Fast Growing Plants
The fastest growing plants for privacy screens, shade trees, fence coverage, and ground cover — with real growth rates, mature sizes, and zone info. See results in one season.
🌲Fastest Privacy Screening Trees
Thuja 'Green Giant'
The gold standard for fast privacy hedges. Grows 3–5 ft per year reaching 50–60 ft tall, 12–20 ft wide. Dense, pyramidal, deer resistant. Tolerates heat, cold, drought once established. Plant 5–6 ft apart for a solid hedge. Best fast-growing hedge choice for Zones 5–9.
Leyland Cypress
Fastest growing evergreen screen — 4–5 ft per year reaching 60–70 ft. Popular in Southeast. Con: susceptible to bagworms and Seiridium canker in the South. Better for Zones 6–10 in areas with good air circulation. Plant 8 ft apart for dense hedge.
Hybrid Willow (Salix matsudana × alba)
Extraordinarily fast — 6–10 ft of growth per year. Reaches 30–50 ft. Roots seek water aggressively — plant away from pipes and foundations. Best for privacy in rural settings or near ponds. Short-lived (15–20 years). Unmatched for speed.
Lombardy Poplar
Dramatic columnar form, extremely fast at 6–8 ft/year reaching 60–90 ft. Creates instant vertical screen. Short-lived (15–25 years) and susceptible to canker. Best for temporary screens while slower permanent plants establish. Zones 3–9.
Eastern White Pine
Native fast-grower at 2–3 ft/year. Reaches 50–80 ft. Soft, feathery needles — beautiful and non-aggressive. Long-lived (100+ years). Adaptable to many soil types. Better for wind break than Leyland cypress in harsh climates. Zones 3–8.
Arborvitae 'Emerald Green'
Slower than Green Giant (8–12 inches/year) but stays narrower (3–4 ft wide) — perfect for tight spaces. Reaches 12–14 ft. Excellent formal hedge. Full to part sun. Zones 3–8. Most widely planted privacy arborvitae in the country.
🌿Fast-Growing Vines for Fences & Structures
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus)
Native vine growing 6–10 ft per year. Stunning red fall color. Attaches by adhesive pads — no support needed. Covers fences, walls, and trellises. Deer resistant. Tolerates shade, drought, poor soil. Better choice than English ivy for environmental reasons.
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Native vine with large orange-red trumpets June–September. Attracts hummingbirds intensely. Grows 20–40 ft in one season once established. Extremely aggressive — can damage structures and spreads by runners. Best on a sturdy pergola or fence you can maintain.
Wisteria (American)
American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) grows 10–15 ft/year with fragrant purple flowers. Less invasive than Asian wisteria. Needs full sun and sturdy support. 'Amethyst Falls' blooms reliably even young. Long-lived — will outlive you. Zones 5–9.
Morning Glory
Annual vine growing 8–10 ft in a single season. Blue, purple, pink, and white trumpet flowers. Easy from seed direct-sown in spring. Self-seeds prolifically. Covers a fence fast for a single season. Not aggressive as a perennial in cold climates.
Clematis
Fast-growing perennial vine — the large-flowered hybrids grow 8–12 ft/year. Spectacular flowers June–September. 'Jackmanii' (purple), 'Nelly Moser' (pink striped), 'Sweet Autumn' (white, late). Needs 'cool feet, warm face' — mulch roots, let top grow in sun.
Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Annual vine that grows 20–25 ft per season in rich soil. Huge architectural leaves. Female plants produce actual brewing hops. Dies back to roots each winter in Zones 4–8 and returns vigorously each spring. Ideal for quickly covering an arbor or pergola.
🌳Fast-Growing Privacy Shrubs
Forsythia
Yellow spring blooms on fast-growing shrubs — 2–3 ft per year, reaching 8–10 ft. Creates a dense barrier quickly. Full sun. Zones 5–9. Deer resistant. Incredible early spring color (flowers before leaves emerge). Use as informal hedge.
Elderberry (Sambucus)
Native shrub growing 3–4 ft per year, reaching 12–15 ft. Edible berries for birds and jam. White flowers in spring. Ornamental 'Black Lace' and 'Black Beauty' cultivars have dark purple foliage. Zones 3–9. Excellent wildlife value.
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)
Grows 4–5 ft per year in Zones 5–9, reaching 6–12 ft. Fragrant cone-shaped flowers (purple, pink, white) attract butterflies intensely. Dies to ground in cold winters, regrows from roots. Can be invasive in Pacific Northwest — choose sterile cultivars.
Viburnum (Arrowwood)
Native viburnum growing 1–2 ft per year, reaching 6–12 ft. White flowers in spring, blue-black berries in fall, excellent fall color. Dense, multi-stemmed. Good four-season plant. Zones 2–9 depending on species. Deer resistant. Bird food.
Photinia 'Red Robin'
Red new growth — especially vivid in spring — on a dense evergreen shrub growing 2–3 ft/year. Reaches 10–15 ft. Full sun. Zones 6–9. Classic Southern privacy hedge. Susceptible to leaf spot in humid climates — ensure good air circulation.
🌱Fast-Growing Ground Covers
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Fastest spreading ground cover — fills in completely in 1–2 seasons. Evergreen. Deep shade tolerant. However: invasive in most of North America — smothers native plants and trees. Consider alternatives like native ginger or pachysandra for better ecological choice.
