
Flowering hedges form a representative privacy screen with a friendly character. Flowering shrubs are therefore the first choice to protect privacy while still providing welcome visitors with hospitable insights. Nevertheless, the floral inhibition threshold prevents uninvited guests from brazenly entering the property. If you don't want to wait long for the decorative enclosure, you can opt for the growth rockets among the ornamental trees. Explore 20 fast-growing, year-round hedge species here.
flowering shrubs
evergreen
Evergreen flowering shrubs - year-round privacy without ifs and buts
Flowering shrubs with evergreen foliage and rapid growth are rare in the Central European climate. Most frost-resistant ornamental trees shed their leaves in order to be prepared for the hardships of winter. A few survivors have developed strategies to retain their foliage even in severe frosts. These premium species among the hedge plants therefore open the round in this selection of fast-growing flowering shrubs.
Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Column')
A firethorn fulfills its task as a blooming guardian of your garden in no time at all, because its majestic height is reached within a few years. From May, legions of white flowers appear above the evergreen, filigree leaves and defensive thorns. In autumn, the fast-growing hybrid 'Red Column' causes a sensation with bright red berries, while the variety 'Orange Glow' boasts orange-colored fruits. Firethorn is therefore very popular among proud builders, to frame the new home as quickly as possible with a decorative hedge that guarantees reliable privacy all year round.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering period: May to June
- Annual growth: 30 to 60 cm

Large-leaved barberry (Berberis julianae)
This barberry is tough, thrives in sunny to partially shaded locations in any good garden soil and does not let harsh winters prevent it from growing rapidly. Persistently she wears the evergreen robe of leaves, over which golden-yellow blossoms rise in spring. The large-leaved barberry is very popular with gardeners who prefer reinforced flowering hedges. The strong thorns that sprout along the angular branches are up to 4 cm long. Even the edges of the leaves are studded with small spines. The bluish colored berries that emerge from the flowers are only suitable for decoration and are not intended for consumption. When purchasing, please ask specifically for the botanical name, as the barberry genus also includes deciduous species.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering period: May to June
- Annual growth: 30 to 40 cm

Evergreen magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
The rare Magnolia grandiflora is a pyramidal flower dream for sheltered locations with mild winters. Unlike its peers, this species of magnolia thrives as a shrub at a rapid rate for an evergreen shrub. Its huge flowers, which reach a diameter of up to 25 cm on adult specimens, have a unique long-distance effect. In the first five years, winter protection from leaves on the root disc and in the form of a shading net should accompany the beauty of the flowers through the cold season. When the magic of spring-fresh blossoms has worn off, the shiny green, gum tree-like ornamental leaves take over the scepter to protect your privacy all year round.
- Growth height: 300 to 800 cm
- Flowering time: April to June
- Annual growth: 20 to 25 cm

deciduous
Deciduous flowering shrubs - opaque at the right time
Deciduous hedge species economize on their plant energy by forgoing the energy-sapping maintenance of their leaves in winter. The flowering period in spring and summer benefits from this with a lavish blaze of colour. The following types of hedges wear a dense foliage when family life moves into the garden and protection from prying eyes is a priority.
Butterfly bush, summer lilac (Buddleja davidii)
The butterfly bush is one of the most beautiful flowering bushes that form a breathtaking hedge at top speed. The subtropical ornamental tree prefers sunny locations with well-drained, humus-rich soil to showcase its flower panicles, which can be up to 30 cm long. The combination of bright colors and alluring fragrance attracts butterflies in flocks, giving your hedge a picturesque appearance. Buddleia owes its robust winter hardiness to its Asian origin. Although the shape of the flower suggests otherwise, the plant is not related to the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). Gardeners with a soft spot for easy-care hedge plants will appreciate the good-natured pruning tolerance of a Buddleja davidii.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering period: July to October
- Annual growth: 50 to 150 cm

Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
Are you in the mood for a loose, richly branched hedge with a sea of summer flowers and fast growth? Then we would like to recommend the panicle hydrangea to you. A colorful series of splendid varieties offers an enchanting spectrum of colours. Innovative novelties even go through a magical color change from white to pink to a spectacular crimson finish. The panicle hydrangea fulfills the design dreams of your gardener without much ado, because in terms of growth speed the flowering shrub is usually ahead.
- Growth height: 150 to 250 cm
- Flowering period: July to September
- Annual growth: 30 to 100 cm

Forsythia, Goldbell (Forsythia x intermedia)
Forsythia should not be missing in mixed hedges to herald the blossom festival early in the year. The picturesque olive tree doesn't keep you in suspense until it heralds spring with bright yellow flowers for the first time. Within 2 to 3 years, the rapid growth will fulfill your desire for a furious flowering hedge with privacy protection. A sunny location with nutrient-rich soil has a beneficial effect on vitality and flowering. Since goldbells are only thinned out in spring and are not cut back, the annual growth is not slowed down by the scissors.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering time: March/April to May/June
- Annual growth: 30 to 60 cm

