Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford
Get a garden or landscape off to a fast start with these fast growing perennials.
Fast growing perennials are a great way to start landscaping or gardening. It will net the fastest way to fill your planters and continue to enjoy the fruits of gardening labor year after year (perennials need no replanting). These fast growing perennials are a few of the choices that gardeners have to peruse.
Montbretia (Crocosmia, Coppertips)
The montbretia is from the iris family and is an easy to grow fast growing perennial. It is known botanically as Crocosmia X crocosmiiflora. Leaves are pale green, strap-like, and 2 to 3 inches long.
Flowers are red, orange, or yellow, bloom in summer, and 2 inches wide. It needs planting in full sun or partial shade in moist soils. Propagate via offsets and grow them in USDA hardiness zones of 6 to 9.
Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum)
The Abyssinian banana is from the banana family and is a fast growing perennial tree. It is known botanically as Ensete ventricosum. Leaves are 20 feet long and olive green on top with maroon on the underside. It can get up to 30 feet tall.
Flowers are white and cup-like. Fruits look like small bananas but aren’t edible. Grow this one in partial shade to full sun with moist soil. Propagate via seed and grow in USDA hardiness zones of 9 to 11.
Indigo Spires Sage
The indigo spires sage is from the mint family and is an easy and fast growing perennial that attracts butterflies. It is known botanically as Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’. Leaves are 3 inches long with ½ inch flowers that are bluish violet.
The entire plant gets 3 to 5 feet high. Grow this in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Propagate via cuttings and grow in USDA hardiness zones of 7 to 11.
Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
The orange coneflower is from the aster/daisy family and is a fast growing perennial that is attractive to butterflies. It is known botanically as Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii. Leaves are hairy and 5 inches long with flowers 3 inches wide and yellow ray blooms.
It will get up to 3 feet high. Grow it in full sun in moist soil but it will tolerate partial shade. Propagate via clump division or seed and grow in USDA hardiness zones of 3 to 9.
Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)
The crown vetch is from the bean family and is a fast growing perennial vine. It is botanically known as Coronilla varia. Leaves are 12 inches long with summer and fall clover-like flowers. Colors of flowers are white, pink, or purple.
It can get up to 6 feet tall depending on cultivar. Grow this one in full sun with regular watering. Propagate via seed and grow in USDA hardiness zones of 4 to 9.