Can anybody recommend me a fast growing shrub please?

How tall / wide does this plant need to be to make a screen?

Generally things that will get up there quickly won't then, obligingly, stop - so tend to them become a problem.

One solution is to buy a semi-mature tree. Someone else has done the growing-years for you ... and you can buy a species that isn't trying to set a land-speed-record. Definitely NOT cheap though.

I would recommend a Pleached tree - but they are better as a row of plants - to basically create a "hedge on stilts". Might work OK as a single tree though.

Another option would be to use a fast growing climber. You'd need a frame / some wires of some sort, but then a [fast growing] climber will shin up it in a season. Good news is that when the climber runs out of frame / wires to cling onto it doesn't keep going, just gets more bushy.

Fastest you will get a tree to do a job is probably 3' a year, and any of those are going to keep going at that rate until they are 40' - 50' tall ... If you need something 15' - 20' tall to block the view its going to be tricky / expensive to "top" it to keep it trimmed.

 

I agree with Kristen about planting a semi mature specimen but it wouldn't be cheap.

I would find a tree that develops a lollipop shape and stops at about 12 to 15 foot high. I suggest one of the sorbus type, perhaps. Most garden centres have young trees that will do the job you require, but will probably take about 5 years to get decent coverage. If you can buy one about 7' tall they will start to make a difference straight away, though. I like lavateras too but they are short-lived and may die suddenly.

I notice they'd like year round cover - are they sure they would like a big heavy evergreen blob towering over them? If so, I'd work on getting a standard holly or viburnum tinus. But I think you'd have to train it yourself, most probably. Personally, I'd prefer a nice filmy cover of deciduous leaves in summer and see a nice network of winter branches.

Why do they mind about the new neighbours but not the old neighbours? Just being nosy.

 

Its a good point. If they are peering over the fence than that's one height to solve, if its from an upstairs window / balcony ... then that's a different height to aspire to.

 

Ooooh yes!!! I like weird too!

Agree totally.

Yes! Loose the little man and loose the choice. The sheds all tend to buy in from just a handful of suppliers. The little man often do their propagation from their own stock plants rather than buying in from wholesalers.

 

Helicodiceros musciverous

Weird?? That is just plain obscene!

Idly plans a rude garden full of cacti, sauromatums, lords and ladies, ecballium, catkins, courgettes etc. More tea, vicar?

 

Clitoria ternata and Hymenocallis are out then ...

... reminds me of my Great Aunt who used to ask for "Chest of Chicken" for Sunday lunch ...