Fingerbush (Potentilla 'Hachmann's Gigant')
The multifaceted genus of cinquefoils gives us everything a gardener's heart desires, from decorative ground cover to distinctive hedge shrubs. If the creative garden design envisages a waist-high flowering hedge as a territorial boundary, the 'Hachmann's Gigant' variety is just right. The compact, branched, broad-bushy small shrub frames your garden with a never-ending, yellow robe of flowers accompanied by elliptical, light green leaves. In addition, the ornamental tree scores with uncomplicated care, which is limited to watering when it is dry and a little compost for the nutrient supply.
- Growth height: 50 to 70 cm (with a width of up to 100 cm)
- Flowering period: May to October
- Annual growth: 20 to 25 cm (small varieties slower at 10 to 15 cm)

Noble lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Its lush blooms have inspired poets and composers for generations to write legendary poems and songs. Of course, the opulent noble lilac does not only bloom in poetic white. Some of the prettiest varieties will transform your enclosure into a sea of violet, purple, or pink blooms. Coupled with rapid growth and towering stature, lilac deserves a place in this selection of flowering hedge plants. However, the large shrub likes to set off on a conquest through the garden, cheekily spreading its strong-growing runners. By putting young plants in the ground with a root barrier, you can easily slow down the invasive trait.
- Growth height: 250 to 600 cm
- Flowering period: May to June
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm

Scented jasmine, peasant jasmine, mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Elegance, rich abundance of flowers and lively growth have made the scented jasmine one of the most popular types of hedges. The tightly upright basic shoots inspire with gracefully overhanging side branches. Cup-shaped, mostly lavishly filled flowers contrast impressively with dark green, pointed-oval leaves. The mock orange tree cannot deny that it belongs to the romantic hydrangea family. However, it is much more tolerant of pruning and less sensitive to frost than its botanical relatives. In terms of growth rate, it also leaves most flowering shrubs behind.
- Growth height: 180 to 350 cm
- Flowering period: May/June to June/July
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm (double flowering varieties slower at 15 to 25 cm)

Weigela 'Bristol Ruby' (Weigelia)
We would like to introduce the top-class variety 'Bristol Ruby' to you as a representative of the outstanding weigela species with the potential for flowering hedges. Just in time for the beginning of the loveliest season, ruby-red blossoms shine like sparkling jewels above the rich green foliage. The furious spectacle of flowers creates an invigorating atmosphere full of positive energy on both sides of the hedge. At the end of the main flowering period, no one needs to be sad, because where weigela feel comfortable, they surprise with more follow-up flowers until autumn. Your hedge says goodbye to winter with a spectacular coloration of leaves that blends harmoniously into the landscape.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 c
- Flowering period: May to July
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm

Copper Pear (Amelanchier lamarckii)
The copper rock pear is a prime example of a fast-growing hedge species with lavish flowers. The large shrub not only cuts a fine figure as a solitaire. Together with other ornamental trees, the rose plant forms a stylish hedge that prevents onlookers from looking through in the summertime. The small fruits that ripen in autumn are not only decorative, but also suitable for consumption. Together with a blazing autumn color of the leaves, the service pear inspires with its splendor at the end of the garden season, before it goes into hibernation.
- Growth height: 300 to 400 cm
- Flowering time: April
- Annual growth: 30 to 60 cm

Spiraea (Spiraea vanhouttei)
Spiraea pulls out all the stops to give your home a floral glow as a flowering hedge. In spring, the white umbels of flowers appear in such large numbers that the dark green leaves are almost completely covered. With this magical flower, the ornamental shrub also makes problematic locations in partial shade shine. The broad, bushy, upright silhouette when young develops an elegant appearance with overhanging branches in old age. The list of advantageous attributes is rounded off by a really fast growth rate, reliable winter hardiness and uncomplicated pruning tolerance. When purchasing spirea for your new hedge, please make sure that it is Spiraea vanhouttei. In the trade, spiraea and the herbaceous perennial astilbe are sometimes both referred to as splendor, which can lead to confusion. Therefore, ask specifically for the botanical name.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering period: May to June
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm

Silver Candlestick (Clethra alnifolia)
If you are looking for a fast-growing type of hedge for partially shaded locations, you will find what you are looking for in the silver candle bush. Its most beautiful varieties shine with large flower clusters in delicate colors without wanting to be permanently spoiled by the sun. The pure type is staged with white flowers. Subtle pink characterizes the hybrid 'Pink Spire', while 'Rosea' is wrapped in bright pink flowers. The low light requirement makes this type of hedge an ideal candidate for a blooming fence in a north-facing front garden.
- Growth height: 200 to 280 cm
- Flowering period: July to September/October
- Annual growth: 15 to 35 cm

