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10 fast-growing shrubs to transform your garden quickly – from hydrangea to lavender
Low-maintenance plants that add instant colour, privacy and charm
If you want to transform your outdoor space quickly, fast-growing shrubs are one of the easiest ways to do it. These speedy plants can add colour, structure, privacy and shade in surprisingly little time, while also filling bare patches and making a garden feel fuller and more established. Better still, many are low maintenance, so they’re perfect for beginners, busy gardeners and anyone who doesn’t want to wait years for results.
Before buying, always check the eventual height and spread. Fast-growing shrubs can put on impressive growth in a short space of time, so ensure you have enough room for them to grow without taking over.
If you intend to plant several shrubs alongside each other, for hedging or screening, for example, you’ll also need to check the recommended spacing (most suppliers provide a spacing chart).
To plant your shrub, dig a generous hole so the roots have space to spread, backfill with soil and water thoroughly. Keep the soil moist while the shrub is establishing, then feed and prune as needed to keep it healthy and looking its best.
Here are 10 of our favourite fast-growing shrubs for near-instant impact.
More gardening advice:
1. Hydrangea
Ideal for borders, hedging and containers, hydrangeas are great value, producing large showy flowerheads from late spring all the way through to autumn.
Plant in early spring or autumn into moisture-retentive soil. Mulch after planting and water regularly – hydrangeas don’t like dry roots. They do best in dappled sun or part shade.
The most popular types are mopheads and lacecaps. With so many to choose from, colour is often a good starting point:
- Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight' – pale lime green that deepens to a soft pinky/green
- Hydrangea serrata ‘Grayswood’ – pink and crimson
- Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' – huge snowballs of creamy white
- Hydrangea macrophylla 'Zorro' – a rich purple.
However, bear in mind the colour of the flowers produced on some varieties can depend on your soil – blue flowers are often produced on acid soil and pink on alkaline soil.
2. Lavender
Colourful and fragrant, lavender makes a beautiful hedging plant and can be grown in borders and pots. It’s also a magnet for pollinators.
The best time to plant lavender is in the spring in free-draining soil and full sun. Although it's drought-resistant, it will need regular watering.
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a popular choice as it’s compact and winter-hardy. 'Munstead' and the darker purple 'Hidcote' are both easy to grow. If growing as hedging, you’ll need to space your plants according to the type of lavender you are growing.
'To keep lavender from going woody and straggly, trim regularly just after flowering has finished,' advises Annalise Brilli, horticulture expert at Thompson & Morgan. ‘Don’t touch the lower, older stems – just use garden shears to trim them back into soft green growth about 2-3cm below the faded flower heads.'
3. Lavatera
These hollyhock-style plants produce masses of pretty saucer-like flowers in shades of white or pink all summer. They’ll grow happily in the back of a border or large container in full sun but will need protection from the wind.
Lavatera x clementii 'Rosea' is a particularly vigorous grower with masses of eye-catching soft pink flowers.
Some lavateras are not as hardy as others, so always check the recommended growing conditions and care instructions before buying.
4. Buddleja
Buddleja is also known as the butterfly bush, as their flowers are a favourite of butterflies. They love full sun and are ideal for the back of a border.
Plant in spring in well-drained soil. They’ll usually flower all through summer and will benefit from an annual pruning after flowering.
One of the most familiar and easiest to grow is Buddleja davidii – it’s the one often seen growing alongside railway lines. Varieties recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) include:
- Buddleja davidii 'Nanho Purple'
- Buddleja davidii ‘White Cloud’
- Buddleja x weyeriana ‘Sungold’
- Buddleja ‘Lochinch’
5. Forsythia
One of the most popular flowering shrubs, forsythia is loved for its profusion of vibrant yellow flowers that signal the arrival of spring.
It’s tough and reliable and grows well on most soil types in full sun or semi-shade but won’t thrive in extremely wet or dry conditions. In early spring, it’s a good idea to remove old branches to allow light to reach new growth. It should be pruned once the flowers start to fade.
For hedging, the RHS recommends Forsythia × intermedia 'Lynwood Variety' and Forsythia x intermedia ‘Spectabilis’.
6. Cornus alba
Cornus – also known as dogwood – is a versatile shrub that offers summer and winter interest. It does well in most soils in full sun or partial shade.
There are many types to choose from: Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (pictured) is a particularly vigorous grower. It produces white flowers in spring, followed by pale blue berries, then its dark green leaves turn red in autumn. Once leaves have dropped, the fiery red stems light up the garden in winter. 'Sibirica' likes consistent moisture, so keep up the watering, especially while it’s getting established.
7. Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfennii
Also known as Mediterranean spurge, this eye-catching evergreen shrub produces upright stems topped with acid yellow-green flowers from early spring through to summer. It makes a striking addition to beds, borders, gravel gardens and Mediterranean gardens.
Plant in the spring once the risk of frost has passed in well-drained light soil and full sun. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
'After flowering, ruthlessly prune all the flowered stems of your euphorbia right back down to the base to make room for new shoots that will carry next year's flowers,' says Annalise. 'Be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves as the milky sap causes nasty skin rashes.'
8. Mock orange
The mock orange philadelphus will bring a double dose of joy to your garden: a profusion of pretty white flowers appear between May and June, which will scent the air with a wonderful orange-blossom fragrance.
Plant this hardy shrub in the spring or autumn in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. It will tolerate partial shade, but full sun will encourage more flowers.
Philadelphus 'Virginal' is a particularly vigorous variety with attractive double white flowers.
9. Weigela
This bushy, deciduous shrub produces masses of beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in late spring/early summer. The flowers have a delicate, sweet scent that’s irresistible to pollinators.
It’s happy in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade and, once established, is unfussy and easy to care for.
Select for the colour of the flowers – pinks, reds, yellows, peach or whites – or their foliage: Weigela ‘Florida Variegata’ has light pink flowers and light to dark green variegated leaves; while Florida ‘Alexandra’ has reddish-pink flowers and dark, almost purple, leaves.
10. Viburnum
This is a stunning ornamental shrub. In summer, it’s covered with white or pink flowers followed by red, blue or black berries. It’s ideal as hedging or ground cover.
It grows best in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. There are many to choose from – Viburnum macrocephalum, also known as Chinese snowball, has masses of spherical flowerheads similar to a hydrangea, and is particularly fast-growing.
‘Viburnums are largely unbothered by pests and disease,’ says Annalise, ‘however, it’s common to see ragged holes appearing in the foliage. This is caused by Viburnum beetle and rarely causes severe damage.’
A word about bamboo...
Bamboo is a popular vigorous grower that makes attractive screening and ground cover. There are two main types – clump-formers and runners. Runners can be invasive, so you’ll need to contain the roots or select a clump-former. Either way, it’s recommended you explore your options before buying to avoid bamboo taking over your – and your neighbour's – garden.
• READ MORE: Bamboo is spreading under garden fences — and causing neighbour disputes
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