Fast Growing Shrub

harmony

Hi, I need a fast growing (ideally evergreen) but would consider a flowering shrub that will grow to at least 6 foot to fill a gap about 3 foot from a fence. The area is normal/clay soil and is South West facing with Sun to about 3pm. Something tall but not too bushy. Thanks...

Fairygirl

Eleagnus and Laurel, but it depends what you mean by fast. They'd still take a few years to reach 6 feet.
Both can be pruned to fit, although Laurels can be a bit hefty, but you can remove individual branches.
Hollies take quite a while, but wouldn't need much attention.
Buddleia would grow very quickly, but isn't evergreen, although it has foliage for a long season. You can hack those into shape quite readily. It depends what else is around the space too. 

K67

Photonia grow fairly fast and are easily pruned, but as Fairygirl says you need a couple of years.
Other option is an obelisk with a rose and/or clematis but not evergreen although the obelisk would still be in place 

Lizzie27

I'd have a look at the ornamental form of elderflower (purple leaves, pink flowers) but not evergreen,  which is fast growing and easy to prune each year. It's quite elegant and airy. 
My buddleia 'Lochinch' has kept its silvery-grey leaves all winter and is also easy to prune.

Janie B

Maybe choisya? Not sure how quickly it grows, though. 

Yviestevie

Agree, I have two Choisya and they grow very slowly. I'm looking at a similar problem having taken down two very large conifers.  At the moment I'm considering either clump forming bamboo in large metal container, or a rambling rose/montana clematis growing up two 10ft line posts, might join them together with chain or sturdy rope so the plants can run along.

Fairygirl

Most shrubs will take a while to establish, even with perfect conditions,  before growing at their expected rate.
You'd need to allow a couple of years before they get going properly.
A pic of the area would help with more suggestions too @harmony

I don't grow Choisya now, but I don't recall it being particularly speedy when I did.

KeenOnGreen

What about a common Jasmine.  It could be trained up some sort of framework.  In my experience they grow very quickly if left unpruned, and well watered and fed.

Hostafan1

I'd go with Portugal Laurel. Less " dense" then cherry laurel. 

Fairygirl

I'd agree @Hostafan1. I was thinking the same, and should have added that.

Some Jasmines aren't hardy everywhere @KeenOnGreen, so care is needed when choosing, but I think a climber is definitely a good way to go, depending on the site. 

UpNorth

Hexagon said:

I’ve had my choisya for a year and it’s basically done nothing

i've done tip cuttings from my choisya and also a layered cutting and it has grown at a reasonable pace as a young plant.   mature ones get a hacking back every few years and recover/grow at a reasonable pace.