrub (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’)
The first fast-growing flowering hedge plant on our list is Skip Laurel Shrub. Significantly native to the southern states and along the west coast, the skip laurel shrub is a perfect option for growing along the coast, as it will help to block off some of the excess wind that the nearby water can cause.
Prunus laurocerasus, scientifically called, can also survive as far north as Virginia on the east coast and probably beyond. Ideal in zones 5 to 10, the skip laurel is a classic, dense evergreen used as a topiary and grows white blooms with a lovely fragrance.
It can reach up to 10 to 18 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet spread and will do best in partial or full shade.
2. Flame Amur Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’)
Another excellent fast-growing flowering hedge plant is Flame Amur Maple. It is a deciduous plant with fantastic fall color that comes in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows.
It is a freezing hardy hedge plant native to many parts of the US. You can grow it as a hedge because of its multi-stemmed nature and prune it yearly to maintain it.
Flame Amur maple likes full sun to partial shade and can tolerate drought was matured. Once it starts germinating, it’ll become one of the best fast-growing shrubs hedges providing shade in the summer and still allowing light through during winter. Hardy in zones 3 to 8, it can reach 2 feet per year and is deer-resistant.
3. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
In the winter, this unique red twig dogwood plant loses so many leaves, berries, and even absent flowers yet, maintains its outstanding qualities. In other words, despite losing so many of its essential features, the Cornus sericea remains at its best; nothing stands in the way of its finest features.
In zones 2 to 7, the red twig dogwood prefers full sun to partial shade and rich, fertile, and moist soil. This finest feature includes a stunning fire-red bark color. The more you stare at this beautiful plant, the more it lifts your spirits, even in the gloomiest winter seasons.
4. Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Mock orange is an excellent sweet-scented shrub, surprisingly named for what it is not instead of for what it is. In other words, just like the ‘mock’ in its name implies, mock orange is not the natural orange we all know. However, the citrusy aroma of its white flowers led to the comparison.
The Philadelphus coronarius has another white-flowered option known as double-file viburnum. In USDA zones 4 to 8, the mock orange prefers full sun to partial shade conditions and thrives in well-drained, loamy soil. But you must avoid overwatering to avoid causing root rot.
5. English Laurel or Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus spp.)
English or cherry laurel is another prunus laurocerasus specie on our list of fast-growing hedge plants with flowers. This plant thrives in heat and features glossy evergreen foliage.
It can grow into a sizeable, fast-growing hedge, reaching over 3 feet in one year. It will make a gorgeous large hedge that requires frequent pruning of 1 to 2 times yearly.
English laurel does best in full sun to partial conditions and can survive in different soil types. Hardy in zones 6 to 9, it is tolerant of drought once matured, smog and salt quickly, and resists deer. It offers tough nails and versatile and highly fast-growing hedges for huge spaces where privacy is required.
6. Common Purple Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Native to large parts of the US (apart from southern states, the west coast, and the northernmost parts of the Midwest), the common purple lilac is an excellent option for a flowering privacy shrub.
It can survive in temperatures around -30℉ and has a growth rate seen as moderate but on the fast side.
Does Not only common purple lilac grow to be tall but also broad, hence would work well to cover so much ground.
It will do well in different soil conditions and grow as tall as 8 to 25 feet and 6 to 12 feet spread. Hardy in zones 3 to 7, it loves partial to full sun conditions and grows gorgeous flowers with lovely fragrances.
7. Lemon Lights Azalea Shrub (Rhododendron ‘Lemon Lights’)
Lemon Lights Azalea Shrub is perfect for the middle-growing zones and is a faster-growing option than most azalea species.
It is a fast-growing shrub (even though it’s characterized chiefly as moderate) and can reach up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, and even more extensive than most other azalea varieties.
This flowering hedge plant will do well even with a drop in temperature (as low as -20℉, and produces lots of bright, sunny yellow flowers in the spring. However, growing them in partial to full light spots would be best since their tropical hardiness zone is between 4 and 7.
8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
Portuguese Laurel is an outrageously fast-growing evergreen hedge that does best in warm, coastal climates. Even though it is a rapid-growing plant, it is pretty easy to maintain thanks to its mainly spreading habit. If you prune it at least once yearly, it’ll produce a dense hedge.
The Prunus lusitanica grows well in warm climates and thrives in drought, smog, and salt, and will survive a wide range of soils, including poor soils.
It prefers full sun to partial conditions and is resistant to deer. Even though Portuguese laurel is a bit slow-growing than English and Schip laurel, it is still an excellent option for a fast-growing hedge with little maintenance.
9. Forsythia (Forsythia)
There’s no way Forsythia would be missing from our list. Hardy in zones 3 to 8, this unique plant thrives in full sun, moist, and well-draining soil.
When its flower buds start to yellow up, the forsythia blooms herald nothing less than spring itself. Among the bushes, they offer some of the fastest spring blossoms.
10. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Cotoneaster has a stiff and dense branch that gives it a rather bristly display. Its brisk appearance is softened once the plant starts producing berries; you will love its fleshy orbs. Stems shoot off the components in a ‘herringbone pattern,’ a hardscaping term.
However, we advise you to choose the taller varieties of cotoneaster, like Cotoneaster lucidus, that offer a more private option. In USDA zones 5 to 7, the cotoneaster species thrives in full sun to partial shade and loamy, well-drained, and evenly moist soil.
11. Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
Beautyberry is a rapid-growing bush specie that you should prune down to within one foot or so of the ground during early spring. It’ll result in new growth filled with berries by autumn.
In zones 6 to 10, the Callicarpa Americana prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
12. American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
American arborvitae is a trendy plant that serves as fast-growing evergreen hedges. It is a very cold hardy shrub mainly native to the Northern US.
In zones 2 to 8, this plant reaches up to 1 to 2 feet yearly and thrives in the sun to partial shade. It is easy to maintain as a clipped edge with one pruning each year.
13. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja ‘Green Giant’)
As long as green giant arborvitae is concerned, it is a fast-growing perennial shrub that reaches 3 feet in one year and even 5 feet yearly. In zones 3 to 8, the plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows in many soils but avoids soggy poor-draining sites.
This plant is a perfect option for privacy and windbreaks. However, maintaining it as a medium-sized hedge requires maintenance effort by pruning once per year.
14. Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrub (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Oakleaf Hydrangea is a perfect beginner shrub that offers charm and beauty. Native to US regions, this shrub is a fast grower and needs minimal care and maintenance and also tends to spread out nicely to fill out much space horizontally and vertically.
It also has gorgeous leaves and can reach 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Meanwhile, oakleaf is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and prefers partial to full sun conditions.
15. Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina Domestica ‘Gulf Stream’)
Native to many parts of the southern United States and its western counterparts, the gulf stream heavenly bamboo comes in various colors from season to season. Its leaves change to red in both the spring and fall. What makes it stand out is its density and unique foliage.
In the winter, they produce orange hues, while the summertime sees them change to bluish-green. Hardy in zones 6 to 10, the gulf stream has white blooms and thrives in partial to full sun while reaching up to 3 to 3.5 feet tall and wide within a few years, making it another fast-growing plant.
16. Virescens Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’)
This virescens specie is a great evergreen, fast-growing hedge plant with flowers for warmer climates where other Arborvitaes may not do well.
Native to the Pacific Northwest, this plant grows tall and narrow naturally; hence, it would ideally serve as a tall privacy hedge. It possesses unique upright-branching nature and responds excellently to hedging.
Hardy, in zones 5 to 8, is a deer-resistant plant that can reach 2 feet per year. You only need to prune it once a year to maintain its lovely hedge. Virescens grow well in moderately hot and cool areas, thrive in partial to full sun conditions, and retain their green color throughout the year.
17. Diablo Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Although diablo ninebark is named for its bark, you can’t compare it with the red twig dogwood.
However, it offers more than just an exciting bark: dark foliage, making it one of the so-called black plants. In zones 2 to 8, Diablo ninebark thrives in full sun to partial shade and clay or loamy soil.
18. Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Pussy willow is among the oldest heralds of spring, even earlier than the Forsythia, and features fuzzy white catkins before the latter’s yellow flowers had even arrived.
It is a rapid-growing specie that is hardy in zones 2 to 7. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and loves moist, well-drained soil.
19. Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
Loropetalum is a fast-growing flowering plant used in several regions but has its capital in American Southeast, which is evergreen and trendy.
In zones 7 to 9, the Loropetalum chinense thrives in full sun to partial shade and rich, well-drained, loamy, acidic soil.
20. Lavender Rhododendron Shrub (Rhododendron catawbiense)
If you’re looking for a privacy hedge plant, you can trust the lavender rhododendron shrub. It is fast-growing and will not waste too much time providing excellent cover, especially with a plant with a perfect start. Reaching about 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide, the plant will offer gorgeous flowers and year-round privacy. It thrives in partial to full sun.
21. Arctic Willow (Salix purpurea)
Native to several parts of the US, the arctic willow is a fast-growing shrub that will grow about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide. It features silver leaves beneath and looks to glitter when the breeze flutters through them. In zones 3 to 7, the arctic willow will thrive in full sun.
22. Yew (Taxus)
One enticing feature that a yew possesses that other evergreens don’t have is its ability to tolerate shade. Despite the lack of sunlight, it can do well in north-facing foundation plantings.
However, it does best in full sun. Hardy in zones 4 to 8, yew prefers well-drained soil. Keep the berries away from kids as they are poisonous.
23. Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Most people think it is a plant that killed Socrates, but it is not, as no part of the tree is poisonous.
Canadian Hemlock is a fast-growing privacy hedge plant in suburban areas of North America. In zones 3 to 7, this plant does best in partial sun to partial shade and prefers rich, moist soil.
24. Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Even though it is the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America, the Burning Bush is still among the fast-growing shrubs, featuring many stunning colors.
Its colors include red, pinkish red, etc., and it grows reddish-orange berries in fall. It is an invasive shrub that demands care, hardy in zones 4 to 8, and thrives in full sun to partial shade and sandy, loamy soil.
25. White Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
It is a hardy and adaptable shrub with few pest issues and grows at a stunning rate of two feet per year, making it one of the fastest-growing shrubs on this list.
Hardy in zones 3 to 7, the Salix caprea will thrive in full sun conditions and reach about 15 to 25 feet tall and wide in full maturity.
Conclusion
Fast-growing hedge plants with flowers not only serve as protection from intruders, deer, or other pests, but they also beautify your garden space, thanks to their stunning flowers.
The most enticing feature is that they tend to grow rapidly in less than a few years with a great height, making them perfect hedge plants.
