Quick-growing (but short) bush

moneyistooshorttomention

What would be the best bush please to put in a spot where one is needed that will only grow to about 6' tall and 6' wide, but it needs to grow at at least a reasonable rate (preferably fast).

One with an edible component would be preferable.

One thought that is crossing my mind as possibly suitable would be a sloe, but I don't know how fast it grows?

Ditto, to a dwarf elderberry?

seemasfriend

Elderflower grows quite fast and they can be pruned hard if they outgrow their space. A rambling rose could also work quite well and is edible if if you choose one with hips.

SailorSam

Blackberries grow fairly quickly. Ive got a couple that came from the £shop.

Mojisola

Mmm - raspberries!

Davesnave

Sloes are blackthorn, the bushes I've been steadily removing from my laid hedge for the past 3 winters. Get a puncture wound from blackthorn and you'll know why I'm doing that!

Otherwise, it's a good wildlife plant, very common in your part of the world, so I'd just pinch someone else's sloes! :rotfl:

If you want evergreen and edible then bay comes to mind, though it's not fast.

Deciduous, I'd go for a Black Beauty or Sutherland Gold elderberry and just prune as necessary.

Being a bit maritime, you could even be brave and risk a feijoa. I used to grow one in a pot beside the central heating vent when I lived in Somerset. It survived and sometimes fruited. Now I have quite a few of them, including one I've had in the open garden here for a few winters. No fruit here yet....:)

http://www.edible.co.nz/fruits.php?fruitid=19

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

Sloes are blackthorn, the bushes I've been steadily removing from my laid hedge for the past 3 winters. Get a puncture wound from blackthorn and you'll know why I'm doing that!

Otherwise, it's a good wildlife plant, very common in your part of the world, so I'd just pinch someone else's sloes! :rotfl:

If you want evergreen and edible then bay comes to mind, though it's not fast.

Deciduous, I'd go for a Black Beauty or Sutherland Gold elderberry and just prune as necessary.

Being a bit maritime, you could even be brave and risk a feijoa. I used to grow one in a pot beside the central heating vent when I lived in Somerset. It survived and sometimes fruited. Now I have quite a few of them, including one I've had in the open garden here for a few winters. No fruit here yet....:)

http://www.edible.co.nz/fruits.php?fruitid=19

Bay as edible...right off to google on that one then...

Feijoa...never heard of that....off to google some more then...

Thanks....

EDIT: feijoa...hmm...over 20 kg of fruit of a type I've never heard of eventually....hmmmmm.....grins....will investigate further...

Hmmm...first initial check-out equals "I like the sound of that....will investigate further"...

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

EDIT: feijoa...hmm...over 20 kg of fruit of a type I've never heard of eventually....hmmmmm.....grins....will investigate further..

20kg of fruit in an ideal environment in a good summer, but here in the UK, only a few when you're lucky. They're nice, but I wouldn't develop a taste for them....:rotfl:

The important thing is that it's survived.

And you can't make spaghetti bolognese, not even veggie ones, without bay.