Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From BUNNY GUINNESS
Bunny Guinness is an award-winning Landscape Architect with more than 35 years' experience. Bunny has worked in TV & Radio sharing her extensive knowledge of all things horticulture - including as a panelist on BBC Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Birmingham City University in 2009 and has designed six Gold-Medal winning gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Shows since 1994.
If our bodies are temples and our houses are castles, then gardens must be our sanctuaries.
Though many of us love showing off our gardens to friends and family, a garden should also be a secluded space just for you.
Many of us choose fences or walls to secure our personal perimeter but sometimes that doesn’t feel quite enough.
Trees are one fully-natural solution to this problem, but who wants to wait ten to twenty years for your privacy to be perfected?
Thankfully, for those of us keen to hurry the process of privacy along, there are some speedy trees that will satisfy even the most impatient gardener among us.
“The speed of growth will reflect the longevity of your tree,” adds Colin Skelly, a Master Horticulturist.
“This reflects the growth strategy of the tree from an evolutionary perspective.
“Birches are trees that grow quickly to take advantage of disturbed ground but tend to have a relatively short life span (decades) whilst beech grow more slowly but will achieve a greater stature as mature woodland trees and live longer.
“This is worth bearing in mind when considering where, why and how long you want it to be in your garden.”
Choosing The Best Fast-Growing Trees
We examined research by the Urban Forest Research Group which observed the growth rate of trees in urban British environments, before comparing these findings with research from various horticultural research bodies and tree nurseries.1Determining Tree Growth in the Urban Forest. (n.d.). Treeconomics. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.treeconomics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Determing-Tree-Growth-in-Urban-Forest.pdf
From this research, we then identified ten trees which have a high annual growth rate in the UK.
Here is each type of tree, ordered by their average growth in height each year:
| Tree | Average Tree Height Increment Per Year (Centimetres) | Maximum Height (Metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Birch | 100.0 | 30 |
| Ash | 92.6 | 35 |
| Nellie R.Stevens Holly | 91.4 | 9 |
| Italian Cypress | 91.1 | 15 |
| Sycamore | 84.0 | 35 |
| Weeping Willow | 82.5 | 12 |
| Golden Bamboo | 75.0 | 12 |
| Beech | 64.3 | 40 |
| Tulip Poplar | 60.9 | 40 |
| Pleached Hornbeam | 50.0 | 30 |
You can see from these findings that Silver Birch, Ash and Nellie R.Stevens Holly are three of the fastest-growing trees to grow in the UK climate.
Below we introduce each type of tree in more detail, including imagery, growth statistics and growing advice for each.
1) Silver Birch
- BOTANICAL NAME: BETULA PENDULA
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 100CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 30-50
According to Plants for a Future (PFAF), Betula pendula (more commonly known as ‘Silver Birch’) can grow up to 1M in height per year.2Betula pendula. (n.d.). PFAF. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Betula+pendula
That is a staggering rate of growth, though if you’re interested in growing new trees for privacy reasons, you should bear in mind that the foliage of silver birch can be sparse, especially as a deciduous tree that drops its leaves each year.
With an ultimate maximum height of 30m, it shouldn’t be grown in small spaces unless confined to a container.3Silver Birch (Betula pendula). (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/silver-birch/
2) Ash
- BOTANICAL NAME: FRAXINUS EXCELSIOR
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 92.6CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 35M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 30-50
Ash trees were named in the study by the Urban Forest Research Group as the tree with the second highest Average Tree Height Increment per year – at 0.926m.
These medium-to-large sized trees form a domed canopy with light green, oval foliage. The trees are deciduous and will usually lose their leaves in Autumn.
They will usually take 30-50 years to reach their eventual height which should top-out at 35m.4Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/ash/
3) ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Holly
- BOTANICAL NAME: ILEX ‘NELLIE R.STEVENS’
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 91.4CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 9M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 15-25
Holly trees are a favourite amongst us Brits, especially during the festive season, when their red berries attract bold robins into our gardens.
There are many types of Holly, but if it’s speed you’re after, then look no further than the ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ cultivar.
Growing up to 0.9m per year and up to an admirable height of 9m, this tree is perfect for providing privacy to both upper and lower windows.5Everything To Know About The Nellie Stevens Holly. (2021, September 29). The Tree Center. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.thetreecenter.com/nellie-stevens-holly-complete-guide/
And, come Christmas time, the branches can be pruned and fashioned into adorable, handmade, decorations.
What’s more, those spiky leaves act as a natural security system!
4) Italian Cypress
- BOTANICAL NAME: CUPRESSUS SEMPERVIRENS
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 91.1CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 15M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 20-50
The Italian Cypress is a wonderful screening tree.
While most evergreens grow in a pyramidal shape, this specimen grows straight up in a narrow column.
A resilient tree – particularly to drought – the Cypress is also extremely low maintenance.
The only attention it needs is a little pruning, and all that requires is cutting the head off when it has reached your desired height.
Most importantly, this tree grows at an annual rate of roughly 0.9m.6Italian Cypress. (n.d.). Fast Growing Trees. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/products/italiancypress?variant=13940765851700
At full maturity, it can reach a height of up to 15m.7Italian Cypress. (n.d.-b). University of Redlands. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://sites.redlands.edu/trees/species-accounts/italian-cypress/
5) Sycamore
- BOTANICAL NAME: ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 84.0CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 35M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 50+
Next up is the Sycamore – the second tree praised for its growth rate in research by the Urban Forest Research Group.
They found that this tree would grow at a rate of up to 840cm per year.
As a native of North America, the tree is very much at home here in the UK climate, with a hardiness rating of H7.
