20 Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges

by Anna Scott · September 8, 2023

“Decorate the fence, grow these hedges and boundary plants”

Hey folks!! Welcome back!!

Commencing this wonderful guide with great thought will help you in creating wonders in your garden area. If you are looking for Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges, then you are at the right place.

Privacy hedges will suit your garden area if it’s about 6 feet taller. For better results, you can choose those types of shrubs and bushes that grow at a faster pace like between 2-3 feet annually.

So, let’s get started to learn about those top and Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges in your garden area.

Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges

Let’s have a look at the best-growing bushes and shrubs that will be served for the privacy hedges:

Arborvitae
Boxwood
Dwarf Golden False Cypress
Flowering Quince
Glossy Abelia
Holly
Forsythia
Cotoneaster
Beautyberry
Common Ninebark
Pussy willow
Arctic willow
Cherry Laurel
Yew
Canadian hemlock
Privet
Lilac
Juniper
Chinese fringe flower
Leylandii

Let’s know about them in detail:

Arborvitae(Thuja selections)

Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges

It is one of the famous plants that come under the category of Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges.
It tends to produce aromatic green-colored foliage in the plant that looks attractive in the garden area.
Some other types grow as high, narrow, and whereas others as shrubs.
So, you have to choose the best variety for your garden area the way you want for your hedge.

Scientific name: Thuja selections

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-8

Mature size: Up to 40 feet tall

Boxwood(Buxus selections)

As you are looking for the best hedging plants, why not choose the boxwood for your area? It would be a great choice for your area as it is one of the fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges
It will stand out great in your garden with its geometric forms after getting pruned.
Also, if you do not prune off the plant, then it will look great and attain its natural shape and size.
You can opt for this plant either for informal gardens or formal ones but it will grow very dense and cherish you with its efforts.

Scientific name: Buxus selections

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Mature size: Up to 3 feet tall

Dwarf Golden False Cypress(Chamaecyparis pisifera)

Various dwarf varieties grow amazingly in your garden, but what about the Dwarf Golden False Cypress? Growing it would be a great option for your plant.
It will grow golden-colored foliage that seems like a thread. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It will make a great hedge plant for your garden area. So, what are you waiting for? Grow this fast-growing shrub in your backyard.
Its other vanities consist of ‘Sungold’, ‘Filifera Aurea”Gold Mop’, etc.

Scientific name: Chamaecyparis pisifera f. filifera

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Mature size: Up to 5 feet tall

Flowering Quince(Chaenomeles selections)

Folks, it is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges, so you can grow it in your backyard.
It will provide you with pink-colored blooms at the time of early springtime.
It has sharp spines on it which makes this plant one of the best hedging plants.
You know its fruits are yellow and are edible that are so delicious.

Scientific name: Chaenomeles selections

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall

Glossy Abelia(Abelia x grandiflora)

Bees and butterflies get attracted to one of the plants named glossy abelia which tend to produce trumpet-characterized blooms. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It will bloom your mind all along at the time of summer along with its glossy branches.
It is important to prune off the plant at the time of late winter to early springtime.
You will observe its leaves turn their color from green to purple, especially at the time of autumn.

Scientific name: Abelia x grandiflora

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

Mature size: Up to 10 feet tall

Holly(Ilex selections )

Holly is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges that works as a hedging plant in your garden area.
The small varieties of holly such as yaupon holly, Meserve holly, and inkberry are the easiest to grow as they are not too demanding when it comes to pruning.
They are fast growing and some of these varieties are deciduous and some are Japanese holly, they are evergreen.
It is one of the appreciable shrubs that tend to shelter the birds and provides hedges to hibernate.

Scientific name: Ilex selections

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

Mature size: Up to 50 feet tall

Forsythia(Forsythia spp.)

Forsythia is everyone’s favorite choice as it is one of the shrubs that tend to bloom in the early springtime. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It is famous for its yellow-colored flowers that grow all along the branches of the plant.
This shrub can be grown easily in any situation as it is not a demanding plant.
It tends to allow the plant to attain its natural shape and size or also prune into formal hedging.

Scientific name: Forsythia spp.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8

Mature size: 2–10 ft. tall, 2–10 ft. wide

Cotoneaster(Cotoneaster horizontalis)

Are you looking to grow a dense shrub in your yard? If yes, then Cotoneaster is the right choice for your garden area.
Being a fast grower, it tends to grow 2 feet every year and mesmerizes everyone’s mind with its results. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
Though the berries of this plant are not suitable for humans and animals as well, birds tend to eat them for their survival.
If you want a taller cotoneaster privacy hedge, then you have to choose the taller variety like C. lucidus which will grow about 6-10 feet tall.

Scientific name: Cotoneaster horizontalis

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 7

Mature size: 2-3 ft. tall; 6-8 ft. wide

Beautyberry(Callicarpa Americana)

Beautyberry is a type of shrub for privacy hedges that tend to grow about 2 feet tall in the year.
It gave rise to the pruning of the plant annually so that the plant attained its original size and shape.
It will feed you with berries at the time of autumn when the new growth emerges in the plant. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It will the one of the best options for making a good display and privacy hedge.