Starlet shrub, Mayflower shrub (Deutzia magnifica)
From myriads of small star blossoms, the Mayflower shrub conjures up white, lavishly filled panicles of flowers for its picturesque spring fairy tale. While in other types of hedges filled flowers slow down the growth rate, a Deutzia cannot be prevented from buoyant growth. Remarkable is the slim silhouette with sparse branching, whose elegant charisma nobody can resist. This habit makes the star shrub an exemplary aspirant for the mixed flowering hedge. This distinctive hedge species enters into a congenial partnership with peasant jasmine, weigela and summer lilac.
- Growth height: 250 to 350 cm
- Flowering period: May and June
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm

Purple Dogwood, Redwood Dogwood (Cornus alba sibirica)
With a symphony of colors, a purple dogwood presents itself in your garden all year round. The overture marks the creamy white spring bloom, followed by a furious dark red foliage coloration in autumn. During the winter, coral-red shoots set colorful accents in the empty garden. You won't have to wait long for the Asian hedge species to reach a representative height. Its aesthetic merits are coupled with a rapid growth rate that can exceed half a meter in any good garden soil in a sunny to shaded spot.
- Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
- Flowering period: May and June
- Annual growth: 30 to 60 cm

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
For the blooming hedge in the natural garden, native wild trees are very popular. The blackthorn has emerged as a crowd favorite thanks to an abundance of flowers in early spring. Before the leaves sprout in the dense branches, the fruit tree will transform your hedge up to the ruff into a sea of white blossoms, from which a subtle scent of almonds will emanate. This makes the first bees, bumblebees and butterflies very happy, as there is sweet nectar to be discovered here early in the year. Your feathered garden dwellers are happy about the black-blue berries in autumn, from which the gardener can also nibble; but only after the first frost. Because the sloe is covered in thorns, it is very popular with birds as a safe place to nest. As a side effect, Heckendorn keeps uninvited guests at a distance with painful pricks.
- Growth height: 150 to 400 cm
- Flowering time: March to April
- Annual growth: 20 to 40 cm

Hawthorn, apple thorn (Crataegus x lavallei)
Hawthorn forms the dream team with sloe among the fast-growing hedge species for the natural garden. As the sloe bloom comes to an end, hawthorn seamlessly continues the festival. Its white flowers, decorated with pink stamens, are beautiful to look at. The dark green foliage turns red-yellow in fall and stays on the branches well into December. At no time of the year does it shed its defensive thorns. The orange-red apple fruits, which play an important role in naturopathy, are legendary. The fact that hawthorns thrive as deep roots and sloes as shallow roots is another argument for combining both hedge types.
- Growth height: 400 to 700 cm
- Flowering period: May to early June
- Annual growth: 20 to 40 cm

Bloodcurrant (Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII')
A burst of red flowers in early spring has catapulted the 'King Edward VII' redcurrant to one of the top spots in the ranking of recommended fast-growing hedge species.With this hybrid, the focus is less on the berries and more on the distinctive, pink-red flowers that unfold in mild climates at the beginning of spring. In contrast to its conspecifics, the berry bush scores with lively growth, so that it quickly gains height. So much beauty has its price, because the black, blue and white frosted currants are more a feast for the eyes than a feast for the palate.
- Growth height: 150 to 250 cm
- Flowering time: March/April to May
- Annual growth: 20 to 40 cm

Bladder Spire (Physocarpus opulifolius)
If you prefer the game of contrasts in garden design, you cannot avoid a bubble spar. In the course of the year, the hedge species surprises again and again with new colors. It starts with dark red leaves in spring for the 'Lady in Red' variety or in a noble golden yellow for the 'Dart's Gold' variety. While the foliage is gradually turning green, the hour has come for the white panicles of flowers. In autumn, the leaves take over the optical lead again, because their dark red, later orange-red coloring has an unsurpassed long-distance effect.
- Growth height: 200 to 250 cm
- Flowering period: June and July
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm

Wine rose, Scottish briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
The queen of flowers elegantly rounds off this selection of blooming hedge species. At first glance, it may seem surprising that the rose is represented here, as it is not usually characterized by a distinctive growth rate. The vine rose proves the exception to the rule, for as part of the native dog rose section it leaves boastful hybrids far behind in terms of pace. Cup-shaped, crimson flowers with an enticing fragrance bloom on strongly prickly, densely leafed branches in summer. As scarlet, fragrant rose hips, the flowers complete their floral appearance in autumn.
- Growth height: 250 to 350 cm
- Flowering period: June to July
- Annual growth: 30 to 60 cm
