I want a show-stopping single bush to boost kerb appeal

[figcake]

Have about 4X2 m flowerbed at front of house. Tried planting privet though it is growing too slowly so need something quite rampant

Don't we all love

Magnolia is beautiful but doesn't grow fast. When do you want it looking good? Most bushes are only gorgeous at certain points of the year

You don't want it too rampant, you'll be forever cutting it back (ouch!)

Lady - as much as the spring to autumn period as is possible. I would even consider buying something that has been started off at a nursery. It does not have to be a bush, just a large prominent er.. planted thing

Why don't you get Amerlanchier lamarckii then. It's a small tree/large bush which has pretty start shaped white flowers in spring, then berries in summer and brilliant red leaves in autumn. Also it's quite unusual so people would stop to look at it. You could buy one that was fairly large to start with. Anything too rampant is going to be a total pain in the arse like Sossiges said

I misread the OP and thought we were talking about Lady gardening.

unless you want to talk about vajazzaling???

I am with MoreFruitLoop. Thought this was a vajazzle thread.

Gorse is nice and bushy. Lovely yellow flowers too.

A more serious answer would be something like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.hainaultforest.co.uk/CommonMallowFlowers.JPG&imgrefurl=www.hainaultforest.co.uk/3Late%2520Summer%2520flowers.htm&usg=__59xmpoEvlqkyoR4bGKkpgyO0pno=&h=263&w=350&sz=22&hl=en&start=56&sig2=lRfDGRGLhgTDuo827SlRCQ&zoom=1&tbnid=7ToM3-L4e0d5WM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=176&ei=0P9UTYOJD4iahQe1mtScDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmallow%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1RNCN_enGB353%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D709%26tbs%3Disch:10,1015&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=127&vpy=283&dur=2510&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=138&ty=109&oei=w_9UTdT7IoqIhQeE2KjJDA&page=3&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:56&biw=1280&bih=709" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mallow if you want a flowery shrub - grows enormous, pretty flowers though, otherwise if you want more architectural how about <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.shrubs.co.uk/ekmps/shops/shrubscouk/images/sambucus-black-lace.-common-elder-pot-size-3l-fs-11042-p.jpg&imgrefurl=www.shrubs.co.uk/sambucus-black-lace-common-elder-pot-size-3l--fs-11042-p.asp&usg=__B2vRHLDquC10wu9b8oC5tcbvD0E=&h=250&w=250&sz=24&hl=en&start=0&sig2=dscd7K2GkPsFKIPdQhVZ_g&zoom=1&tbnid=v5ZteT3g4ZoPlM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=141&ei=iv9UTcn4BoKwhAft0-DSDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delder%2Bblack%2Blace%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1RNCN_enGB353%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D709%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=139&vpy=78&dur=2633&hovh=200&hovw=200&tx=123&ty=104&oei=iv9UTcn4BoKwhAft0-DSDA&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">elder black lace?

"Oh shut up!" (pouts liuke Amy Childs)
Quite like the Amerlanchier lamarckii actually. The Black lace is a bit spooky but unusual.

Gorse is nice too actually - very nice indeed

Gorse is prickly.

Are you wanting something evergreen or are you happy with summer colour.
I don't think you can beat a good old fashioned rose especially if it's highly scented. It'll stop people in their tracks.

Oh really - not so good for kids then.

Yes - we had roses in the garden of our Victorian house when I was a child but mainly small rose bushes along with all sorts of interesting planting beyond my capability tbh- where could I buy one large rose bush from and how big can you buy them ready for planting?

www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/roses/plcid.8/

I'd try David Austin roses. They do mail order and the quality is fantastic.

David Austin here

Gosh, I am mesmerised. Those roses are amazing - I really wish I lived in that neck of the woods for the Valentines' and Mothering Sunday menus alone.

Hydrangea

Has anyone mentioned pampas grass yet?

"pampas grass" - nah, not falling for that one

The Mallow is a good choice. It's a good space filler, and can handle a hard pruning each year.

Is your flowerbed sunny or shady? What's the soil like? I'd second an amelanchier. I just planted an amelanchier grabdiflora balerina in my garden - can't wait for the leaves to appear!

If it's a shady spot you could go for fatsia japonica - exotic looking leaves and very structural. Or for the sun you could go for lavendars at the front and topiary standard boxes at the back for some height? David Austin roses are good, but think about the bare stems in the winter - you'll want something at the front to cover them up a bit or they'll look like an old man's garden... IMO!

A lilac is good for sun, otherwise you can get some stunning Hydrangeas.

Check out Magnolia Grandiflorii for foliage! One of my favourite bushes/trees :)

um, well I am going for roses too - buy shrub roses, not hybrid teas, which are stiff and unnatural but look at some older roses such as the chinas, Bourbons, Portland roses....all repeating with long bloom seasons. A rose such as Ghislaine de feligonde has early beautiful foliage, largely thornfree, a sweetly penetrating scent and repeating apricot blossoms throughout summer, culminating in a show of hips in the winter. Underplant with hardy geraniums for an english classic.

Nice choice rosa.

I wouldn't suggest lilac. Short flowering period and spectacularly dull foilage. Fatsia are nice but a one trick pony. Nice leaves but nothing much else