Fast-growing trees are like magic for your garden. They can make your garden look beautiful and shady in a short time.
They also help animals and make the soil healthy.
These special trees come in many types, like the elegant Silver Maple and the impressive Empress Tree.
You can choose the one that suits your garden the best.
Let’s find out which tree is perfect for you!
Silver Maple
The Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is a popular choice for gardeners seeking quick shade and beauty. This fast-growing deciduous tree can reach heights of 50 to 80 feet, with a broad, spreading canopy that provides ample shade during hot summer months. Its striking silvery leaves shimmer in the wind, adding visual interest to any landscape. Additionally, the Silver Maple thrives in a variety of soil conditions, making it a versatile option for many garden settings.
Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress is a popular evergreen tree known for its rapid growth and dense, elongated foliage. Reaching up to 60 feet tall, it provides an excellent natural privacy screen or windbreak for gardens. Its graceful, pyramidal shape and vibrant green color make it an attractive choice for landscaping. Additionally, Leyland Cypress thrives in various soil types and adapts well to different climates, making it a versatile option for gardeners seeking quick results.
Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a fast-growing deciduous tree renowned for its striking white bark and vibrant yellow foliage in the fall. Reaching heights of 40-50 feet, it thrives in a range of soil types and prefers full sunlight. The unique “quaking” leaves flutter in the breeze, adding movement and charm to any garden. Additionally, aspens are known for their ability to propagate through root suckers, leading to beautiful clusters of trees over time.
Empress Tree
The Empress Tree, also known as Paulownia tomentosa, is a spectacular fast-growing tree renowned for its striking lavender flowers and large, heart-shaped leaves. Ideal for gardens seeking quick shade, it can reach heights of up to 50 feet in just a few years. The tree thrives in various soil types and is drought-resistant, making it versatile for different climates. Additionally, its wood is lightweight yet strong, making it valuable for timber production.
Red Maple
The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a stunning addition to any garden, known for its vibrant fall foliage that transforms into brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. This fast-growing deciduous tree can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet, making it an excellent choice for shade. Red Maples thrive in various soil types and tolerate wet conditions, making them versatile and low-maintenance. Their beautiful blossoms in early spring also attract pollinators, enhancing your garden’s ecosystem.
Green Ash
The Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is a versatile and fast-growing deciduous tree, making it an excellent choice for gardens and landscapes. It can reach heights of 50 to 60 feet and has a broad, rounded crown. Its striking dark green leaves turn a vibrant yellow in the fall, providing seasonal interest. This tree is adaptable to various soil types and conditions, making it resilient against urban environments. Additionally, it provides valuable shade and habitat for wildlife.
Royal Empress
The Royal Empress Tree, also known as Paulownia tomentosa, is a stunning addition to any garden, celebrated for its rapid growth and large, heart-shaped leaves. This deciduous tree can reach heights of up to 50 feet in just a few years, making it an excellent choice for creating quick shade and privacy. In spring, it produces beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that attract pollinators, adding vibrancy to your landscape. Its resilience and adaptability make it a favorite among gardeners looking for fast results.
Weeping Willow
The Weeping Willow is a stunning addition to any garden, known for its graceful, drooping branches and lush, green foliage. This fast-growing tree can reach heights of up to 30 feet, providing a beautiful focal point and ample shade. It’s particularly well-suited for moist environments, often thriving near lakes or rivers. With its delicate appearance and romantic vibe, the Weeping Willow is perfect for creating a tranquil outdoor space.
Eastern Cottonwood
The Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is a towering deciduous tree known for its rapid growth and ability to reach heights of up to 100 feet. Thriving in various soil types, it can adapt to wet conditions, making it ideal for landscaping near water sources. With its broad, triangular leaves that turn a brilliant yellow in the fall, this tree provides ample shade and an attractive backdrop in large gardens and open spaces. However, be mindful of its aggressive root system when planting near foundations or underground utilities.
Black Locust
The Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a fast-growing deciduous tree known for its stunning beauty and hardiness. It can reach heights of 30-50 feet, featuring fragrant white flowers in spring that attract pollinators. This tree is also valued for its durable wood, often used in furniture and fencing. Black Locust thrives in various soil types and is tolerant of drought, making it an excellent choice for quick landscape enhancement and erosion control in gardens.
Lombardy Poplar
The Lombardy Poplar is a stunning, fast-growing tree that can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet in just a few years. Its tall, narrow shape makes it an ideal choice for creating privacy screens or windbreaks in your garden. With its dark green leaves turning vibrant yellow in the fall, it offers seasonal beauty. However, it thrives best in well-drained soil and full sun, and is often favored for its rapid growth and stunning silhouette.
Redbud
The Redbud tree, known for its stunning display of pink to purple flowers in early spring, is a fantastic addition to any garden. With a fast growth rate, it can reach heights of 20 to 30 feet in just a few years. Its heart-shaped leaves turn a vibrant yellow in the fall, adding seasonal interest. The Redbud thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade, making it an easy-care choice for gardeners looking to enhance their landscape quickly.
Italian Cypress
The Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a tall, slender evergreen tree that adds a touch of elegance to any garden. Known for its distinctive columnar shape, it typically grows between 20 to 30 feet high, making it ideal for creating vertical lines or privacy screens. Its dark green foliage is fragrant and drought-resistant once established, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. The Italian Cypress is perfect for Mediterranean-themed gardens or as an accent in modern landscapes.
Fastigiated Hornbeam
The Fastigiated Hornbeam, also known as Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’, is a narrow, columnar tree that adds an elegant touch to any garden. Growing up to 30 feet tall but only about 10 feet wide, this tree is perfect for tight spaces or as a formal hedge. Its dense foliage offers a rich green canopy, turning a brilliant gold in autumn. Hardy and adaptable, it thrives in various soil types and stands resistant to urban pollution, making it a popular choice for urban landscapes.
Tree of Heaven
The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast-growing deciduous tree renowned for its adaptability and resilience. Native to China, this tree can reach heights of up to 80 feet and features large, feathery leaves that provide ample shade. It thrives in various soil types and conditions, making it ideal for urban environments. However, gardeners should be cautious, as this species can be invasive, spreading quickly and outcompeting native plants.
Willow Oak
The Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) is a fast-growing deciduous tree known for its elegant, slender form and willow-like leaves. Reaching heights of up to 75 feet, it provides ample shade and is ideal for large gardens and parks. Its adaptability to various soil types and resistance to drought make it a popular choice for landscaping. In autumn, the foliage turns a stunning yellow to orange, adding seasonal interest to any outdoor space.
Norway Spruce
The Norway Spruce (Picea abies) is a fast-growing coniferous tree known for its impressive height and grandeur, reaching up to 60-100 feet at maturity. This hardy species features dark green, needle-like leaves and drooping branches that create a lush, full appearance. It thrives in various soil types and is tolerant of different climates, making it an excellent choice for privacy screens, windbreaks, and ornamental landscaping. Plus, it provides important habitat for wildlife.
Conclusion
By incorporating these 17 fast-growing trees into your garden, you’re not just planting seeds; you’re crafting a living tapestry that enriches your landscape. Each tree offers distinct aesthetic and functional benefits, from providing shade to enhancing privacy. With minimal maintenance and quick growth, you can transform your outdoor space into a lush retreat. As you watch these trees flourish, you’ll be reminded that nurturing nature yields beauty that enhances both your environment and your well-being.
