I'm planning a rose garden in a sunny bed (full sun) that I can see out my office window at my home. In the back of where the roses will be is a privet hedge that is very old, but gives good privacy and screens my house from the street. But it's not very attractive, so I want to plant a row of hedges between the roses and the privet that will help hide the uglier parts of the privet and provide background color (evergreen) for the rose bed. The ideal height is about 8-10 and fast growing would be the best'. I have looked at Burford Holly (and Stevens) but I'm not fond of sticky holly. Yew is a possibility but it grows very slowly. I considered Skip Laurel. Any other ideas or advice? I'm in Zone 8 for heat and sometimes gets to 0 during winter cold snaps (we just had one last week!) Any advice appreciated! Thanks.
, but it is not fast growing. If it is to plant in front and break up the boring privet how about some buddleia, fast growing and there are some attractive cultivars. The other possibility that struck me was a bit of trellis and some honeysuckle. Planting in front of the hedge you don't need to make a second hedge, having gaps and things at different distances will give it some depth, and you could have some tall annuals like sunflower in the gaps for the summer