Top 13 Fastest Growing Trees

Whether you've just moved into your home or have spent years making it your own, there's one area that deserves special attention: your landscape and its plants and trees. Trees present a unique opportunity to personalize your home, but the decades they can take to fully mature can be frustrating when you want a yard that looks great, now.

Luckily, there are plenty of fast-growing trees that can thrive in multiple plant hardiness growing zones, for everything from privacy to flowers, shade and more. Our experts have compiled a list of  the fastest-growing trees for your landscape—read on to see which fast-growing trees will work best in your yard!

Fastest-growing privacy trees

Our most popular privacy tree, the Thuja Green Giant can grow up to 5 ft. per year

Thuja Green Giant

Our #1 most popular privacy tree, the Thuja Green Giant is a fast-growing evergreen tree that can grow in Zones 5 to 9 at a rate of 3 to 5 feet per year. After three years, it can reach 15 to 20 feet, and at maturity can grow up to 30 to 40 feet fall.

The Thuja Green Giant Tree is not only fast-growing but also incredibly resilient. It’s drought-tolerant, disease and insect resistant, and very adaptable. It grows in a uniform shape and height without having to be pruned or sheared, making it a low-maintenance option for homeowners who want privacy fast. It’s extremely popular as a privacy hedge in Southeastern, Midwestern and Northwestern sta

The Leyland Cypress is a popular fast-growing privacy tree, growing up to 5 ft. per year

Leyland Cypress Tree

The Leyland Cypress Tree is another of the fastest-growing privacy trees, and is commonly used in horticulture to form privacy screens to block out neighbors’ yards, street traffic and more. It grows in Zones 6 to 10 at a rate of about 3 to 4 feet per year. Like the Thuja Green Giant, it reaches about 15 to 20 feet after three years, but is much taller at its mature height, measuring 40 to 60 feet. 

The Leyland Cypress is easily pruned and has feathery-looking foliage that's lush and soft to the touch. They grow quickly in a variety of soil types, so it doesn’t take much yard prep to reap the benefits of the Leyland Cypress's privacy and fast growth.

The Baby Giant is a more compact privacy tree, quickly reaching a mature height of around 14 ft.

Baby Giant Arborvitae

A close relative of the popular Thuja Green Giant, the Baby Giant Arborvitae is another fast-growing evergreen, growing in a more compact format that makes it popular as hedging for smaller landscapes. It thrives in Zones 5 to 9 and reaches a maximum height of about 14 feet. Since it reaches about 8 to 10 feet in three years and grows an average of 3 feet per year, it works well for new homeowners who are looking to create privacy or boundaries without the drastic height of most other fast-growing trees.

Like other popular arborvitaes, the Baby Giant is tolerant of drought, resistant to disease and pests, and doesn’t require extreme pruning, making it a low-maintenance choice.

Fastest-growing shade trees

The Autumn Blaze Maple is a fast-growing shade tree with vibrant foliage

Autumn Blaze Red Maple Tree

A hybrid blend of the Silver Maple and red maple, the Autumn Blaze Red Maple Tree is one of the fastest-growing shade trees. While you won’t find them growing in the wild, since they’re an improved cultivar, they can be planted and grown in Zones 3 to 8. The Autumn Blaze Maple grows 3 to 5 feet per year and can reach 15 to 20 feet within three years. At maturity, it's typically between 40 and 50 feet, delivering a big impact to any landscapes.

As a dense branching shade tree, it can be relied upon for cool shade in the summer and astonishingly vibrant color in the fall. Plus, in addition to being fast-growing, the Autumn Blaze Maple is also tolerant of many growing environments and soil types and resistant to pests and disease.

The fast-growing Weeping Willow thrives in wet areas, growing up to 8 ft. per year

Weeping Willow Tree

One of the most classic and elegant trees, the Weeping Willow is a fast-growing shade tree that’s a hybrid of the Peking Willow and the White Willow. It grows in Zones 4 to 9 at a rate of 4 to 8 feet every year. At the peak of its maturity, it typically measures 30 to 40 feet, but can reach 15 to 30 feet within its first three years.

The Weeping Willow is a dramatic addition to any landscape, and its unique sweeping branches make it an impactful statement piece. It thrives in soggy areas, making it the perfect solution for wet landscapes or as an accent tree beside ponds or other water features. 

The Lombardy Poplar is fast-growing and extremely cold-hardy, reaching up to 60 ft. at maturity

Lombardy Poplar Tree

Able to withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit, the Lombardy Poplar is an extremely hardy deciduous polar, popular as a windbreak or seasonal privacy hedge in cold climates. Aside from its attractive, Mediterranean appearance, it is often used to block wind, standing at 40 to 60 feet upon reaching maturity. It can grow 8 to 10 feet per year and measures up to 30 to 40 feet tall after only three years.

Vibrant yellow fall foliage and elegance adds to the Lombardy Poplar’s appeal for homeowners, as well as its drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements.

The Heritage River Birch can grow up to 15 to 20 feet tall after just 3 years

Heritage River Birch Tree

Another fast-growing shade tree, the Heritage River Birch thrives in Zones 4 to 9. It grows 3 to 4 feet in height every year and stands at 15 to 20 feet after only three years. The Heritage River Birch adapts well to a variety of soil types, making it low maintenance and able to grow in even challenging landscapes— just ensure that you plant it in full sunlight for this tree to reach its full potential.

