Some trees can take decades to mature, whereas fast-growing trees can gain considerable height each year. If you want shade or privacy for your landscape quickly, a fast-growing tree might be the right choice for you. Plus, such a tree will add considerable ornamental value to the landscape soon after you plant it.
Warning
Some fast-growing trees may not be as strong as the species that take a long time to mature, and limbs might be prone to breaking. Consider a planting site away from where limbs could drop onto structures. In addition, their growth rate can mean more extensive pruning if you want to keep their size and shape in check.
Here are 15 fast-growing trees that might be the perfect fit for your landscape.
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01 of 15
Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Japanese flowering cherry trees grow quickly, gaining about one foot per year and topping out at around 15 to 25 feet in height and spread. The showy white to pink flowers bloom in the spring, giving way to small blackish fruits in the summertime. This species is susceptible to several pest and disease issues, including powdery mildew and aphids, so it’s important to closely monitor your tree and treat it appropriately at the first sign of a problem.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
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02 of 15
Japanese Angelica Tree (Aralia elata)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The Japanese angelica tree is a small deciduous tree, losing its leaves over the winter. It grows to roughly eight to 20 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide and can appear more like a large shrub than a tree. In the fall, the medium green leaves turn yellow to reddish-purple. Due to this fast-growing tree’s large seed production, it can quickly spread throughout the landscape. So be sure to remove new trees promptly to prevent unwanted growth.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-drained
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03 of 15
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Weeping willows are fast-growing trees, gaining more than two feet per year. They generally top out at around 30 to 50 feet in height and spread. The tree’s branches gracefully arch downward, and in the late winter or early spring, small yellow flowers appear. The wood of weeping willows is notoriously weak, so this is not a tree to have hanging over structures. Pruning should occur in the late winter or early spring.
USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Average, moist, slightly acidic, well-drained
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04 of 15
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Honey locust trees have a rapid growth rate, gaining more than two feet per year. And they require ample space in the landscape. They generally mature at around 60 to 80 feet in height and spread. These trees are tolerant of various soil types, as well as heat, drought, and wind. However, the main species plant does have a lot of thorns. So if you plan to plant one, look for a variety that is thornless.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
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05 of 15
Koa (Acacia koa)
Scot Nelson / Flickr
Koa is a fast-growing, evergreen Acacia tree species from the Hawaiian Islands. It averages around 50 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide, though in its natural habitat it can grow up to 100 feet high. Rather than typical leaves, the trees have stiff green phyllodes, which are modified leaf stems. Koa trees are fairly low-maintenance. Make sure the soil stays evenly moist but not soggy, especially for young trees.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Acidic, well-drained
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06 of 15
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The royal poinciana tops out at around 30 to 40 feet tall and 40 to 70 feet wide. These evergreen trees are popular in tropical and subtropical regions, especially for their vivid, red-orange, five-petal flowers that show up in the summertime. These trees provide excellent shade. However, their robust root system can end up cracking pavement if they don’t have enough space. Also, the branches are rather brittle, so it’s important to prune them back in the spring to encourage stronger growth.
USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained
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07 of 15
Leyland Cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The Leyland cypress is an evergreen that reaches around 60 to 70 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide on average. This fast-growing tree gains up to three feet per year with gray-green needled foliage on branches that point upward. The bark on this tree is a reddish-brown color. It’s a hardy and low-maintenance tree. However, be sure not to overwater it, as this can cause root rot.
USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
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08 of 15
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Simon McGill / Getty Images
The pin oak is a deciduous tree that grows to around 50 to 70 feet tall and 40 to 60 feet wide on average. It has a pyramidal shape with shiny dark green leaves and gray-brown bark that develops ridges as it matures. It’s a popular landscape tree due to its fast growth rate and medium size. Plus, it tolerates a variety of growing conditions. However, make sure it’s not in alkaline soil, which can cause yellowing of the leaves.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
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09 of 15
Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja 'Green Giant')
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
‘Green Giant’ is an arborvitae cultivar with a fast growth rate, gaining up to four feet per year. This needled evergreen tree can mature at around 40 to 60 feet tall and 12 to 18 feet wide. It’s often used as a privacy hedge.
USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained
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10 of 15
River Birch (Betula Nigra)
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The river birch is a fast-growing tree that’s native to floodplains and other wet areas in the United States. It can reach 40 to 70 feet tall and 40 to 60 feet wide. It can handle heavy clay soil, poor drainage, and even semi-aquatic conditions, but it also can tolerate drier soil. However, it’s still best to mulch around the tree to shade the roots and retain soil moisture.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Rich, acidic, moist
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11 of 15
Freeman Maple (Acer x Freemanii 'Autumn Blaze')
Brian North / Getty Images
Freeman maples are a hybrid of red and silver maples. They’re solid and attractive trees with a fast growth rate. They reach around 40 to 55 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide on average. And the medium green leaves turn a vibrant red in the fall. Be sure to water young trees frequently, as they like moist but not soggy soil. Mature trees have some drought tolerance.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Moist, acidic, well-drained
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12 of 15
Tulip tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera)
Katja Schulz / Getty Images
The tulip tree, also known as the yellow poplar, is a show-stopping tree with a broad pyramidal shape. It can mature around 60 to 90 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide. The trunk can reach roughly six feet in diameter. These fast-growing trees are known for having weak branches and shallow roots. Ideally, they should be planted somewhere that’s sheltered from strong winds.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
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13 of 15
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
asmithers / Getty Images
The silver maple gets its common name because its leaves are a silver hue on their undersides. This large, fast-growing tree has a broad, rounded shape. It matures at around 50 to 80 feet tall and 35 to 70 feet wide. It prefers moist soil but will tolerate poor, dry soils as well. Its weak wood is known to break in ice and strong winds, so it should be planted away from structures.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Average, medium to wet, well-drained
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14 of 15
Red Maple (Acer Rubrum)
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Native to eastern and central North America, red maples are fast-growing trees with a rounded or oval shape. They can grow more than three feet per year, maturing at roughly 40 to 70 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide. They’re also very tolerant of cold weather. However, they do have shallow roots that can push up pavement. So they should be planted where they have some space to grow.
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Average, medium to wet, well-drained
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15 of 15
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Scott T. Smith / Getty Images
Also known as the American aspen, the quaking aspen sports trademark white bark and dark green leaves that turn golden in the fall. It reaches around 20 to 50 feet tall and 10 to 30 feet wide with an oval shape. Heat and humidity, as well as pollution, all can damage this tree.
USDA Growing Zones: 1 to 6
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained