Last updated on March 5th, 2024
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As a nurseryman who has spent over twenty years as a professional gardener working in my family’s small nursery, one of the most common questions we get asked is, what plants are fast-growing and evergreen?
I’ve previously talked about tall plants that are ideal for screening, as well as fast-growing shrubs in general, shrubs for open sunny sites and more recently evergreen ground cover plants so in this guide I wan to focus on fast growing evergreen shrubs. However, some of these are deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in winter. So, in this guide, I wanted to focus on the fast-growing evergreen shrubs, which not only provide colour in the summer but also in the bleakest winter months, making them my personal favourites of shrubs to add colour and structure to any garden.
In this guide, I’ll explore some of my personal favourite evergreen fast-growing shrubs, including the vibrant yellow Hypericum Hidcote, the striking Photinia ‘Red Robin’ with its striking red foliage in spring, probably my favourite out of all the shrubs I’ve planted over the years as shown in the picture above. I also included the robust Portugal Laurel, the delicate but extremely hardy Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’, and the lush Ceanothus Skylark with its stunning blue flowers that the bees love.
These shrubs, as well as a few more I talk about below, are shrubs that I have planted in many gardens over the years and thrive and fill spaces with life and colour, but more importantly, quickly establish themselves. They can be fantastic choices for screening for privacy, planting a mixed shrub hedge or just looking to establish some shrubs in your garden quickly. They are great alternatives to the seasonal foliage of shrubs like fagus and the common beech and an alternative for conifers that can take over and require consistent pruning to keep on top of them.
1. Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ – St John’s Wort
- Growing Conditions: Also known as St. John’s Wort, thrives in well-drained soil, with a preference for a neutral to slightly acidic pH. It is pretty adaptable, tolerating a range of soil types from sandy to clay. Consistent moisture helps, but the plant is drought-tolerant once established.
- Position and Aspect: Prefers full sun to partial shade, with better flowering in sunny positions. It can perform well in a variety of light conditions, but too much shade may reduce flowers.
- Eventual Size: Typically reaches an eventual height and spread of about 1-1.5 meters (3-5 feet). This compact and bushy shrub is ideal for borders, cottage gardens, or as a low hedge, offering a manageable size for most garden spaces.
This is a great plant for attracting wildlife to your garden and is more commonly known as St John’s Wort. The flowers produced have a great deal of pollen and nectar so they will bring ample numbers of bees to your garden, something to be aware of if you are looking to add more bees, or if you want to avoid bees. St John’s Wort produces gold and yellow flowers that are stunning to the eye and about 5cm in diameter.
If you have an area where you want something to grow quickly, this plant will cultivate dense shrubs effectively in dappled shade or partial shade. It is best grown in areas where it gets protection against the heavy wind, so underneath a tree, between other shrubs or up against a wall is perfect. If it is starting to outgrow the space you have available you can prune it between September and November and you want to prune it after the flowers have run their course.
Once fully established, this plant will span about 1.5 metres both in height and spread but, of course, you can prune it regularly to keep the shape that you want. This is a very effective plant to consider if you have anything but ideal soil because it is quite tolerant of a wide range of soil types and pH levels.
2. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’
- Growing Conditions: thrives in well-drained soil and grows in a range of soil types, including clay, sand, and loam. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH but can tolerate slightly alkaline conditions. Regular watering is essential, especially in dry periods, but avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Position and Aspect: This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. Ideally, a position that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight. It can also tolerate some shade, but its red foliage may not be as vibrant.
- Eventual Size: grows to an eventual height of about 3-5 meters (10-16 feet) and spread of 2-4 meters (6-13 feet) if not pruned. Its size can be easily controlled with regular pruning.
This broadleaf evergreen shrub gets its nickname ‘Red Robin’ because of the dramatic red coloured new growth. This is a large, hybrid shrub that can reach up to five metres tall and wide, making it great for creating hedges or used as specimen plants. The dark green leaves are serrated and new growth starts out a copper-red colour (as pictured above) these red leaves eventually change to dark green and during the spring, you can enjoy small white flowers that bloom from the end of April throughout the season.
You don’t need to allow the flowers to grow because some argue they have an unpleasant aroma, in which case, you can prune come spring to stimulate more of the red leaf growth rather than the flowers. However, if you allow the flowers you will eventually get red fruit from spring through winter. Once it is fully established, as many of these fast-growing evergreen shrubs, it is very drought tolerant, showy and effective as a stunning plant to have in the garden during winter.
3. Prunus lusitanica – Portugal Laurel
- Growing Conditions: Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portugal Laurel, prefers moist, well-drained soil. It will grow in a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, provided the soil is not overly dry or waterlogged. It tolerates both slightly acidic and alkaline pH levels. Regular watering is beneficial, especially in dry conditions, but established plants are quite drought-tolerant.
- Position and Aspect: Thrives in full sun to partial shade, but for optimal growth, a position that offers a balance of sun and shade throughout the day is ideal. It can also tolerate exposure to wind and is suitable for coastal areas.
- Eventual Size: Can reach an eventual height of 10-15 meters (about 30-50 feet) and a spread of 8-12 meters (about 25-40 feet) if left unpruned. However, it responds very well to pruning and can be maintained at a desired size, making it an excellent shrub for hedges, screens, or as a standalone specimen in the landscape.
The stunning Mediterranean plant, native to Portugal, is a large evergreen shrub that brings with it dark brown bark, leathery leaves that span up to 12cm and a rich rhubarb shaded stem. But that’s not all, at the end of spring and the beginning of summer, you will find fragrant, small white flowers that lead to red cherries which take on a dark purple shade by the end of autumn.
These are not cherries that people can eat, however, birds will be drawn to your plant and strip the tree of any cherries almost immediately. This is a perfect shrub for planting as a windbreak, privacy screen or hedge because it will reach up to 10-15 metres in height and 4.5 metres in spread, and even larger if left for many years.
It grows in moist, well-drained soil and thrives in chalky soil as well. It’s quite tolerant of heat, wind, drought and sun. In fact, it requires full sun or partial shade. Moreover, it is deer resistant so if you have trouble with deer in your garden, this is the perfect specimen, shrub border or hedging plant.
4. Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’
- Growing Conditions: Flourishes in well-drained soil, preferring loamy or sandy soil. It’s important for the soil to be moderately fertile to encourage healthy growth. Fairly drought-resistant once established, but it benefits from regular watering during dry spells, especially in the first few years.
- Position and Aspect: Prefers a sunny or partially shaded position, thriving best in positions that receive plenty of sun. It can tolerate coastal conditions, making it a versatile choice for gardeners near the sea.
- Eventual Size: Typically, Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’ reaches an eventual height of about 1.5-2.5 meters (5-8 feet) and spreads to 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) wide. Its compact and bushy habit makes it ideal for use as an ornamental hedge or as part of a mixed border, where its pretty pink flowers can add a splash of colour from late spring to early autumn.
The Escallonia is a compact shrub that has dark green leaves growing along racemes. The shape it takes on leads way to pink and white flowers that are quite tiny, about 12mm in width each. It will produce green foliage all year round with the white and pink flowers appearing in summer. It’s very bushy and can reach up to 2.5 metres in height and spread once fully established. Like most fast-growing shrubs, this will tolerate a wide range of environments.
Most evergreen shrubs that are fast-growing are tolerant of all manner of soils as long as it’s well-drained and moist as well as any range of pH levels, and the Escallonia is no exception. You can plant it in loamy, chalky, clay or sandy soils without needing to make any modifications. It does require full sun or partial shade and should be sheltered from drying winds.
5. Choisya ternata – Mexican Orange Blossom
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained, fertile soil. It prefers a neutral to slightly acidic pH but is quite adaptable to various soil types. Although drought-tolerant once established, it benefits from regular watering during prolonged dry spells to maintain its lush appearance.
- Position and Aspect: This shrub enjoys a sunny to partially shaded position in the garden. Full sun encourages the best flowering and dense foliage, but it can also handle light shade.
- Eventual Size: Eventual height and spread of about 2.5 meters (8 feet), making it a medium-sized shrub. Its naturally rounded and bushy habit makes it an excellent choice for informal hedges, mixed borders, or as a standalone specimen, providing year-round greenery and fragrant white flowers in spring and often again in autumn.
Commonly referred to as the Mexican Orange Blossom, this broadleaf evergreen shrub is native to Mexico, it produces white blossoms that are sure to draw the eye. This plant is compact and round in its shape. It will reach almost as large as 2.5 metres tall and wide if left to grow on its own.
The green leaves are not only glossy and beautiful, they are aromatic and span approximately 10cm in size each. This leads the way to small, star-shaped white flowers that are equally as fragrant and can span about 5cm wide. With this plant, you can deadhead and enjoy blooms throughout the summer. From each bloom, you can get fruit that is perfect for attracting birds into your garden.
Both the crushed leaves and the flowers take on a citric fragrance that contributes to its name. It is perfect as a shrub border, a hedge or a specimen plant and is very tolerant of diseases and insects. If you have incredibly cold winter temperatures try to grow it in a place that’s protected from the wind. It does best if it gets morning sunlight and afternoon shade.
6. Pyracantha – Firethorn
- Growing Conditions: Highly adaptable to a variety of growing conditions. It prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate a range of soil types, from clay to loam and sand, as well as both acidic and alkaline pH levels, so it will grow almost anywhere. While it is drought-tolerant once established, adequate moisture will promote healthier growth and a more prolific display of berries and flowers.
- Position and Aspect: This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade, with sunnier positions encouraging better flowering and berry production. Pyracantha can be planted in a variety of settings, including against walls or fences where it can be trained against a wall, or as a free-standing shrub. Its tolerance for partial shade makes it versatile for garden design.
- Eventual Size: Can grow to a height of 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) and spread similarly, depending on the variety. Its vigorous growth habit makes it excellent for use as a hedge or screen, providing privacy and a habitat for wildlife. It can be pruned and shaped to maintain a desired size and form, making it a flexible choice for many gardens.
This is a very bold shrub that is one to keep as a hedge, border or specimen plant. In gardens where you might otherwise lack colour, especially during the winter, this plant adds a beautiful vibrancy by way of its eye-catching berries. The plant grows in an upright fashion so it adds height to your garden and displays rich red berries in large clusters which appear later in the season and stay in place throughout the winter. Depending on the variety of the Pyracantha the berries can be red, orange or yellow.
It grows in such a dense cluster that it’s very effective as a windbreak and it has thorny stems, so using it as a screen or a hedge to prevent entry will work quite well once it’s fully established. No matter where you grow it you can enjoy the evergreen colour of the leaves throughout the year and in the spring sit back as you admire the small, white flowers that eventually produce the delightful berries.
The highly ornamental berries are what it is known for, however, they can be cropped into a topiary shape or grown in containers if you so choose. It requires very little water once it gets established but it does need full sun. It grows very quickly and can reach up to 3 metres tall and almost the same in width in its natural form if left unchecked. That said, it can be grown up against a wall and it can also be used as a free-standing plant.
7. Mahonia japonica – Japanese Mahonia
- Growing Conditions: Loved for its striking foliage and fragrant winter blooms, thrives in well-drained, moist soil. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH but is adaptable to various soil types. This plant benefits from a mulch layer to retain soil moisture and protect its roots, especially in areas with hot summers. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established but performs best with consistent moisture.
- Position and Aspect: Prefers partial shade to full shade, making it an ideal choice for woodland gardens or shaded areas where other plants might struggle. Although it can tolerate some sun, too much direct sunlight may scorch its leaves. Mahonia japonica’s tolerance for shade, combined with its evergreen nature, makes it a valuable plant for adding year-round interest to darker parts of the garden.
- Eventual Size: Grows to an eventual height of about 1.5-2 meters (5-6.5 feet) and spreads to 1-1.5 meters (3-5 feet). Its upright growth habit and large, spiked leaves create a striking architectural form, while its clusters of yellow flowers in late autumn to early winter add a splash of bright colour during the darker months.
This plant gets its name from the leaves that grow in pairs up its long stems. These leaves are green with hints of purple and red throughout the season and each has spikes along the perimeter. The leaves are spiny and leathery.
The Mahonia itself grows in an upright fashion and the foliage is certainly distinct. In addition to the green foliage, there are fragrant yellow flowers that draw the eye effectively and these yellow flowers (in very early spring) pave the way for powder blue, clusters of grape-like fruit. The fruit hangs in groups just like grapes and the light, powder blue colour is well suited to an exotic theme. It is perfect for a fast-growing evergreen shrub near rocks or waterfalls and can be pruned to fit into otherwise empty spaces.
It is by design pest and disease resistant and very bird-friendly so it will certainly attract many a bird once the ornamental berries appear. It offers year-round interest and only requires partial sun, and once it’s established there’s very little water required. The spiky edges of the leaves make it a wonderful fast-growing evergreen shrub that abuts the perimeter of your garden because it will act as a successful deterrent.
8. Elaeagnus ebbingei
- Growing Conditions: Also known as Ebbing’s Silverberry, thrives in a wide range of soil types, including clay, sand, and loam. It prefers well-drained soil but can tolerate both drought and coastal conditions once established thriving in both acidic and alkaline soils. Its tolerance for poor soils and salt spray makes it a robust choice for challenging sites and coastal gardens.
- Position and Aspect: Grows well in full sun and partial shade. In full sun, it produces more of its silvery foliage and fragrant flowers, while in partial shade it may flower less.
- Eventual Size: Can reach an eventual height and spread of about 2.5-4 meters (8-13 feet).
This hybrid broadleaf evergreen shrub is easily grown in well-drained soil with partial sun or full shade. It is tolerant of shade but it does best with full sun. The lack of sunlight will deter flowers but the plant itself will be sustained. This is a very fast-growing shrub and just like other shrubs on this list, it is incredibly tolerant of a wide variety of soils, even soil that is otherwise considered poor and infertile. As long as you don’t have incredibly wet soil or incredibly dry soil it will do just fine.
This bushy, rounded shrub can reach up to 3 metres tall and wide. The leaves are a dense evergreen shade that stays that way throughout the winter and are tipped with silver scales. As the leaves get older the dark green colour starts to turn and the silver-grey colour beneath becomes more apparent.
There are flowers that appear between October and November that take on a creamy white shade. The flowers are small but very fragrant and they appear at a time of the season when most other flowers do not, which can add beautiful options and fragrances to your garden throughout the autumn and winter when other plants are dormant. Moreover, these flowers lead way to reddish-brown fruits that are edible once ripened come spring.
9. Prunus laurocerasus ‘rotundifolia’ – Cherry Laurel
- Growing Conditions: Groes in a wide range of soil conditions but prefers moist, well-drained soils. It can grow in both acidic and alkaline pH levels and is quite tolerant of heavy clay soils but I recommend mixing on some compost.
- Position and Aspect: Does best in full sun to partial shade. While it can tolerate deep shade, flowering and foliage density are optimal when the plant receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight daily. Its versatility in light exposure makes it a great choice for various landscape applications.
- Eventual Size: Cherry Laurel ‘Rotundifolia’ can grow to a height of about 4-6 meters (13-20 feet) and spread 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) wide. Its fast growth rate and dense, evergreen foliage make it ideal for large hedges or privacy screens, offering an effective barrier or backdrop in garden settings.
This evergreen Laurel is not only effective as a fast-growing evergreen shrub but can be pruned into a hedge, which is actually what it’s most commonly used for and this is possibly the fasting growing shrub we have seen. It functions the best when it’s trimmed into a screen, however, you can avoid pruning and allow it to cultivate its natural, bushy shape. It assumes an upright form as it grows rather than a flat mat form as so many groundcover plants do. This can add more shape to your garden, especially if you want different levels or layers to draw the eye.
It is very fast growing and will grow approximately 60cm each year. In fact, if left to its own devices it will reach upwards of six metres tall, but you can prune it to whatever height you prefer, making it very flexible in terms of creating dense, fast growing evergreen shrub. Unlike other fast-growing shrubs, this is something you can plant and have spread, cut to varying heights as you see fit in different parts of your garden. The leaves take on a slightly rounded shape and remain rich and green all year round.
10. Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ – California Lilac
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained soil and prefers a sunny location to maximize its flowering potential. It’s well-suited to sandy or loamy soils and tolerates a range of pH levels, from acidic to slightly alkaline. Once established, Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ is drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens.
- Position and Aspect: This shrub loves full sun and will produce a mass of flowers and densest foliage when planted in a location that receives plenty of sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but flowering is usually reduced a little. Ceanothus ‘Skylark’ is also wind-resistant and can be planted in exposed locations, making it suitable for coastal gardens and open sites as well.
- Eventual Size: Typically grows to an eventual height of around 1.5-2 meters (5-6.5 feet) and spreads to around 1.5 meters (5 feet). Its compact and bushy growth habit makes it ideal for use as a specimen plant, in mixed borders, or as part of a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant garden.
Colloquially known as the California Lilac, this dense and compact evergreen shrub is known not just for its ability to spread effectively as a specimen plant but because of the clusters of cerulean blue flowers that show up in the spring and remain throughout summer. These flowers are also highly attractive to bees, as well as butterflies and other wildlife.
The leaves are and they are produced as fine-toothed leaves along branches that stick out to produce the richly blue flowers. When it is allowed to thrive on its own it will create a dome shape. This is a great plant to use for groundcover or as hedge in areas that are heavily frequented by deer because deer typically ignore it. An upside is that it attracts bees, birds, and butterflies very effectively so you can bring in all of the wildlife you prefer without worrying that the deer will eat all the flowers.
This particular variety is very tolerant of a wide range of climates so you can use it for creating hedges if you have a coastal garden or an interior garden. Moreover, it performs quite well in all manner of soil types so you don’t need to make amendments in order to allow this plant to grow effectively and it will spread over any areas that are otherwise missing a floriferous display. At its full maturity, it can grow up to 180cm (6ft) tall. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun and once it’s established you will not have to water, even in the summer, because the plant becomes quite drought-tolerant.
11. Euonymus ‘Emerald Gaiety’
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained soil and is adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, and can tolerate both acidic and alkaline pH levels. This hardy shrub is drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular watering during dry spells, especially when planted in full sun or in containers.
- Position and Aspect: Prefers full sun to partial shade. Partial shade can help protect the foliage and ensure the variegation remains vibrant. This plant is versatile and can be used in a variety of settings, including as ground cover, in mixed borders, or as a colourful addition to container plantings and even as a wall trained climber.
- Eventual Size: Reaches an eventual height of about 0.5-1 meter (1.5-3 feet) and spreads to 1-1.5 meters (3-5 feet). Its growth habit is compact and bushy, making it ideal for small gardens or spaces where ground coverage and vertical interest are desired. This shrub can also be trained to climb if supported, offering flexibility in garden design.
This evergreen is known as a winter creeper and it is actually a vine even though most people don’t refer to it as such. This means it will not only grow quickly but it can be trained effectively to spread up and over any structures you want to cover in your garden. On average it creates a bush shape that is about 1 metre in height and 1.3 metres in its spread. This shape can be pruned if necessary or trained as mentioned.
The leaves are rich green colour and they take on white edging along the perimeter of each. When it grows it will grow very quickly, in an upright fashion, which is what allows you to more easily train the vines to go around something. This particular plant is incredibly effective in the form of an ornamental hedge and even more effective when used as a groundcover or as a hedge. You can even use it as a specimen plant because it will spread out new branches at a moderate pace and fill in any spaces in your garden.
Image credits – Shutterstock.com
Last update on 2024-04-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
