When seeking to establish a mature landscape quickly, “fast-growing tall bushes” refers to shrubs capable of adding more than two feet of vertical growth annually. These vigorous plants typically reach a mature height exceeding eight feet, often serving as hedges or screens. Selecting species with this rapid growth habit allows gardeners to achieve structural impact and visual seclusion in a fraction of the time compared to slower-maturing varieties. This quick development demands a balance of proper site selection and consistent maintenance to ensure the plant’s health and longevity.
Environmental Factors Influencing Rapid Growth
Achieving maximum growth potential depends on optimizing the environmental conditions surrounding the shrub. Plants only reach their documented growth rates when placed in their preferred hardiness zone, which prevents them from wasting energy on recovering from unsuitable temperatures. Correct sun exposure is also paramount, as the photosynthetic machinery of a sun-loving shrub slows significantly if relegated to a partial shade location.
The soil structure must facilitate proper root development and nutrient uptake; rich, well-draining soil is preferred over compacted clay or pure sand. A plant must have consistent access to water for the turgor pressure that drives cell expansion, as drought stress immediately halts rapid vertical growth. Providing these ideal conditions helps ensure the shrub can dedicate its energy to biomass production, maximizing the annual growth rate.
Tall, Dense Shrubs for Privacy Screening
The most common reason people seek fast-growing tall bushes is to create a dense, living boundary for privacy. These screening shrubs are characterized by thick foliage and the ability to maintain density from the ground up, providing year-round visual blockage. One of the fastest-growing options is the Leyland Cypress (x Hesperotropsis leylandii), which can add three to five feet of height per year under optimal conditions. This evergreen hybrid easily reaches mature heights of 40 to 60 feet, making it suitable for blocking views from second-story windows, and it thrives in full sun locations.
Similarly vigorous, the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae (Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’) is popular due to its uniform pyramidal shape and ability to grow up to five feet annually, quickly forming a dark green wall. It typically matures around 50 to 60 feet tall and is highly adaptable, tolerating both full sun and partial shade while demonstrating resistance to deer browsing. For a broadleaf evergreen option, the English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a fast-growing selection that adds one to three feet of growth each year. This shrub has glossy, dark green leaves and can reach 10 to 20 feet, offering excellent density even in shadier locations.
Another reliable option for quick, dense hedging is the Privet (Ligustrum spp.), often adding two to three feet of growth per season. Privet varieties can be sheared into a formal hedge or allowed to grow into a dense, informal screen, reaching mature heights between 4 and 15 feet. While highly adaptable to a range of soils and light conditions, its rapid growth means it needs regular pruning to prevent overgrowth; certain species can be considered invasive in some regions. All screening shrubs require planting with enough space to allow for their mature width to maintain airflow and prevent disease.
Quick-Growing Bushes for Structure and Ornament
Beyond simple screening, other fast-growing shrubs are valued for their seasonal ornamental features, providing structure and color to the landscape. These varieties often have a more open habit or lose their leaves in winter, differentiating them from dense privacy evergreens. The Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), particularly cultivars like ‘Limelight’, is a fast-growing deciduous shrub that averages two feet of growth per year. It provides large, long-lasting summer blooms and can reach 6 to 15 feet, offering a temporary visual screen during the growing season.
For early season color, Forsythia (Forsythia spp.) is a rapid-growing shrub that adds one to two feet of growth annually, quickly reaching up to 20 feet tall. It is cherished for its bright yellow flowers that appear before the foliage emerges; its arching branches make it suitable for informal hedging or background structure. The Mock Orange (Philadelphus spp.) is another excellent choice for quick structure, sometimes exceeding two feet of growth per year and maturing around 3 to 10 feet tall. This deciduous shrub is grown for its intensely fragrant white flowers that appear in late spring to early summer.
Managing the height and form of these ornamental shrubs often involves rejuvenation pruning, a specific maintenance action tailored to their growth habit. For instance, the Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea), which grows one to two feet per year to a mature height of 5 to 9 feet, is routinely pruned back to the ground in late winter. This aggressive pruning encourages the growth of new stems, which display the most vibrant red or yellow bark color, providing structure and interest throughout the winter months.