In terms of appearance, this River Birch has a unique peeling bark that stands out year-round, even among other birch tree varieties—it also develops vibrant yellow-orange foliage in fall. And like other birches, it thrives in wet, soggy areas.

The Quaking Aspen is ideal for fast growth in cold climates, growing up to 5 ft. per year

Quaking Aspen Tree

While some trees don't fare well in the colder temperatures of the northern United States, the Quaking Aspen Tree is a cold-weather standout, perfect for homeowners and landscapers in northern states. It can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and grows up to 5 feet per year. Reaching a mature height of 40 to 50 feet, it can grow up to 15 to 30 feet in the first three years.

Getting its name from the gentle quake of the branches when a breeze passes through the tree, the Quaking Aspen features delicate, graceful foliage that turns a brilliant yellow in fall. 

Fastest-growing flowering Trees

The Tulip Poplar is a fast-growing flowering tree, growing up to 6 ft. per year

Tulip Poplar Tree

Not many trees can boast the elegance and easy growth that the Tulip Poplar can provide. And surprisingly, it’s not closely related to a tulip or a poplar tree, but rather a part of the magnolia family. A fast-growing flowering tree, its bright blooms blossom in May and June, complemented by bright green foliage that turns yellow a fall approaches. It’s one of the most impressively tall trees on our list, growing up to 6 feet per year and reaching 70 feet or more at maturity.

Tulip poplars grow best in open areas that receive full sun—since this tree gets very large, make sure you plant it in an area where the roots have ample room to spread out. If you're looking to add quick color and personality to your landscape, the fast-growing Tulip Poplar is an optimal choice.

Crape Myrtle Tree

Beloved for their low maintenance and vibrant colors, crape myrtle trees are a popular fast-growing flowering tree that's also drought-tolerant. Growing up to 2 ft. each year, many crape myrtle trees reach 20-30 ft. at maturity, giving you color and shade coverage faster than other varieties.

Crape myrtle trees are popular in the Southeast for their ability to grow almost anywhere, including in hot, dry climates and poor soil. With many varieties, you'll find crape myrtles that bloom with large flower clusters in hues of white, red, pink, lavender, deep purple and more.

Other fast-growing trees

Black Bamboo is a fast-growing tree for warm climates, and even be used as a privacy hedge

Black Bamboo

If you don't have the yard space for a large tree, the Black Bamboo may be a more realistic option. It can grow outdoors in Zones 7 to 10 but also thrives indoors with exposure to sunlight. Its culms turn black within three years of emerging, growing 3 to 5 feet per year and reaching a peak height of 15 to 30 feet. It needs rich topsoil to grow strong culms and, although it can have a slow start, will spread rapidly when it approaches maturity.

They're easy to trim and can even be used to create a privacy screen. However, keep in mind that, like many bamboo species, Black Bamboo can be invasive and spread rapidly where it’s not wanted if not properly contained. Consider planting in containers, or using a barrier if planting in the ground. 

The Rainbow Eucalyptus has striking multicolor bark and can grow up to 5 ft. per year when planted outdoors

Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree

The Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree is one of the most unique, stunning trees that can be found in nature. Native to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, it can also be found planted in frost-free climates and on patios throughout the United States.

During the winter, it can be transferred indoors and kept near a south-facing window. It grows on patios in Zones 4 to 11 and fully outdoors in Zones 9 to 11. Growing 3 to 5 feet per year in ideal conditions, it will reach a height of 60 to 80 feet at maturity, but can also be pruned to stay smaller. Its fast growth makes it a favorite among eclectic and artistic homeowners in warm climates.

The Mexican Fan Palm can grow up to 3 ft. per year, reaching a mature height of 50-70 ft.

Mexican Fan Palm

As the first and only palm tree on our list, the Mexican Fan Palm grows about 3 feet per year and is a stately addition to the interior or exterior of any tropical-inspired home. Like most palmts, it will grow best outdoors in Zones 8 to 11. However, the Mexican Fan Palm can be grown on patios in Zones 4 to 11 and then transported indoors once temperatures drop below freezing. It measures 50 to 70 feet once mature, but will stay much smaller when planted in containers.

Learn more about fast-growing trees

Overall, willow trees and poplar trees are among the fastest-growing trees for colder growing zones, while evergreen trees and conifers can be relied upon to grow quickly in many different climates.

The good news? You don't have to wait years or even decades to see a tree you've planted reach its full potential in your yard. These fast-growing species experience rapid growth that provides you with a beautiful landscape or indoor greenery without the wait. Whether you're looking for quick privacy, fall color, summer shade or bright flowers, there's a fast-growing tree for every landscape and every need.

Trees specializes in providing thriving trees and plants to homeowners around the country, and since our team of plant experts and specialists cares for each tree at our nursery before it ships to you, they’re guaranteed to have a strong, healthy start for the fastest growth possible. Learn more about the fastest growing trees and explore more privacy trees, shade trees, flowering trees, or see which trees are best suited for your zone!