What about willow (not weeping willow tree, but basket weaver's willow or "sally" in local terms) grows fast, reaches 10 to 12 feet in about 3 years and other than clipping is a no-brainer to maintain. It does need stakes to get established and a trellis behind it for support. The foliage, depending on variety, ranges from a dark green through yellow to red.
I think, depending on variety, the planting times are March and October. Just take cuttings from a mature plant, stick them in a bucket of water and as soon as the roots sprout, stick them in a hole in the ground made with a crowbar or sharp pole. Attach to stakes / trellis and that's it. It can be trained into arches, to grow parallel to the ground and (note of caution) is almost impossible to kill.
BTW, I love ivy!