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Advice needed for fast growing decorative bush or tree

johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
in Plants
hello,
I live in the south of England.
I am looking for a bush or tree which is relatively fast growing, has flowers, possibly scented, to grow to a height of around 10ft for screening purposes.
The area where it will be placed is in shade in the morning, and full sun in the afternoon through to the evening.
Pet friendly please
Any advice gladly welcome
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Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    How wide is the area you are hoping to screen and what is your soil type/condition?  Are you looking for something that is evergreen or deciduous?
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
    Hello,
    Thanks for reply 
    Evergreen would be nice
    Area approx 5 metres wide
    soil type, I’ll be honest I am not sure, I live in Canterbury, kent 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Have a look at Choisya Ternata, evergreen, white flowers in spring and autumn, scented.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
    Many thanks, will do.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited March 2023
    You'll probably need a small tree to fill that space.  Unfortunately, unless you buy a mature tree, which can be costly and difficult to establish, you'll need to decide whether you can wait a few years for a younger tree to become established. 

    The fastest growing evergreen which I have in my garden is a conifer, Thuja plicata, planted solely for screening.  It is not thuggish, like Leylandii, and can be easily controlled with pruning, including cutting into old wood from which it will happily regrow.  No noticeable flowers but it is a pleasant green and the foliage has a nice scent when crushed or pruned.  (It's also pet friendly!)
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • johncleme65johncleme65 Posts: 93
    yes I appreciate what you are saying
    The conifer sounds good to me
    Many thanks for your help
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The problem with anything fast growing is that it won't stop at your desiired height and spread and will become a thug.

    Consider instead erecting a trellis system or pergola up which you can grow climbers to give colour and perfume or an elegant but more expensive option would be pleached trees - like a hedge on stilts with bare trunks at the base and a trained framework at branches at shoulder height and above.  https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/pleached-arbours 

    It depends on what you're trying to hide and how exposed is the site as well as soil type etc.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited March 2023
    johncleme65 said:
    I am looking for a bush or tree which is relatively fast growing, has flowers, possibly scented, to grow to a height of around 10ft for screening purposes.
    ===========================================

    Have a look at Choisya Ternata, evergreen, white flowers in spring and autumn, scented.

    Sorry Busy Lizzie.
    Choisya ternata.....is a super shrub.
    But incredibly  slow to get going.
    It will take 10 - 20 years to get to max height .
    It never ever be a screening shrub 10ft tall.

    Quote RHS...
    Size
    Ultimate height
    1.5–2.5 metres
    Time to ultimate height
    10–20 years
    Ultimate spread
    1.5–2.5 metres 
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited March 2023
    Thuja responds well to pruning and does not become thuggish.  I just remove the growing point once it reaches its desired height and it then needs only an annual trim.  Most hedging plants have the potential to become a tree if they are not properly maintained!  I do agree with you though, @Obelixx, a pergola or trellis arrangement would definitely be more attractive if the space and budget allows!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Thuja is well behaved. I inherited a lot of it when I moved. I’ve only just managed to get to a patch of it in next door’s garden (so it’s been at least 2 years since that bit has been trimmed) and it was about three feet higher then the rest of it and was a doddle to get rid of. 

    I trim mine once/twice a year and it’s in no way a hardship or uncontrollable. 

    The only way it would be a nightmare is if I just ignored it forever 
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