What Are Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs?
Fast growing evergreen shrubs are woody perennial plants that retain their foliage throughout the year and exhibit a relatively rapid growth rate. They are invaluable for quickly establishing privacy screens, borders, or architectural features in a garden, offering consistent colour and form regardless of the season.
- Provide year-round visual interest and structure.
- Establish privacy or screening more rapidly.
- Offer a variety of forms, textures, and colours.
- Require fewer planting cycles for mature impact.
The 'evergreen' nature means they don't shed their leaves annually like deciduous plants, ensuring your garden never looks entirely bare. Coupled with a 'fast growing' habit, these shrubs mean you don't have to wait years for a sense of maturity or for them to fulfil their intended landscaping purpose. This combination makes them a popular choice for gardeners seeking immediate impact and lasting benefit, whether for ornamental appeal, noise reduction, or windbreaks.
Understanding Growth Rates
Growth rates can vary significantly between species and even cultivars. Generally, a shrub considered 'fast growing' might add 30cm or more in height or spread per year under optimal conditions. This contrasts with slow-growing varieties that might only increase by a few centimetres annually. Factors such as soil type, moisture availability, light exposure, and climate all play a crucial role in how quickly any plant will establish and grow. Understanding your specific garden conditions will help you select the most appropriate varieties for sustained development.
Benefits Beyond Speed
The appeal of these shrubs extends beyond their growth rate. Their evergreen foliage provides a constant backdrop, allowing other plants, like seasonal bedding plants or perennials, to stand out. They can be shaped and pruned to maintain desired forms, from neat hedges to more naturalistic shapes. Furthermore, many evergreen shrubs offer flowers or attractive berries, adding seasonal highlights to their enduring green presence. For those looking to create wildlife habitats, their dense structure offers shelter and nesting opportunities throughout the year.
Why Choose Them for Your Garden?
Why should you prioritise fast growing evergreen shrubs when designing or updating your outdoor space? They offer immediate solutions to common landscaping challenges. Whether you need to block an unsightly view, create a sense of enclosure, or simply add a robust framework to your borders, these plants deliver results considerably sooner than their slower-growing counterparts.
Establishing Privacy Quickly
The primary driver for many gardeners is the desire for privacy. Fast growing evergreen shrubs, particularly species that can be trained into hedges, can create a dense screen in just a few seasons. Unlike planting mature, expensive specimens or waiting for slower hedges to thicken, choosing a vigorous evergreen means your 'living fence' will mature more rapidly, providing a valuable sanctuary from neighbours or busy roads. It’s about achieving that settled, private feel without an extended waiting period.
The true appeal of fast growing evergreen shrubs lies in their ability to deliver instant structure and privacy, transforming a garden's aesthetic and functionality within a single growing season.
Enhance screening effectiveness by planting two staggered rows of shrubs for denser coverage and improved sound insulation.
Year-Round Garden Structure and Interest
Beyond privacy, these shrubs are fundamental for establishing a garden's backbone. Their consistent foliage provides a reliable visual anchor throughout winter, preventing garden beds from appearing barren and uninviting. This inherent structure allows for more creative planting schemes with perennials and annuals, knowing the evergreen foundation will always be in place. Some varieties, like those with coloured or variegated foliage, add significant interest even when not in flower. For example, certain hebes offer striking purples or silvers, while variegated hollies provide brightness during the darkest months. This constant presence means your garden feels cared for and complete, regardless of the weather or time of year.
Alternatives for Different Needs
While speed and evergreen quality are paramount, consider alternatives based on specific site conditions. For areas with deep shade, look for shade loving plants like certain varieties of Aucuba or Skimmia. If flowering is a priority alongside evergreen structure, consider Viburnum tinus, which offers winter blooms, or Camellia sasanqua for autumn/winter flowers. For very windy or coastal locations, hardy options like Griselinia littoralis or Olearia offer excellent resilience. The choice of shrub should always align with the garden's microclimate and your aesthetic goals.
Selecting the Right Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs
Choosing the correct shrub for your garden involves more than just spotting a 'fast growing' label. Understanding the specific needs and characteristics of different species will ensure your investment thrives and meets your expectations for visual appeal and maintenance.
