Privacy and walls always go hand in hand but we bet you'll reconsider once we introduce to you these fastest growing hedging plants you can use for a more aesthetic look.
Tired of seeing your neighbors all the time? Eager to block out the unsightly construction site nearby?
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Whatever your reason, we get your urgency and have listed below 9 hedge shrubs and bushes that rocket skywards in no time at all.
Fastest Growing Hedging Plants
1. Leylandii Hedging
This species takes the gold medal for speedy growth as it effortlessly can reach a daunting 90 cm of growth yearly making one of the top plants for hedging.
This conifer plant also has a dense, beautiful foliage that really secures that sense of privacy you may be after.
2. Cherry Laurel Hedging
Cherry laurel is a preferred choice for hedge fanatics because it’s a super-fast grower and is really easy-going toward changing environmental factors. It can easily obtain 60 cm of growth per annum and tolerates shade and sun alike.
Furthermore, this evergreen plant will have your hedges looking green and lush all year round. However, if you have children or animals you’ll want to avoid this species as it is toxic.
3. Bay Laurel Hedging
Did you know the leaves of this plant were used by the ancient Greeks to make wreaths for their early Olympic games? If the history element of this enduring species doesn’t interest you, its impressive 40cm annual growth rate might.
Although not one of the fastest plants for hedging, it falls into a consistent category of upkeep. Once it reaches its full maturity, it’ll be much easier to trim and maintain than its faster growing relative, the Cherry Laurel.
4. Privet Hedging
The dense growth of this shrub reeks in the sense of its highest appeal as its picturesque neon-green leaves manage security in an artful way.
It grows between 30- 60 cm per year, the difference lying on the nutritional upkeep of the plant. To obtain optimal growth and ensure its quality, you will need to maintain and prune consistently.
5. Fuchsia Hedging
This is another species that beautifies practicality. It has bright pink flowers that are bell-shaped and form a striking image for any by-passers.
Fuchsias actually have many color variants of their flowers whom endure the seasons quite well and blossom for the greater part of the year.
Within 6 months of planting, fuchsias will have amounted to considerably large shrubs making it one of the best plants for heding. They can grow up to 3 m tall.
6. Griselinia Hedging
Griselinia littoralis is an evergreen shrub with faded-green foliage. It prefers coastal areas with plenty of sun exposure. They grow up to 30 cm in height per year.
Check out our comprehensive guide on how to grow and care for Griselinia littoralis here.
7. European Beech Hedging
The deciduous nature of the European Beech Hedging (Fagus sylvatica) would have this shrub bare in the colder seasons, but with a little pruning knowledge this can be adjusted somewhat.
If the plant is trimmed during autumn it will keep its leaves, which turn to a magnificent palate of colors- from yellow to brown to copper throughout the winter.
Perhaps having evergreen plants can get a bit tiresome and the Beech plant certainly reminds us of this when its wintery colors paint the ideal mood of the season. It also grows up to 30 cm per year.
8. Bamboo Hedging
Bamboo grows so fast that it was reportedly used as an ancient method of torture in parts of Asia whereby the victim would be tied in place over new shoots that would grow right through the body.
This is certainly austere but it solidifies the idea of its rapid growth rate. Be sure to read about different kinds of bamboo and their growing rates before using it as a hedge.
Certain variants of the bamboo plant can grow up to 1 m per annum, reaching a maximum height of 6 m. The bamboo plant is highly invasive so you should make sure that it is well contained and maintained.
9. Banana Trees Used As Hedging
Not exactly the English aristocratic hedge that comes to mind when speaking of hedges themselves, but don’t be so quick to disregard these fascinating plants.
Banana trees thrive in the tropics and many South-East Asian locals use them for 3-tier levels of practicality: hedges for privacy, windbreakers and cultivating the banana flowers and fruits for eating.
Locals can attest that these plants are cut down and within hours, shoots can already be seen rising from the stumps. Certain variants can reach just over 9 m in height. In very temperate climates, shoots can sprout up to 30 cm in just 48 hours.
Check out our top banana fertilizer guide for faster and healthier growth.
On a side note, if you wish to get the speediest growth as possible, you might want to consider only planting evergreen varieties.
They grow faster than their deciduous cousins who slow down when in dormancy. Additionally, they generally require less pruning and maintenance.
Take Your Pick Among the Fastest Growing Hedging Plants
To get you ready to grow and control your hedging, we have listed the best gas powered hedge trimmers for 2023. We are pretty sure you already made your choice among our list of fastest growing hedging plants.