Shrubs in this size range are most useful for hedges, screening and backgrounds, for large scale foundation plantings and large mass plantings. Branches subject to breakage. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens. Large graceful panicles of white blossoms in late spring and early summer. Best fast-growing plant for height. Needs support. Evergreen Magnolias. Some have attractive flowers and/or berries to brighten or accent a landscape feature or attract wildlife. ; Run a tiller over the ground to a depth of 4 to 6-inches or turn with a shovel. This class of plants is very useful in small gardens where planting space is limited. Do not let it touch the trunk or stems of the tree or plants. Denny Schrock. Of the Australian Native Plants, Lily Pillies are a very popular fast growing variety, dense foliage, easy to prune to shape and fairly drought tolerant one established. It blooms on new wood, you definitely want to prune it hard in winter as the new growth is where the flower panicles form. Another lovely arborvitae that makes for a beautiful, dense, evergreen privacy hedge. In fall, clusters of small, white, well-scented flowers open at the leaf joints and are followed in spring by small orange berries. It has large, thick glossy leaves that are evergreen, so it looks attractive all year round. Remarks: Very hardy, useful for low hedges. It's not just interest and color from flowers and foliage that you should consider when looking for the best fast-growing shrubs stem color can make a real impact, too. Therefore, not all arborvitaes are equally suitedfor use in privacy hedges. Be careful though, some varieties of bamboo can be invasive and must be planted with this in mind. Dawn redwood (Zones 5-8): A low-maintenance shade tree that's good for large landscapes and grows more than two feet each year. NOT Leyland cypress It is used ubiquitously for screening purposes but the tree has been so overused as to be derided by some landscapers. Remarks: Yellow to orange to purple fall color. Sea buckthorn is a cold hardy low-maintenance deciduous prickly bush that grows in sun or partial shade. Remarks: Specimen with good heat tolerance. Once established, Thuja Green Giant grows three to five feet each year with only four hours of direct sunlight daily and regular . Strong oval form when young. American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) - Zones 4-8. or maybe the Chinese Snowball Viburnum that blooms in spring and fall. Description: Medium-sized trees, 25 to 60 feet high. A general rule of thumb is to soak the rootball of newly planted shrubs every 3-4 days (including rainfall). Shade in Zone 8. Remarks: Glossy foliage with rosy red spring flowers. White flowers in early spring. Specimen. In the evergreen class, English ivy and common periwinkle have rich green foliage, making them particularly valuable in landscape design. Planting the right shrubs in the state of Georgia is fundamental to maintaining a hardy, well-groomed, and sharp-looking landscape. The USDA has created a chart to help gardeners understand what plants grow best in what area. Tsuga canadensis. Fast growing. In Georgia, we highly recommend annual ryegrass during the cooler months. Remarks: Specimen. Remarks: Good foliage and flowers. Good street tree. Remarks: Shade tree, requires ample moisture. Sweet Woodruff ( Galium odoratum) is a hardy white flowering perennial ground cover for shade. Variations in foliage color range from glossy green to light gray. The minimum average temperature of Zone 8a is 10-15 Fahrenheit, and the minimum average temperature of Zone 8b is 15-20 Fahrenheit. Produce masses of white or pinkish flowers in spring. They will bloom fromlate spring, producing massesof tiny white flowers that can be picked and used to make delicious elderflower cordial or fizz. It is worth learning how to grow lavender so that you can enjoy the aromatic properties and beautiful flowers of this shrubby herb. Want to go dark in a small room? Users agree that automated translations may not effectively convert the intended design, meaning, and/or context of the website, may not translate images or PDF content, and may not take into account regional language differences. Remarks: Semi-climbing shrub or vine. Poisonous plant. Some deciduous trees in this group provide good fall color. Exceptionally easy to grow in your garden. Then enjoy the view! Remarks: Single or multi-trunk specimens. They may be used to soften unattractive walls and fences or to create exciting shadow patterns on blank surfaces. Foliage turns excellent shades of yellow, orange and red-purple in fall. Calycanthus floridus or Sweet Shrub (also called Carolina Allspice). This is a medium-size tree, 30-50 feet tall with a rounded crown, ideal for urban gardens. Thuja Green Giant. Hardiness and disease and insect resistant qualities are also considered when selecting good landscape plants. Remarks: Specimen with large white flowers. It does very well in an environment with very few deer. Grows to 4-5 ft tall, handles wet and dry soil in sun to partial shade. Susceptible to mites. 