20 Fast-Growing Shrubs And Bushes That Add Garden Privacy Quickly

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1Arborvitae Arborvitae trees in a garden (Thuja occidentalis Smaragd) DEA/RANDOM//Getty Images

Arborvitae are stately evergreens that come in many different heights, ranging from a few feet to 30 feet tall or more. Most don’t need shearing to maintain their shape.

Varieties to Try: Green Giant, Spring Grove

2Butterfly Bush buddleia lochinch, july, norfolk Neil Holmes//Getty Images

Sometimes called summer lilac, this sturdy shrub with purple flowers withstands drought, blooms all season long and attracts pollinators. Newer types are not invasive.

Varieties to Try: Miss Violet, Miss Ruby

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3Hydrangea Pink Hydrangea Benjamin Hietzig / STOCK4B//Getty Images

Hydrangeas are wonderfully versatile shrubs that thrive across most parts of the UK, from sheltered southern gardens to cooler northern regions. Some tolerate part shade, but most need a few hours of sun for best blooms.

Varieties to Try: Firelight, Monmar

4Elderberry Red Elderberry Bush (Sambucus racemosa) flowering - Germany Klaus Honal//Getty Images

Late spring or early summer flowers and attractive foliage make this graceful plant attractive in a mixed border.

Varieties to Try: Instant Karma, Lemony Lace

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5Pyracantha Firethorn (Pyracantha sp.) with berries, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Christian Hutter//Getty Images

This vigorous shrub grows upright and boasts clusters of gorgeous autumn berries that last well into winter.

Varieties to Try: Graberi, Kasan

6Lilac Syringa vulgaris, louis van houtte, mass of purple blossom Michael Davis//Getty Images

Beautifully-scented lilacs like plenty of sun, but give them a space between plants to let air circulate and reduce the risk of powdery mildew developing.

Varieties to Try: Lavender Lady, Angel White

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7Forsythia Forsythia x Intermedia 'Lynwood', a medium-sized deciduous shrub bearing yellow flowers Jonathan Buckley//Getty Images

You know spring has arrived when the bright yellow forsythia starts blooming! It’s a more moderate grower than some other shrubs but will still reach its mature height relatively quickly.

Varieties to Try: Meadowlark, Spring Glory

8Beautyberry (Callicarpa) Callicarpa bodinieri var giraldii 'Profusion' (Bodinier's beautyberry), stems with clusters of purpl Dorling Kindersley//Getty Images

Some types of this sun-loving, perennial plant have solid green or variegated green-and-white foliage, but the prettiest variety has dark purple foliage with masses of white blooms in late summer. The real show is the purple berries in the autumn months.

Varieties to Try: Pearl Glam, Purple Pearls

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9Ninebark Physocarpus diabolo, Diabolo Ninebark Garden Photo World/David C. Phillips//Getty Images

This white-flowering native plant is a standout in the garden, with handsome burgundy foliage that lasts all season and creamy white flowers in early summer. The plant is ultra-cold-hardy and has an elegant arching shape.

Varieties to Try: Diablo, Summer Wine

10Camellia kamelie (camellia japonica), japanese camellia growing outside hsvrs//Getty Images

Camellias are classic cottage-garden favourites, loved for their glossy evergreen leaves and beautiful, rose-like blooms in shades of pink, red and white from late winter into spring.

Varieties to Try: Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua

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11Viburnum Viburnum burkwoodii, Burkwood viburnum Jonathan Buckley//Getty Images

This beautiful evergreen shrub has interesting puckered leaves and pretty white fragrant flowers, followed by showy red fruit.

Varieties to Try: Allegheny, Prague

12Dappled Willow Willow flower specimen (Salix integra Alba Maculata), Salicaceae DEA / RANDOM//Getty Images

The weeping stems of this shrub are pink, with mottled foliage of white, green, and pink.

Varieties to Try: Hakuro Nishiki, Flamingo

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13Spirea white flowering spirea cantoniensis Harley Seaway//Getty Images

This arching shrub boasts a mass of white flowers in spring and colourful orange or reddish foliage in autumn.

Varieties to Try: Renaissance, Grefsheim

14Red Twig Dogwood Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', Bloodtwig Dogwood Gillian Plummer//Getty Images

This multi-stemmed shrub has striking red branches that are stunning in the winter landscape, especially against snow.

Varieties to Try: Isanti, Sibirica

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15Weigela weigela with white and pink flowers blooms in the garden. Orest Lyzhechka//Getty Images

Weigela is a reliable shrub that produces a profusion of trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red and white in late spring and early summer. Happy in most UK gardens, it’s low-maintenance and responds well to pruning.

Varieties to Try: Bristol Ruby, Variegata

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16Serviceberry Serviceberry growing in front of Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Okanogan National Forest, Washington State, USA Danita Delimont//Getty Images

This shrub or small tree is prized for its beautiful orange-red autumnal colour and clusters of white flowers that ripen into deep purple fruits the birds love.

Varieties to Try: Glenform, Autumn Brilliance

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17Mock Orange Flowering Japanese Mock Orange (Pittosporum tobira) Joshua McCullough//Getty Images

This fountain-shaped shrub with beautiful white flowers has a light citrusy scent and lush green foliage.

Varieties to Try: Natchez, Belle Etoile

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18Euonymus Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Surprise', variegated Neil Holmes//Getty Images

Many types of this evergreen work well as a clipped hedge, while others look best left to naturalise. Happy in the shade or sun, some varieties have green and gold variegated foliage.

Varieties to Try: Manhattan, Aureovariegatus

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19Juniper Juniperus Communis 'Compressa' (Dwarf Conifer) in formal garden Dorling Kindersley//Getty Images

Junipers come in a staggering array of sizes and colours, ranging from green to gold. It’s an extremely cold-hardy evergreen that’s not particularly fussy.

Varieties to Try: Montodd, Spartan

20Hardy Fuchsias fuchsia flowersbeautiful fuchsia flowers in the garden Federica Grassi//Getty Images

Hardy fuchsias are much tougher than their tender bedding relatives, reliably surviving UK winters and returning each year with a long display of delicate, pendant flowers in shades of pink, purple and white from summer into autumn. Easy to grow and ideal for borders or informal hedging, they bring a slightly exotic feel without the fuss.

Varieties to Try: Fuchsia magellanica, Mrs Popple

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Headshot of Arricca Elin SanSone

Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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