9 fast-growing hedge varieties for a serene escape

Posted on 29/06/2025

9 Fast-Growing Hedge Varieties for a Serene Escape

Creating a vibrant, tranquil garden sanctuary is more achievable than ever with the right choice of hedging plants. Fast-growing hedges not only provide privacy and structure in record time, but also add enchanting green walls of life, sound barriers, and habitats for wildlife. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into nine superb, fast-growing hedge varieties that promise to transform your outdoor space into a relaxing retreat.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges?

Hedges have long been an essential element in landscape architecture, offering a natural alternative to fences or walls. Fast-growing hedges, in particular, are ideal for homeowners and gardeners who seek quick results, whether for privacy, windbreaks, noise reduction, or simply an aesthetic green boundary. Below are several compelling reasons to opt for speedy hedging plants:

• Privacy in no time: Create secluded spaces swiftly.
• Natural noise barriers: Reduce street and neighborhood sounds.
• Attractive green screens: Soften the look of hard boundaries.
• Wildlife haven: Support birds, bees, and butterflies.
• Low maintenance options: Many varieties are easy to care for.

If you're eager to enjoy these advantages, read on as we explore nine of the best fast-growing hedge plants that will turn your garden into a serene escape.

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Why Leyland Cypress?

The Leyland Cypress is synonymous with rapid growth, lush foliage, and impressive height. This hybrid conifer is a favorite for creating dense, tall privacy screens in a short time.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet (90cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 40-60 feet (12-18m), but easily kept lower with regular trimming
• Features: Evergreen, soft feathery needles, deep green color
• Best For: Large gardens, instant privacy screens, windbreaks
• Care: Requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil

Tip: Plant Leyland Cypress at least 4-6 feet apart for a thick, quick-forming hedge.

2. Privet (Ligustrum species)

The Classic Fast-Growing Hedge Plant

Privet hedges--from Common Privet to Golden Privet--are famed for their fast growth and adaptability. These hardy plants feature small, glossy leaves and dense branching that provide an effective screen within a few seasons.

• Growth Rate: 12-24 inches (30-60cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 8-12 feet (2.5-3.5m)
• Features: Semi-evergreen to deciduous, attractive fragrant flowers, tolerant of most soil types
• Best For: Formal and informal hedges, urban gardens
• Care: Tolerates heavy pruning and urban pollution

Privet hedges are easy to shape and ideal for those seeking a reliable, evergreen boundary in cities or the countryside.

3. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia')

Broadleaf Beauty for a Lush Escape

Cherry laurel is one of the most popular fast-growing evergreen hedge plants for privacy. Its broad, glossy leaves form a dense, vibrant screen all year round.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet (60cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 10-20 feet (3-6m)
• Features: Evergreen, white spring flowers, birds love the summer berries
• Best For: Tall privacy hedges, screening road noise
• Care: Tolerant of shade and different soil types, but prefers moist, well-drained ground

For a fast-growing hedge that looks lush and full all year long, laurel is practically unbeatable.

4. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')

Striking Color Meets Speed

The Photinia Red Robin is instantly recognizable for its vibrant red new leaves, making it a colorful alternative among fast-growing hedging varieties.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet (60cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 10-13 feet (3-4m)
• Features: Evergreen, red coloured young growth turning green, clusters of white spring flowers
• Best For: Contemporary gardens, mixed hedges
• Care: Prefers full sun for best red foliage color, but adapts to partial shade

Tip: Trim Photinia hedges in early summer to maximize their striking red foliage display.

5. Escallonia (Escallonia macrantha)

Flowering Sensation for Fast Coverage

If you want a flowering hedge that grows quickly, Escallonia could be your top pick. It rewards with an abundance of pink, rose or crimson blooms set off by glossy dark leaves.

• Growth Rate: Up to 18 inches (45cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 6-10 feet (2-3m)
• Features: Evergreen to semi-evergreen, summer-long flowers, attracts pollinators
• Best For: Coastal gardens, mixed flowering hedges
• Care: Needs full sun and protection from harsh winter winds

Escallonia hedges not only provide rapid screening, but also enhance your garden's visual appeal with their radiant flowers and rich green foliage.

6. Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis)

A Modern Evergreen with a Fast Pace

Looking for a fast-growing, evergreen hedge for coastal settings? Griselinia fits the bill with its distinctive apple-green, leathery leaves and remarkable salt tolerance.

• Growth Rate: 12-24 inches (30-60cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 10-13 feet (3-4m)
• Features: Evergreen, attractive foliage, wind and salt tolerant
• Best For: Coastal areas, contemporary garden designs
• Care: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Griselinia offers a modern and low-maintenance hedge solution for those living by the coast or in exposed sites.

7. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Elegant and Speedy Hedge Solution

The Portuguese Laurel is a fast-growing, hardy evergreen with elegant, dark leaves and striking red stems. Though not as well-known as cherry laurel, its upright habit and neat appearance are perfect for creating a sophisticated, dense hedge fast.

• Growth Rate: 18-24 inches (45-60cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 8-16 feet (2.5-5m)
• Features: Evergreen, scented summer flowers, deep green foliage
• Best For: Formal hedges, shaded gardens, windy areas
• Care: Easy to shape with regular pruning; tolerates clay soil

Portuguese Laurel makes an excellent choice for gardens needing strong structure and year-round beauty with minimal fuss.

8. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Deciduous Hedge with Character

For those wanting a fast-growing deciduous hedge, the Hornbeam offers a traditional but highly effective solution. Despite dropping leaves in winter, hornbeam hedges retain a lattice of brown foliage until spring, preserving privacy even in colder months.

• Growth Rate: About 18 inches (45cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: Up to 60 feet (18m), but usually maintained at 6-12 feet (2-3.5m)
• Features: Tightly packed foliage, unique scalloped leaves, hardy in tough sites
• Best For: Tall hedges, screening, boundary planting
• Care: Tolerates heavy clay, urban pollution, and severe pruning

With its combination of hardiness and beauty, Hornbeam is an outstanding structural hedge for year-round landscape value.

9. Bamboo (Clumping types, e.g., Fargesia species)

Instant Green Screens with Exotic Appeal

For the bold gardener seeking both speed and uniqueness, bamboo hedges deliver rapid growth and an exotic ambiance. Clumping bamboos, such as Fargesia species, are non-invasive and form thick, upright clumps perfect for screening.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet (60-90cm) per year
• Ultimate Height: 8-16 feet (2.5-5m)
• Features: Year-round green, rustling foliage, contemporary look
• Best For: Modern gardens, patios, quick living screens
• Care: Prefer moist, well-drained soil and partial shade

Bamboo hedges not only grow exceptionally quickly, but also bring a tranquil, Zen-like feel to any outdoor space.

Quick Reference Table: 9 Rapid-Growing Hedging Plants

How to Plant and Care for Fast-Growing Hedges

Whatever your chosen species, correct planting and care are essential to get your hedging plants off to a flying start. Here are important steps to ensure quick establishment and lasting beauty:

1. Planning and Preparation

• Site: Select a location with suitable sunlight and drainage for your chosen plant.
• Spacing: Follow recommendations for each species to avoid overcrowding or gaps.
• Soil: Prepare the ground with organic matter and check pH as needed.

2. Planting Hedges for Rapid Growth

• Dig a trench twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball.
• Add well-rotted compost or soil improver to the base.
• Set plants at the same depth as nursery containers and fill in, firming the soil around the roots.
• Water well and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

3. Early Care and Maintenance

• Water new hedges regularly, especially in the first two years.
• Fertilize each spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
• Prune lightly after planting to encourage bushy growth, then maintain by trimming once or twice a year (except for bamboo, which needs minimal pruning).

These efforts will speed up the time it takes for your hedge barrier to reach its full, lush potential--giving you that peaceful and serene escape in your garden sooner.

Fast-Growing Hedges: Common Questions

Are fast-growing hedges high maintenance?

Not necessarily. While they may require more frequent trimming during the peak growing season to keep them looking tidy, many varieties (like laurel and privet) are forgiving and thrive on annual or biannual pruning. Some, such as griselinia and bamboo, are also very low maintenance.

Can I grow a fast-growing hedge on poor soil?

Yes, many robust hedge plants such as privet, hornbeam, and Portuguese laurel tolerate a range of soil types, though amending the soil with organic matter will benefit all new plantings.

How quickly will I get privacy with a fast-growing hedge?

Most of these rapid-growing hedges will form a reasonable screen within 2-3 years if planted at the correct spacing and given good care. Faster species like leylandii and bamboo may deliver privacy in just a single growing season.

Conclusion: Green Sanctuaries Await

Incorporating fast-growing hedge varieties into your landscaping is one of the most effective ways to build a private, peaceful garden escape. Whether you lean towards the classic charm of privet, the boldness of bamboo, or the year-round beauty of photinia and laurel, there is a rapid-growing hedge plant that's perfectly suited to your needs and location.

Start planning today, and in just a few years--or even months--you could be enjoying the lush, green serenity of your very own living retreat.

• For more expert gardening tips and ideas, explore our related articles on hedging, privacy screening, and eco-friendly landscaping.

Your serene green escape could be just one planting away!