Fast Growing Garden Shrubs

Ash Leaf Spirea

• The Ash Leaf Spirea, scientifically called Sorbaria sorbifolia, is a fast growing shrub that is native to Japan and North Asia; this woody shrub grows up to 8 feet in height and up to 10 feet in width. Another name for this plant is ural false spiraea. Although the majority of the blooming occurs between late spring and summer, some blooms can be found in the fall; these blooms are white with a feathery texture.

Black Chokeberry

• The Black Chokeberry, scientifically called Aronia melanocarpa, is another fast growing shrub and grows up to 6 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide. This shrub has cherry-like leaves with black fruits that are the size of blueberries in the fall and winter and white flowers with five petals in the spring. When the leaves are new, they have a red tint to them and are without hair, or glabrous.

Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow

• The Dwarf Blue Leaf Arctic Willow, scientifically named Salix purpurea Nana, grows up to 4 feet in height and up to 6 feet in width. This shrub can adapt to most types of soil and has a bluish tint to the underside of its fine-textured foliage.

Elderberry Black Beauty

• The Elderberry Black Beauty is scientifically named Sambucus nigra and grows up to 6 feet in height and up to 6 feet in width. The foliage is purple-black in color with fragrant pink flowers and dark purple berries that grow in the summer and that attract song birds. The blooming of the pink flowers are grouped together and span over 10 inches across.

Ninebark Center Glow

• The Ninebark Center Glow is scientifically named Physocarpus opulifolius Center Glow and is similar to a shrub called Diablo. The shrub grows up to 10 feet in height and up to 8 feet in width. New foliage is yellow-green in color and as it matures, the color turns into a season-long deep, bright red color. In the spring season, white flowers bloom from this shrub.

Rocky Mountain Sumac

• The Rocky Mountain Sumac is scientifically named Rhus glabra cismontana Rocky Mountain. This fast growing shrub has tree-like branches that sit upright; on female plants, the flowers are yellow-green in color and have hairy berries that are bright red in color and last throughout the winter season. This shrub grows up to 12 feet in height and up to 5 feet in width.