'Slender Silhouette' sweetgum. Various plants grow at different speeds. All grasses die back to the ground in winter; consequently, all will need to be cut back to the ground before new growth emerges in spring. SHOP CATMINT. Class: sun, semi-shade broad-leaved evergreen. They are smaller than japonicas in every way. Add a low dose of plant food to the soil when planting your hedge. iStock. Oakleaf Hydrangea. 'Sea buckthorn has bush-like growth, so is ideal for hedges, and can grow to 30 feet tall without pruning,' adds Diane. Plants infull sun will obviously require more frequent watering than those in shade. Apply no more than three to four inches deep of mulch in a circle around trees and plants and in an even layer over garden beds. It has dark green leaves and clusters of strongly scented flowers from late winter to early spring. Cultural Remarks: Spreads slowly by rhizomes. Viburnum tinus. Fast-growing tree; Free Forsythias Climate change is shifting the growing ranges of many plants, and . Landscape Remarks: Plumes less showy than annual species. Backfill the hole, but resist the urge to add peat moss or other organic matter. Dwarf fothergilla also performs well in full sun, though it requires moist, well-draining soil . Remarks: Great fall color, tolerates moist sites. Another ornamental value of some large deciduous trees is fall color. Elderberry. Remarks: Good for hot, dry sites. Offering a range of leaf and flower form and color, and interest at different times of the year, these best fast-growing shrubs can suit a variety of spaces. Some species have enough good qualities to serve as specimen plants. They eventually mature to 12-15 ft tall depending on the variety. Cultural Remarks: Clump forming. Zones 5-8. It grows best in zones five through eight. Remarks: Borders. The more you garden, the more you will instinctually know what each type of plant needs from you to be happy. You can plant several different varieties to literally have blooms from October to April. You can find a good range at FastGrowingTrees.com (opens in new tab). Despite this limitation, the taller-growing plants in this group make excellent seasonal screens and informal hedges. Hedges and borders. Remarks: Screen, specimen or small street tree. Remarks: Very hardy. Theyre happy in part to full shade, but here in zone 7, give your shrub a spot that gets some shade during the hottest part of the day, The dark green leaves and bark of this deciduous shrub have an odor of cloves or camphor, giving them good deer-resistance, Low maintenance, carefree and pest/insect resistant, Because Sweet Shrub is native to our area, it can handle whatever Mother Nature throws at it. These fast-growing shrubs will grow well in full sun or partial shade, but prefer clay, sand, or loam soil that drains well. Varieties to Try: Hakuro Nishiki, Flamingo. They provide proper scale for small areas where often one tree would serve more adequately than several shrubs. Varieties to Try: Lavender Lady, Angel White. Catmint is a super-hardy perennial with pretty spikes of purple flowers that attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Large 1" reddish fruit. Many plants in this size range are also desirable for their mass foliage and/or flowering effects. Remarks: Specimen, naturalistic settings. Contemporary homes seldom have any discernible foundation, consequently fewer tall-growing shrubs are needed. Some types are extremely cold-hardy. A very handy chart that lists plants by rarely damaged, occasionally damaged and frequently damaged. Japanese Euonymus. Many publications, books and web sites, however, have good plant pictures. Evocative of Mediterranean-style gardens, but also a stalwart of cottage garden ideas, lavender prefers well-drained soil, in full sun. Any person that uses the translated site does so at that persons own risk. Its flowers last for months! Cultural Remarks: Must replant every year. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Once your plant has been established, usually within two years, you'll likely want to regularly trim your hedges every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season to help them keep their shape. . Remarks: Specimen or hedges with red berries. This arching shrub boasts a mass of white flowers in spring and colorful orange or reddish foliage in fall. Taxus. Among those listed above are the schip laurel, photinia and Viburnum tinus, but there are many other options you can plant to suit the particular conditions in your garden. This native shrub has fragrant blooms which have been described as combining hints of pineapple, strawberry and banana. Pampas and the other selections in the ornamental group are used as specimen or accent plants, for contrast in shrub borders or herbaceous borders and for informal mass plantings. Forsythia may be one of the earliest heralds of spring, but it's not as early as pussy willow, which displays its characteristic fuzzy white catkins even before the arrival of forsythia's yellow blooms. Remarks: Specimen or hedges with heavy red fruit. Sweetbay Magnolia is a fast-growing tree in our shade garden. Maroon buds and white flowers of viburnum. But, on the whole, they are fairly self-sufficient and will only need a touch of pruning or feeding now and again. Remarks: Fish-bone branching pattern. Its profuse spring flowering, excellent summer foliage, excellent fall color and consistently upright habit make it a gem in the landscape. The fall color of the large lobed leaves is fantastic, turning shades of orange and maroon. Varieties to Try: Diablo, Summer Wine. Burning bush may be the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America. 625, The University of Georgia 2022 | All rights reserved. Buy fastest growing trees and plants online at discounted prices. Fragrant creeping phlox with purple flowers in spring. Bath We asked the experts for advice on the best dark colors for smaller rooms, And chef-approved tips for using a broiler, By Bridget Mallon Remarks: Flowers in winter. 6 to 9 inches tall. Ground covers are often cites as being low maintenance. When planting wax myrtle, make sure you keep them well away from barbecue areas or where you might be planning an outdoor fireplace 'the waxy leaves are famously flammable,' advises Ellen. Native Plant Alternatives to Common . Late spring or early summer flowers and attractive foliage make this graceful plant attractive in a mixed border. Remarks: Specimen with small bright green leaves. . Hardiness and disease and insect resistance are important considerations. If you have small children, make sure they do noteat the berries: Theirtoxic seedsclassify yew aspoisonous plants. Remarks: Red, orange or yellow spring flowers. 1. Use H-1 and H-2 hybrids. Our 'Quick List of fast growing trees and shrubs is : Photinia. Despite having lost so many features, red twig dogwood may be at its best when nothing blocks the view of its finest feature: its signature fire-red bark color (the same applies to yellow twig dogwood, but in a different color). Sasanqua Camellias typically get 6-8 ft tall. BA1 1UA. Remarks: Naturalistic. It blooms on the current season's new growth so prune it in late winter. Remarks: Quick shade. Most of Georgia . It is a member of the honeysuckle family and needs medium moisture and well-drained soil in full sun to grow. Also known as leyland cypress, leylandii is a hybrid of Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress. Keen to see results quickly in your garden? Remarks: Accent for restricted spaces. The wonderfully sweet scented blooms are a delight to walk past, so this is a lovely sensory garden plant to grow near an outside seating or dining area, or position where you can enjoy the fragrance to the full. The growth rate on upright, taller cultivars is medium to fast. Catmint needs full sun. This tall ornamental grass comes in a variety of species, one of which will fit your needs. It's available to buy from FastGrowingTrees.com (opens in new tab). Its an extremely cold-hardy evergreen thats not particularly fussy. 'Grace' is a cold hardy Eucalyptus named such for her graceful habit. As the "mock" in its name suggests, mock orange is not a true orange. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Trees with interesting branching habits are often used as accents in the landscape. Thats an outdated practice that actually creates drainage problems (called the bathtub effect) which can stunt or kill the plant eventually. This tough shrub can tolerate most soils, including slightly salty conditions, and will withstand full sun to part shade. Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)This dense-branching deciduous shrub is native to North America, and commonly found along our eastern coast. Easy to grow and quick to establish, there are many varieties of hydrangeas that produce flowers in summer and fall. Description: Medium-sized trees, 30 to 60 feet high. Drought-sensitive trees and plants that are likely to show the effects of reduced moisture include magnolias, Japanese maples, dogwoods, viburnums, azaleas and hydrangeas. Native to Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. But which one? These oblong-shaped leaves are up to 6 inches long (only 4 inches long in the Skip Laurel) and up to 2 inches across. There are plenty of new cultivars available. Keep them at least 10 ft away from the house! Many types are cold-hardy. The glossy leaved evergreen schip laurel, or cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus Schipkaensis' is a popular shrub that can be used for fast-growing hedges. ++ All Miscanthus have a very prominent white midrib. Viburnum tinus prefers moist soil and loves sun or partial shade,' says Lindsey Hyland. That is where adding woody and leafy plants come in handy. This plant stops people in their tracks when they smell the fruity aroma of the blossoms. Sometimes called summer lilac, this sturdy shrub with purple flowers withstands drought, blooms all season long, and attracts pollinators. Areca palm (Zones 10-11): A tropical palm that grows about two feet a year and tops out around 35 feet tall. Border forsythia remains a popular choice as a shrub in warmer climates such as zone 9. Remarks: Lustrous three lobed leaves with good red fall color. The bristly look is significantly softened once the red berries appear, as your attention will be drawn to their fleshy orbs. Most dont need shearing to maintain their shape. Remarks: Drought resistant with dark green leathery leaves. Encore Azalea. Remarks: Graceful evergreen in well drained sites. Remarks: Narrow when young, spreads with age. Remarks: Yellow flowers in spring and summer. Because of the ultimate size of several plants in this group, they are also listed in the "small trees" section that follows. But for a privacy hedge, go with one of the taller types of cotoneaster, such asC. lucidus. Bugle Herb can tolerate full sun when placed in moist soil. Published 2 March 23. Remarks: Naturalistic. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) The name implies that this plant is a weed, but one look at it tells you that there is more to it than that. Watering - How are you going to water your new tr. Remarks: Specimen. Consider using grasses and grass-like plants: When planting gardens for quail, consider that many grass varieties will die back, and the birds will be left with no nesting sites or cover. 2. Drought tolerant and pest free. Certain ground covers may become invasive once they become established and require heavy maintenance to keep them in bounds. Most conifers are cone-bearing and have needle-like foliage. Hedera Hibernica is a fast-growing climbing shrub that you'll find in many cottage gardens, forecourts, and along walls, fences and other vertical structures. New growth green. These native originals are the best choice, as they co-evolved with specific wildlife, which . But the citrusy smell of its white blossoms is enough to invite comparison. Remarks: Shade tree with red fall color. Murray Cypress are fast growing evergreen trees that are used as a hardier substitute for Leyland Cypress.. Quick growing evergreen, the Murray Cypress has branches that are stronger than the Leyland Cypress as well as being more disease resistant and resilient to fungus. Remarks: Late season, large, white or pink flowers. Have questions? More in this Section. The two species, japonica & sasanqua, have their differences. Ground covers are very versatile. Sea buckthorn grows between 8 and 12 ft. (2.4 - 3.6 m) tall and wide. Remarks: Yellow to bright orange-red fall color. Remarks: Specimen, screening. * Denotes native Georgia plant throughout this table. Remarks: Dark green evergreen foliage on compact plant. Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full sun. All of the grasses listed in this section are perennials except for two of the fountain grasses which are annuals. Growing Cannatonic . Usually, the human loses! Plant these beautiful, versatile plants for privacy in a hurry. Remarks: Blue flowers in mid summer. The latter usually reaches just 12 to 14 feet tall, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. They are available to buy from Nature Hills (opens in new tab). Saw Palmetto. 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. As long as their basic needs are met, they are pretty easy to care for. Senior Public Service Associate & State Master Gardener Coordinator; Emphasis: Consumer ornamentals, Select male trees. Then dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot. Remarks: Small, white, fragrant flowers in summer. This species does best in an environment where trees are spaced 12 to 15 feet apart. We have faculty and staff in every county across the state that are available to assist you. Unfortunately, deer will heavily browse this shrub. To Will Corley, Georgia Experiment Station (retired), for information pertaining to ornamental grasses, and to other individuals and organizations who contributed information. Female has fuller plumes. Sea buckthorn is a cold-hardy deciduous shrub with thorny branches, silver-green linear leaves, and bright orange or yellow berries. It is not our intent to describe all native species just those available in the nursery trade and those that the authors feel have potential for nursery production and landscape use. Also to Gerald E. Smith, Extension Horticulturist (retired), University of Georgia, for helpful suggestions in the original revision. Remarks: Mass plantings, good green filler with fine texture. Remarks: Blue-gray foliage. Remarks: Transplants well, adapts to poor sites. They are the largest and the most permanent plant in the landscape.