The maximum height of 35m means this tree should only be grown in an area with room to accommodate its height and spread.8Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/sycamore/
6) Weeping Willow
- BOTANICAL NAME: SALIX BABYLONICA
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 82.5CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 12M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 30-50
The Weeping Willow is a champion of fast-growing trees.
Ideal for larger gardens, this swift-growing sapling can grow a whopping 82.5cm a year, reach lofty heights of 12m and span an astonishing ten!9Weeping Willow Tree. (n.d.). Arbor Day Foundation. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=938
You can expect to see foliage as early as February, and in April and May you will be treated to delicate yellow blossoms.
Do take care of where you plant this glorious giant, as its roots have a tendency to spread far and wide.
This is a beautiful solution for those looking to regain their privacy.
7) Golden Bamboo
- BOTANICAL NAME: PHYLLOSTACHYS AUREA
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 75.0CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 12M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 8-10
A quirky alternative to more traditional trees, this evergreen grows at an impressive rate of between 0.6-0.9m a year.10Bamboo – Golden. (n.d.). Hedges Direct. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Golden-Bamboo-Phyllostachys-aurea.html
It can very quickly grow to a height of up to 12m, but its fast-growing properties mean it is actually classed as an invasive plant by the CABI.11Rickel, C., & Rojas-Sandoval, J. (2022b, January 7). Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo). CABI Compendium. https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.42072
Growing in pots offers an ideal compromise, as this prevents the spread of bamboo rhizomes underground.
Though not technically a tree, bamboo certainly fits the bill for screening your garden.
This sturdy plant is extremely easy to grow and requires little-to-no maintenance.
The stems and lush leaves emerge green but, given enough sunlight, will turn a golden yellow as it ages, hence the name.
8) Beech
- BOTANICAL NAME: FAGUS SYLVATICA
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 64.3CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 40M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 20-50
Fagus sylvatica – or the Common Beech – is a large deciduous tree that will lose its leaves in autumn.
It has a broad crown and produces flowers in spring and edible beechnut fruit in autumn, making them extremely popular with local wildlife.
These trees grow at an annual rate of roughly 0.6m, meaning they will soon grow to a reasonable size.
After 20-50 years, they should reach their staggering ultimate height of up to 40m!12Beech, common (Fagus sylvatica). (n.d.). Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/common-beech/
9) Tulip Poplar
- BOTANICAL NAME: LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 60.9CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 40M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 20-50
Not only is this tree ideal for concealing whatever unsightly thing has stolen your view, but the Tulip Poplar is also a real statement piece.
Blossoming in spring, it boasts glorious yellow and green flowers.
Then, during the summer months, its lush leaves provide cooling shade.
Finally, come Autumn, it’s leaves turn to glorious golden hues.
Growing at a satisfying 0.6m a year and reaching heady heights of up to 40m, this deliciously fragrant tree will be your saviour – obscuring any unsavoury view whilst simultaneously impressing any green-fingered friends.13Liriodendron tulipifera. (n.d.). Deepdale Trees. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.deepdale-trees.co.uk/trees/2010/07-Liriodendron-tulipifera.html
10) Pleached Hornbeam
- BOTANICAL NAME: CARPINUS BETULUS
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: 50.0CM
- MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30M
- YEARS TO EVENTUAL HEIGHT: 50+
Whilst the aim of the game may be to camouflage your window, you also don’t want to completely block out the light.
A row of Pleached Hornbeam is an ideal solution, giving you excellent coverage without throwing you completely into darkness.
“I often pleach trees because in a small garden, if you put in a natural hornbeam tree, there would be no sun left, whereas if you use a pleached tree, you are just sheltering the part of the garden you don’t want to be overlooked,” shares Landscape Architect Bunny Guinness.
“Sometimes, to get extra height, we put them in raised containers.
“You can train them yourselves and they will grow very fast, as you are pruning out any growth that grows outwards to focus on upward growth.”
Growing up to 50cm, annually this Hornbeam isn’t our fastest-growing tree, however, it really is perfect for more modest-sized gardens, and is particularly popular among city gardeners.14Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) Hedge. (n.d.). Hedge Plants. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.hedgeplants-heijnen.co.uk/beech/hornbeam-carpinus-betulus
Important Considerations
Once you have chosen the best fast-growing tree for privacy, there are a few things to consider before you start the planting process.
The tips below allow you to maximise your privacy without causing any unintended, but undesirable effects.
Avoid Blocking Out Yours (Or Your Neighbour’s) Light
Placement is the first thing to consider with this particular issue – the last thing you might want to do is to cast large areas of your garden into shade.
When choosing your tree, consider how dense the branching is as this may influence your final decision.
Good pruning can also effectively help you maximise your privacy whilst also letting the sunshine through.
With this in mind, make sure you have a good understanding of how to maintain your tree to avoid it taking over your garden and leaving you in the dark.
Neighbourly Love
First and foremost, the neighbourly thing to do would certainly be to pop over and have a quick natter to explain your plans.
Most people will probably appreciate the chance to enjoy some free privacy for themselves but it’s always best to notify them to avoid future disputes.
As with the issue of light, pruning will also help prevent your tree from creeping into your neighbours garden and that will certainly keep things peaceful!
Maintenance
Proper tree maintenance is absolutely key.
While it might seem counter-productive to cut back old growth, this process actually prompts new growth in many trees, helping to speed up any growth.
If you want to see speedy results, then taking good care of your trees will ensure optimal growth so you can satisfy your need for privacy as quickly as possible.
Ready, Steady, Grow!
There you have it: everything you need to know about the best fast-growing trees for privacy.
So don your gardening gloves, race into your garden, get planting, and bask in your newfound privacy!
