When creating a private oasis in your garden, time is of the essence. Whether you're seeking a natural screen to shield your home from prying eyes or a shady retreat to escape the summer sun, fast-growing trees are the perfect solution. For the discerning gardener, choosing the right tree means balancing speed with aesthetics, ensuring the garden remains a sanctuary of beauty and tranquility. Here are five top choices that combine rapid growth with elegance, making them ideal for creating quick garden privacy.
1. Cupressus Better Green: A New Standard in Privacy Screening
Cupressus Better Green is the go-to choice for those seeking privacy without compromising style. This canker-resistant variety of Leyland Cypress offers lush, vibrant greenery that remains dense year-round, making it an excellent option for those who want a solid screen fast.
Key Facts:
- Mature Height: 6-8 meters
- Mature Width: 3-4 meters
- Best Uses: Privacy screens, windbreaks, and hedging
- Leaf Appearance: Rich, deep green foliage with a slightly softer texture compared to traditional Leyland Cypress
- Rate of Growth: Very fast, achieving up to 1 meter per year
- Tolerates: Full sun, a variety of soil types, and coastal conditions
Why It’s Perfect to Add to Your Garden
Cupressus Better Green is a rapid grower and a reliable performer in diverse conditions, from coastal areas to more challenging inland environments. Its dense foliage provides a seamless green wall, perfect for blocking out neighbors or unwanted views. Additionally, its canker resistance makes it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners who value beauty and resilience.
2. Leighton Green: The Classic Choice for Quick Privacy
Regarding fast-growing trees, Leighton Green remains a favorite for many garden enthusiasts. This hardy evergreen is renowned for its quick growth and ability to form an impenetrable barrier of green, making it a top choice for privacy screens.
Key Facts:
- Mature Height: 10-15 meters
- Mature Width: 5-7 meters
- Best Uses: Tall privacy screens, windbreaks, and large hedging projects
- Leaf Appearance: Dark green, scale-like leaves that maintain color year-round
- Rate of Growth: Extremely fast, growing up to 1 meter per year
- Tolerates: Full sun, drought conditions, and a wide range of soil types
Â
Â
Why It’s Perfect to Add to Your Garden
Leighton Green offers a commanding presence for those with larger gardens or properties. Its ability to grow tall and wide quickly makes it an ideal solution for those looking to create a natural barrier. Its dense foliage provides privacy and reduces noise, making your garden a peaceful retreat. Despite its rapid growth, Leighton Green is relatively easy to maintain, requiring only occasional pruning to keep its shape.
3. Ficus Hillii 'Flash': Luxurious Greenery with Rapid Growth
Ficus Hillii 'Flash,' commonly known as Ficus Flash, is a versatile tree that adds a touch of luxury to any garden. Its fast growth and ability to thrive in urban environments make it a perfect choice for privacy screens and hedging in more sophisticated landscapes.
Key Facts:
- Mature Height: 6-10 meters
- Mature Width: 3-5 meters
- Best Uses: Formal hedges, privacy screens, and statement trees
- Leaf Appearance: Glossy, bright green leaves that create a lush, full appearance
- Rate of Growth: Fast, achieving up to 60cm per year
- Tolerates: Full sun to partial shade, most well-draining soils
Â
Â
Why It’s Perfect to Add to Your Garden
Ficus Flash is ideal for those who want a fast-growing tree with a refined look. Its dense, glossy foliage provides excellent coverage, creating a lush green screen perfect for maintaining privacy in style. Additionally, Ficus Flash is well-suited to urban environments, where space may be limited, but the desire for privacy is not. Its ability to be pruned into formal shapes makes it a favorite among gardeners who appreciate a polished look.
4. Pencil Pine (Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca'): The Elegant Sentinel
For those who prefer a more formal, architectural look in their garden, Pencil Pine (Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca') is an excellent choice. This tall, narrow tree creates vertical interest while providing a fast-growing screen.
Key Facts:
- Mature Height: 8-12 meters
- Mature Width: 1-1.5 meters
- Best Uses: Vertical accents, privacy screens, and formal gardens
- Leaf Appearance: Blue-green, scale-like leaves that add a cool, calming hue to the garden
- Rate of Growth: Fast, reaching up to 60cm per year
- Tolerates: Full sun, drought, and poor soils
Â
Â
Why It’s Perfect to Add to Your Garden
Pencil Pine is perfect for adding height and structure to your garden without taking up too much space. Its narrow growth habit makes it ideal for smaller gardens or use as a formal screen along driveways or property lines. The cool blue-green foliage of Pencil Pine contrasts beautifully with other plants, adding depth and interest to your garden design. Despite its formal appearance, it’s a hardy tree that requires minimal care once established.
5. Syzygium australe (Lilly Pilly): A Versatile Native for Quick Coverage
For a fast-growing tree that’s both native and highly adaptable, Syzygium australe(Lilly Pilly) is a top contender. Known for its resilience (as the name suggests), this tree offers vibrant green foliage and bright, attractive berries that add seasonal interest to your garden.
Key Facts:
- Mature Height: 4-6 meters
- Mature Width: 2-3 meters
- Best Uses: Hedging, privacy screens, and windbreaks
- Leaf Appearance: Glossy, dark green leaves with a dense, bushy habit
- Rate of Growth: Fast, achieving up to 70cm per year
- Tolerates: Full sun to partial shade, various soil types, and urban pollution
Â
Â
Why It’s Perfect to Add to Your Garden
Syzygium australe (Lilly Pilly) is a versatile tree that works well in various garden settings. Its dense foliage creates an effective privacy screen, while the bright red berries add color and attract birds to your garden. This tree is perfect for those who want a fast-growing, low-maintenance option that can withstand the challenges of urban environments. Lilly Pilly offers beauty and practicality if you're going to create a hedge or a standalone screen.
Conclusion
When creating privacy in your garden, choosing the right trees is essential. The fast-growing species above provide quick coverage and enhance your outdoor space's overall beauty and elegance. Whether you opt for the lush greenery of Cupressus Better Green, the stately height of Leighton Green, or the versatility of Ficus Flash, these trees will transform your garden into a private haven in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I prune these fast-growing trees?
Pruning frequency depends on the tree and your desired shape. For formal hedges, prune 2-3 times per year. For less formal screens, annual pruning is sufficient.
Can these trees be planted in coastal areas?
Yes, Cupressus Better Green and Pencil Pine are well-suited to coastal conditions.
Do these trees require a lot of water?
Once established, most of these trees are drought-tolerant, but they benefit from regular watering during the first year to encourage healthy growth.
