When it comes to home defense, sometimes the name of the game is discretion. A very flashy security system or an imposing wall may feel like a way of letting cat burglars know that you have valuable stuff inside.
And why bother giving this impression (whether true or not) when Mother Nature can provide you with cheaper and beautiful alternatives?
In this article, we come up with the fast growing shrubs with thorns to protect your property.
By using the right fast growing shrubs with thorns, you can add a very painful physical barrier that will keep invaders off your property.
Plus, many of these defense plants are beautiful and easy to care for.
Why Should You Use Shrubs with Thorns for Home Security?
Balancing the need for security with that of normal social life can be pretty difficult.
For example, a smooth, concrete wall over 10 feet tall may look impenetrable – but it would destroy your view, curb appeal, and even your relationship with your neighbors.
Thick hedges made from thorny plants can blend into your landscaping efforts. Unlike regular barbed wire, burglars won’t be able to cut off a big section with a set of sharp pliers.
Thorny bushes and hedging plants will keep on growing, and if you give them the right support, they will easily adopt any shape you want.
Plus, if a section gets damaged, the plant will repair itself!
So what are some fast-growing shrubs with thorns? The answer includes beautiful species from a variety of climates, such as honey locusts, century plants, holly, or bougainvillea.
Other options, like firethorn, will even decorate your defense mechanisms with the occasional red fruit!
Top Fast Growing Shrubs with Thorns
Take a few minutes to study your garden and property boundaries. Can you notice any weak spots?
Any of the thorny, spiky plants below will hide a painful surprise for anyone who wants to sneak in without your permission.
Honey locusts (Gleditsia triacanthos)
- This is a shade tree, featuring a spreading canopy capable of blocking sunlight.
- The thornless honeylocust grows to a height of 30–70 and a spread of 30–70 at maturity.
- Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
Preferred conditions: Temperate to warm, regular soil, tolerates drought.
This aggressive-looking tree can grow up to 90 feet high. Its thick trunk and stems are all covered in sharp thorns, which usually grow in clumps.
While it may take years for a honey locust to reach its full height, if you are just looking for a shrub-sized tree, you will only need a year or less.
Century plant (Agave americana)
- Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years
- the seeds were took this season
- It has a spread around 1.8–3.0 m (6–10 ft) with gray-green leaves of 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) long, each with a prickly margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce deeply.
Preferred conditions: warm and dry weather with well-draining soil.
This variant of agave (yes, the one from the fancy syrup) is native to New Mexico and the Southeastern States.
This plant is great if you live in a warm area and need to hide a few stabs around your ground cover (such as beneath a window).
Although it tends to grow upright, it rarely grows beyond 6 or 8 feet tall. Its dagger-like leaves will easily fit beneath a flower bed.
Common holly (Ilex aquifolium)
- It can be challenging to grow in the south because it dislikes hot summers and cold winters.
- English holly is an ornamental tree or tall hedge in the Aquifoliaceae family. It has glossy green leaves and thorns.
- It is effective as a specimen plant, grouped as a tall hedge or foundation planting. It dislikes high temperatures and high humidity so use only in protected locations. Protect from cold winter winds.
Preferred conditions: sharp temperature variations, cold winters and regular soils.
If you need a high hedge that hides its dangerous weapons well, and you leave in a cold region with a bitter winter, holly shrubs may be your best ally.
Also known as “Christmas holly” this plant offers beautiful, bright red fruits interspersed between its pointy leaves. It stays green all year round.
Blackthorn (Prunus spinsoa)
- Blackthorn trees are extremely wildlife friendly. They provide food and nesting space for a variety of birds with protection from prey due to the spiny branches.
- A growing blackthorn tree is spiny and densely limbed.
- Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a berry producing tree native to Great Britain and throughout most of Europe, from Scandinavia south and east to the Mediterranean.
Preferred conditions: Cool and humid winters, regular soils
A close relative to juniper, blackthorn is as pretty as it is secure. This dense shrub hides its thorns pretty well, lost between its white flowers and delicate-looking leaves.
It also produces tart, dark berries that can be used to make jam or homemade gin. It is easy to train into thick hedges and will create an impenetrable barrier very quickly.
Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)
- Red Crown of Thorns Euphorbia milii - Succulent One Stem Cutting
- This is an easy to grow succulent. You will get one stem cutting ready to plant. You simply place the end of the cutting just under the soil and it will form roots
- Christ plant, or Christ thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaciae, native to Madagas
Preferred conditions: Full sun, mild temperatures, and well-draining soil
If you are looking for hedging plants that pack an extra punch, the crown of thorns will double down on the weaponry. This shrub has sturdy, visible thorns all around its stems and branches.
However, its spines are also covered in a mild skin irritant, so anyone who tries to defy it will be in for a surprise.
Bouganvillea (Bouganvillea spectabilis)
- Bougainvillea spectabilis is a tropical perennial shrubby vine grown as an annual or container plant and makes an excellent addition to a pool or patio space.
- Bougainvillea is best suited to a hot, dry climate and should be watered deeply but allowed to dry out between waterings.
- It is a woody climber that can support itself on other plants by means of curved thorns carried in the leaf axils and by quasi-twining stems and should be kept away from high traffic areas as the thorns can be painful.
Preferred conditions: mild winters, hot summers, and direct sunshine
Thanks to their abundant purple flowers, bougainvilleas often look beautifully romantic.
If you live in a warm enough region, you will enjoy the bright colors of its near-permanent bloom. However, pretty doesn’t make it dainty: bougainvilleas pack dense thorny stems that they use to climb along walls and ledges.
Firethorn (Pyracantha species)
- This Deciduous bush blooms clusters of small white flowers in the Spring and then produces bunches of reddish/orange berries starting in September and persisting until winter.
- This bush also has a tendency to remain evergreen throughout the year. Use as informal hedge or barrier plant, good for creating walls and trellises.
Preferred conditions: mild or temperate climates, partial to full sun, and well-draining soil
Firethorn is a dense evergreen shrub, best known for the bright red berries it produces in the fall. They grow dense stems and vines that can be easily pruned into artistic shapes.
The resulting hedges are almost impossible to penetrate, as firethorn hides thick, slightly serrated thorns along its branches.
Final Thoughts
Even the fanciest security systems can be benefited by low-maintenance natural guards.
These spiky shrubs are fast-growing, colourful, and easy to maintain, which turns them into great self-sustaining defenses.
If you place them strategically around your perimeter, accompanied by a smart security system, you will gain both a relaxing view and a restful night.