Pachysandra terminalis
Native-alternative to English ivy — clean, organized spreads at 6–12 inches per year. Stays 6–8" tall, evergreen, deep shade tolerant. Japanese spurge. Spreads by underground runners to create a dense weed-suppressing mat. Not invasive.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia)
Lime green leaves on spreading stems — covers large areas quickly. Golden-yellow form is especially bright. Tolerates full shade to full sun, wet to moist soil. Vigorous — can spread aggressively. Beautiful along stream edges and in moist shaded areas.
Creeping Phlox
Mounding, spreading mat with spring flowers in pink, purple, white. Evergreen. Spreads 12–24" per year in ideal conditions. Full sun. Zones 3–9. Excellent for rock walls, slopes, and edging. One of the best spring flowering ground covers.
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Low ground cover with purple-bronze foliage and blue flower spikes in spring. Spreads rapidly by runners — fills in quickly in part shade to shade. Evergreen in most zones. Tolerates foot traffic somewhat. Good under shrubs.
Sedum (Stonecrop Ground Cover)
Succulents covering banks and slopes rapidly in full sun, poor dry soil. Sedum acre spreads vigorously. Various shades of green, gold, and red. Nearly indestructible once established. Excellent for slopes where mowing is difficult.
🌾Fast-Growing Ornamental Grasses
Miscanthus sinensis (Maiden Grass)
Clumping grass reaching 5–7 ft in a single season. Feathery plumes in fall. Zones 5–9. Full sun. Divide every 3–5 years. Some varieties can be invasive in Midwest — choose non-seeding 'Adagio' or 'Gracillimus'.
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia)
Spectacular large grass reaching 8–12 ft — fast-growing, dramatic white plumes. Full sun. Zones 7–11. Invasive in California and Pacific Northwest — do not plant there. Sharp leaf edges. Low water once established. Winter garden interest.
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Upright, clumping grass to 5–6 ft. Green in summer, golden in fall, attractive winter structure. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–9. Sterile — not invasive. Fast-establishing. One of the most popular ornamental grasses for four-season interest.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Native prairie grass growing 3–5 ft. Airy seed heads in late summer. Excellent fall color (red 'Shenandoah' cultivar). Full sun. Zones 4–9. Drought tolerant. Wildlife value — provides cover and food. Cut back in late winter.
Fast-Growing Plant Growth Rate Comparison
| Plant | Type | Growth Rate | Mature Height | Zones | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Willow | Tree | 6–10 ft/yr | 30–50 ft | 4–9 | Windbreak |
| Lombardy Poplar | Tree | 6–8 ft/yr | 60–90 ft | 3–9 | Temporary screen |
| Thuja 'Green Giant' | Evergreen | 3–5 ft/yr | 50–60 ft | 5–9 | Privacy hedge |
| Leyland Cypress | Evergreen | 4–5 ft/yr | 60–70 ft | 6–10 | SE privacy |
| Wisteria (American) | Vine | 10–15 ft/yr | 25–30 ft | 5–9 | Pergola cover |
| Forsythia | Shrub | 2–3 ft/yr | 8–10 ft | 5–9 | Informal hedge |
| Miscanthus | Grass | 5–7 ft/season | 5–8 ft | 5–9 | Screen + accent |
| Creeping Phlox | Ground Cover | 12–24 in/yr | 6–8" tall | 3–9 | Slope cover |
Fast Growing Plants — FAQs
What is the fastest growing privacy tree?
Hybrid willow is the absolute fastest at 6–10 ft per year, but it's short-lived and invasive in roots. For a durable hedge, Thuja 'Green Giant' (3–5 ft/year) is the top choice — it's deer resistant, disease resistant, long-lived, and creates a dense, permanent screen. Leyland cypress (4–5 ft/year) is faster but more disease-prone in the South.
What plants grow the fastest in one season?
Annual vines and some ornamental plants grow the fastest in a single season: Hops vine (20–25 ft), morning glory (8–10 ft), hyacinth bean vine (15 ft), zucchini/pumpkins for temporary fill. For trees, hybrid willows and Lombardy poplars can add 5–8 ft in a single growing season.
What fast-growing plants are best for blocking a fence?
For a fence screen, choose based on height needed: For 6–8 ft screens, arborvitae 'Emerald Green' or forsythia work well. For 10–15 ft, Thuja 'Green Giant' or Leyland cypress are best. For vine coverage of an existing fence, Virginia creeper (native, low-maintenance) or wisteria (fragrant, dramatic) cover quickly. Annual vines like morning glory or hops provide seasonal coverage.
Are fast-growing plants invasive?
Some are. Leyland cypress and hybrid willow have aggressive roots. Trumpet vine, Oriental wisteria, and English ivy are invasive in many US regions. Lombardy poplar is short-lived. For better environmental choices: Thuja 'Green Giant', native elderberry, American wisteria (sterile cultivars), and switchgrass provide fast growth without invasion risk. Always check your region's invasive plant lists.
How can I get privacy fast without trees?
For instant or near-instant privacy: (1) Privacy fence or lattice panels + fast vines (immediate + 1 season). (2) Large container shrubs — buy 6–8 ft specimens from a nursery and place immediately. (3) Arborvitae in 6 ft containers transplanted in fall. (4) Bamboo in containers (clumping varieties like 'Fargesia' won't spread). For under $500, bamboo containers along a fence line are the fastest visual screen.
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