Assessing Your Garden's Conditions
Before making a selection, take stock of your garden's environment. What is the soil like – is it well-draining, clay, or sandy? Does the intended spot receive full sun, partial shade, or deep shade? Understanding light levels is crucial; while many evergreens tolerate a range, optimal growth usually occurs in their preferred conditions. Consider the mature size of the shrub; many fast growers can reach considerable dimensions if not managed. Space them appropriately at planting to avoid overcrowding and allow for their full growth potential. For example, a Pittosporum tenuifolium, known for its speed, can eventually become a large shrub or small tree if left unpruned.
Popular Varieties and Their Traits
Several types of fast growing evergreen shrubs are widely available and trusted by gardeners:
- Escallonia: Many cultivars offer rapid growth, attractive glossy foliage, and clusters of pink or white flowers in summer. They are relatively hardy and tolerant of coastal conditions.
- Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin': Renowned for its vibrant red new foliage, this shrub grows vigorously and can be pruned into a dense hedge or maintained as a specimen. It prefers a sunny spot.
- Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom): Offers fragrant white flowers, often appearing in spring and autumn, and attractive evergreen foliage. It's adaptable to sun or partial shade.
- Elaeagnus x ebbingei: A very hardy and adaptable shrub with silvery-green foliage. It tolerates poor soil, drought, and coastal exposure, growing quickly to provide substantial screening.
- Hebe: A diverse genus with many fast-growing varieties. They offer a range of foliage colours and shapes, topped with spikes of purple, blue, pink, or white flowers.
Considering Evergreen Shrubs with Flowers
If you desire flowers alongside evergreen structure, look for varieties known for their seasonal blooms. Viburnum tinus is an excellent choice, offering clusters of white flowers from late autumn through to spring, providing colour when little else is blooming. Camellia sasanqua varieties bloom in autumn and early winter with beautiful, often single, rose-like flowers. For something more unusual, a yellow blooming shrub like a Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' (though not strictly evergreen, it has green stems that add winter interest) offers bright double flowers in spring, but there are also evergreen options with yellow flowers like some Osmanthus varieties. Ensure the chosen flowering evergreen suits your climate and light conditions for the best floral display.
Prune most fast growing evergreen shrubs immediately after their main flowering period or in early spring to encourage dense growth and shape without sacrificing significant foliage.
Planting and Ongoing Care
Once you have selected your fast growing evergreen shrubs, proper planting and attentive care are crucial to ensure they establish quickly and maintain their vigorous growth. These steps will help your plants reach their full potential and fulfil their landscaping role.
Planting for Success
The best time to plant most evergreen shrubs is typically in the autumn or early spring, allowing their root systems to establish before the extremes of summer heat or winter cold. Dig a hole that is twice the width of the root ball but no deeper. This encourages outward root growth. When removing the shrub from its pot, gently tease out any circling roots to prevent them from restricting growth. Place the shrub in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with the original soil, firming gently to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting.
Watering and Feeding
Newly planted shrubs require consistent moisture to establish. Water deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells, for the first year. Once established, most fast growing evergreen shrubs are reasonably drought-tolerant, although prolonged dry periods may still require supplementary watering. Feeding is generally beneficial. A balanced, slow-release fertiliser applied in spring can support vigorous growth. Avoid over-fertilising, as this can lead to weak, leggy growth that is more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Pruning and Maintenance
Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape and density of evergreen hedges and for encouraging the vigorous growth that makes these shrubs so desirable. For hedging plants like Escallonia or Photinia, regular trimming (often twice a year) keeps them neat and promotes a thicker canopy. For specimen shrubs, prune to remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches, and to maintain the desired shape. The timing of pruning can affect flowering; prune spring-flowering evergreens after they bloom, and summer-flowering types in late winter or early spring. This care regime ensures your shrubs remain healthy, attractive, and continue their rapid development.
Addressing Potential Issues
While generally robust, fast growing evergreen shrubs can occasionally face issues. Pests like aphids can affect new growth, and fungal diseases might appear in humid conditions or if plants are overcrowded. Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants correctly. Vigilant observation allows for early intervention. For example, a strong jet of water can dislodge aphids, while specific treatments can address fungal problems if they arise. If you are concerned about a specific pest or disease, consulting a local horticultural expert or garden centre can provide tailored advice for your situation. By understanding the common needs of perennial plants and shrubs for shade or sun, you can proactively manage their health.