Fast Growing Screening Plants For More Privacy
Maybe you want a little privacy from the neighbours and passers-by. Or perhaps wish to section off part of the garden to create a unique living space. If you’re looking to screen part of the garden, one great way to do so is with screening plants! These plants can be grown along a fence, next to a patio, or standalone as a hedge. Fast-growing screening plants can be a great way to quickly create privacy and add extra greenery to your garden!
There are many different types of fast-growing screening plants out there, which means plenty of choice when it comes to picking the right plants for your space. Whether you are looking for a bushy plant that can quickly grow tall to provide privacy and shade, or a plant that can steadily grow along a trellis and cover a wall, there are lots of options to choose from!
Today, we take a look at some different varieties of fast-growing screening plants that you can grow in your garden! Read on to find out more!
Lilly Pilly
This Australian native can make a wonderful, fast-growing screening plant. There are many varieties of lilly pilly to choose from, from syzygium to acmena to waterhousea types. These plants are evergreen, holding their leaves throughout the seasons. Their new shoots can spring up in a range of colours, from orange to cream to pink, making for a stunning garden addition, and these plants also help to attract birds to a garden. Some varieties of lilly pilly can grow as tall as 10 metres, although many others stop around the 5 or 6 metre mark. There are also varieties such as the ‘Straight and Narrow’, if you’re looking for screening plants for narrow spaces. The fruit of Lilly Pilly plants is also popular with birds, bees, and butterflies, and can help attract these creatures to your garden.
Clumping Bamboo
There are many varieties of clumping bamboo available that can work as screening plants. Bamboo is notoriously fast-growing, and with such a wide range of clumping bamboo to choose from, there are plenty of options for your yard! Some popular choices include slender weavers, China gold, ghost, and Chinese dwarf. Many varieties of bamboo can also make for great screening plants for narrow spaces. Clumping bamboo can grow very tall, with some varieties reaching heights of up to 12 metres! Want to learn more about clumping bamboo? Check out our article on types of clumping bamboo.
Bottlebrush
Another Australian native that can be great for screening is the bottlebrush. These plants typically produce beautiful red flowers in the spring, however, there are varieties that have white, pink, or yellow flowers, instead. These flowers are popular with birds, butterflies and other nectar-collectors, so you may find your garden filled with plenty of life if you grow a bottlebrush hedge or screen. Many varieties of bottlebrush are thick and dense, which can provide a good privacy screen from neighbours or passers-by if grown as a hedge. These plants also tend to be pretty hardy, and don’t require too much water or attention to thrive. There’s also plenty of choice when it comes to mature plant height, with some bottlebrush varieties growing to a metre in height and others topping out as high as 10 metres.
Photinia Red Robin
Do you often find yourself hosting the family Christmas? Or maybe you just love the look of contrasting red and green colours. The photinia red robin is a stunning plant with multi-coloured leaves that can make a wonderfully festive addition to a garden. The new shoots start out red and mature into a light green colour, creating a gorgeous mosaic of green and red leaves throughout the plant. In spring, the photinia red robin also produces pretty white flowers. It is a hardy plant, and tolerates the Aussie weather well (from frosts through to drought). It looks great as a hedge and can grow up to 3 metres tall, providing plenty of privacy.
Star Jasmine
Those who are after a fast-growing screening plant with a lovely, calming scent should take a look at the star jasmine. Star jasmine might not be the quickest to grow when it is first planted, but once it becomes established, it tends to grow very fast! This plant can be taught to grow along a fence or trellis for privacy or decoration. It can also be grown as a thick hedge due to its dense, shrub-like nature, but will need a little bit of help and pruning to grow this way. Its pretty white flowers look a little like stars, and tend to bloom during the springtime. Star Jasmine is a relatively hardy plant, but should be pruned and trained relatively regularly.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about some of the popular screening plants in Australian gardens.
There are many screening plants to choose from. Whether you are looking for tall screening plants that are fast-growing from the get go, or are happy with a decorative screening plant that grows quickly once established, there is a wide variety of options available. Maybe you’re looking for evergreen screening plants that hold their leaves and colour throughout the seasons, or are looking for flowering plants that can attract many pollinators to a garden. Whatever your requirements, with so much choice out there, you’re sure to find a screening plant that suits your situation and needs.