Scientific name: Callicarpa americana

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10

Mature size: 3–6 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide

Common Ninebark(Physocarpus opulifolius )

Common Ninebark is the type of plant that is named after its bark as it tends to produce interesting bark.
Its Diablo cultivar is the one that is known for its dark foliage, they are known as the black plants.
They can grow about 8-10 feet high with its burgundy foliage. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
They are one of the fastest growing shrubs as they will attain their mature size in the first year only.

Scientific name: Physocarpus opulifolius

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8

Mature size: 3-10 ft. tall, 3-8 ft. wide

Pussy Willow(Salix discolor)

People considered Forsythia as the earliest shiur of springtime, but no, pussy willow is earlier than that shrub.
It tends to display its fluffy white catkins earlier than the Forsythia’s blooms. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
They are one of the fastest-growing plants and will attain a height of 4-6 feet in a year.
Also, another variety named Flamingo Japanese willow can be grown by you in your yard as it also grows fast.

Scientific name: Salix discolor

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7

Mature size: 6–25 ft. tall, 4–15 ft. wide

Arctic Willow(Salix purpurea)

Another variant of Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges is the Arctic willow can attain a height of about 10 to 15 feet and grow wherever.
When its biomes mature, it produces silver-colored leaves in the plant that shine and look attractive.
If you’re in the southern area, then it is not for you, but yes it can grow amazingly in the areas of the US.
It can attain a height of about 10 to 15 feet high. Its hardiness zone is 3-7.

Scientific name: Salix purpurea

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7

Mature size: 10-15 feet tall

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry Laurel is also known by the other name as English laurel which is used as a fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It tends to produce fluffy foliage in the plant that is glossy and green in color.
It blooms beautifully at the time of spring and amazes you with its white-colored flowers along with its purplish-black berries.
You have to provide good space for this shrub to grow or also you can shear into formal hedging.

Scientific name: Prunus laurocerasus

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9

Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall and wide

Yew (Taxus)

One of the shade-tolerant plants is the Yew which is chosen by every farmer to grow at home. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
These are the evergreen shrubs that will grow well in the north-facing plantings.
The full sun is also suitable for them. Being a slow-growing hedge, you do not need to expect much from the plant as they will grow about 1 foot in a year.
These shrubs are somehow toxic tot he humans, so if you have children in your home, then keep them away from the plant as it is not good for them.

Scientific name: Taxus baccata

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 10

Mature size: 4-60 ft. tall, 4-20 ft. wide

Canadian Hemlock(Tsuga canadensis)

Canadian hemlock is scientifically known as Tsuga canadensis which is a tree or people consider it a completely correct shrub.
It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
These are fast-growing shrubs that will cherish you with their benefits.
It will grow about 2 feet tall every year, so growing it would be a great idea.

Scientific name: Tsuga canadensis

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7

Mature size: 70 ft. tall, 25-35 ft. wide

Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet is a shrub that falls under the category of Fast-growing Bushes and Shrubs for Privacy Hedges.
Growing privet would be great as it creates textured foliage in the plant and they are evergreen or even deciduous.
Its foliage is green in color with white colored flowers on it that tend to emerge at the time of late springtime to early summertime.
You can shear it into hedging or even let it attain its natural shape and size. Being an invasive plant, you have to keep it in mind while choosing it.

Scientific name: Ligustrum spp.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10

Mature size: 4 to 15 feet tall and wide

Lilac (Syringa spp.)

It is one of the deciduous shrubs that will grow best in areas with full sun to partial shade.
You will observe its beautiful blooms when you put the plant in the full sun for a day. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
At the time of spring, it will provide you with flower clusters that look eye-catching in your area.
It tends to produce heart-characterized colored foliage which will be all-round in the year.

Scientific name: Syringa spp.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Mature size: 4 to 15 feet tall

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Hey, are you looking for a reliable plant for privacy hedges in your garden? If yes, Juniper would be the best choice for your garden area.
It produces soft foliage in the plant that is in the shade of green, gold, bluish green.
The plant will grow upright and spread wisely in your area creating a fluffy look in your garden area.
It will attain a height of about 1-130 feet tall and also 25 feet in width. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.

Scientific name: Juniperus spp.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-10, depending on the variety

Mature size: 1 to 130 feet tall

Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum spp.)

One of the plants that is known for its evergreen flowers and delicate supremacy of its leaves is called as Chinese Fringe Flower.
It is one of the versatile plants that tend to grow in warm areas and come in sizes from small to medium. It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
It tends to produce ribbon-shaped flowers at the time of spring which will look great with the green, deep purplish foliage.
You can use this variety as a privacy hedge plant that will grow 1 foot long every year.

Scientific name: Loropetalum spp.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10

Mature size: 1 to 15 feet tall

Leylandii(Cuprocyparis leylandii)

This plant is also known as Leyland cypress which is a hybrid of Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress.
It is another variant of fast-growing bushes and shrubs for privacy hedges.
Being a fast-growing plant, you have to prune it off to maintain its shape and size.
It can grow about 3 feet tall all along every year, so prune your plant one time a year which makes the plant great for the privacy hedge.

Scientific name: Cuprocyparis leylandii