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20 fast-growing shrubs and bushes that add garden privacy quickly
Plant these beautiful, versatile plants for privacy in a hurry
Don’t want to stare at that ugly block wall next door? Plants are the answer.
From hydrangea bushes to lilac bushes and every evergreen in between, many attractive, fast-growing shrubs provide privacy, hide eyesores, and offer food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife in a matter of a few seasons.
To ensure your shrub gets a good start, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot. Rough up the root ball with your hands a bit to help the roots spread out. Backfill the hole, but resist the urge to add peat moss or other organic matter. That’s an outdated practice that actually creates drainage problems, which can stunt or kill the plant eventually. Just water and mulch your new shrub, and don’t let it dry out the first season as it gets established. Then enjoy the view.
These plants typically reach maturity within a few seasons...
Arborvitae
Arborvitae are stately evergreens that come in many different heights, ranging from a few feet to 30 feet tall or more. Most don’t need shearing to maintain their shape.
Varieties to Try: Green Giant, Spring Grove
Butterfly Bush
Sometimes called summer lilac, this sturdy shrub with purple flowers withstands drought, blooms all season long and attracts pollinators. Newer types are not invasive.
Varieties to Try: Miss Violet, Miss Ruby
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are wonderfully versatile shrubs that thrive across most parts of the UK, from sheltered southern gardens to cooler northern regions. Some tolerate part shade, but most need a few hours of sun for best blooms.
Varieties to Try: Firelight, Monmar
Elderberry
Late spring or early summer flowers and attractive foliage make this graceful plant attractive in a mixed border.
Varieties to Try: Instant Karma, Lemony Lace
Pyracantha
This vigorous shrub grows upright and boasts clusters of gorgeous autumn berries that last well into winter.
Varieties to Try: Graberi, Kasan
Lilac
Beautifully-scented lilacs like plenty of sun, but give them a space between plants to let air circulate and reduce the risk of powdery mildew developing.
Varieties to Try: Lavender Lady, Angel White
Forsythia
You know spring has arrived when the bright yellow forsythia starts blooming! It’s a more moderate grower than some other shrubs but will still reach its mature height relatively quickly.
Varieties to Try: Meadowlark, Spring Glory
Beautyberry (Callicarpa)
Some types of this sun-loving, perennial plant have solid green or variegated green-and-white foliage, but the prettiest variety has dark purple foliage with masses of white blooms in late summer. The real show is the purple berries in the autumn months.
Varieties to Try: Pearl Glam, Purple Pearls
Ninebark
This white-flowering native plant is a standout in the garden, with handsome burgundy foliage that lasts all season and creamy white flowers in early summer. The plant is ultra-cold-hardy and has an elegant arching shape.
Varieties to Try: Diablo, Summer Wine
Camellia
Camellias are classic cottage-garden favourites, loved for their glossy evergreen leaves and beautiful, rose-like blooms in shades of pink, red and white from late winter into spring.
Varieties to Try: Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua
Viburnum
This beautiful evergreen shrub has interesting puckered leaves and pretty white fragrant flowers, followed by showy red fruit.
Varieties to Try: Allegheny, Prague
Dappled Willow
The weeping stems of this shrub are pink, with mottled foliage of white, green, and pink.
Varieties to Try: Hakuro Nishiki, Flamingo
Spirea
This arching shrub boasts a mass of white flowers in spring and colourful orange or reddish foliage in autumn.
Varieties to Try: Renaissance, Grefsheim
Red Twig Dogwood
This multi-stemmed shrub has striking red branches that are stunning in the winter landscape, especially against snow.
Varieties to Try: Isanti, Sibirica
Weigela
Serviceberry
This shrub or small tree is prized for its beautiful orange-red autumnal colour and clusters of white flowers that ripen into deep purple fruits the birds love.
Varieties to Try: Glenform, Autumn Brilliance
Mock Orange
This fountain-shaped shrub with beautiful white flowers has a light citrusy scent and lush green foliage.
Varieties to Try: Natchez, Belle Etoile
Euonymus
Many types of this evergreen work well as a clipped hedge, while others look best left to naturalise. Happy in the shade or sun, some varieties have green and gold variegated foliage.
Varieties to Try: Manhattan, Aureovariegatus
Juniper
Junipers come in a staggering array of sizes and colours, ranging from green to gold. It’s an extremely cold-hardy evergreen that’s not particularly fussy.
Varieties to Try: Montodd, Spartan
Hardy Fuchsias
Hardy fuchsias are much tougher than their tender bedding relatives, reliably surviving UK winters and returning each year with a long display of delicate, pendant flowers in shades of pink, purple and white from summer into autumn. Easy to grow and ideal for borders or informal hedging, they bring a slightly exotic feel without the fuss.
Varieties to Try: Fuchsia magellanica, Mrs Popple
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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