If you’ve recently moved into your forever home, focusing on your landscaping is a great way to personalize your backyard. By adding trees to your garden, you’ll get both privacy and shade. However, some trees will take years to mature, which can be frustrating.
Fortunately, there are many fast-growing trees you can choose from to add ornamental value to your landscaping. Read on as we’ve rounded up the top 10 fast-growing trees in the US, perfect for different locations.
1. Autumn Blaze Red Maple Tree
The Autumn Blaze Red Maple tree is a hybrid combination of Red Maple and Silver Maple. It boasts fascinating fall foliage and grows over 3 to 5 feet yearly in the right conditions. Within 3 years, this tree can grow up to 15 to 20 feet. While it doesn’t grow naturally in the wild, you can purchase and grow it in Zones 3 to 8.
2. Baby Giant Arborvitae
Another fast-growing tree to beautify your garden, Baby Giant Arborvitae, has a compact form, making it ideal for hedging. On average, it grows 3 feet yearly and reaches around 14 feet when mature. This tree blossoms in Zones 5 to 9, offering partial shade and full sun. So if you want some privacy or boundary, the Baby Giant Arborvitae can do the trick.
3. Cleveland Pear Tree
A stunningly beautiful flowering tree, Cleveland Pear is an ornamental tree with an oval and uniform shape. Apart from its lovely scent, it blossoms in pure white color in spring and orange foliage in fall. This tree thrives in Zones 5 to 8 and can live through -10ºF. It grows 4 feet a year on average and can reach 30 to 40 feet once matured.
4. Heritage River Birch
Regardless of the soil’s texture or quality, the Heritage River Birch will flourish. It thrives in Zones 4 to 9 and easily adapts to different soils. Nonetheless, you should have well-drained soil with full sunlight, so the tree can reach its maximum potential. It grows 3 to 4 feet a year and stands up to 50 to 80 feet when mature.
5. Leyland Cypress
If you want to create fences around the neighbor’s yard, the Leyland Cypress will deliver. It’s one of the top 10 fast-growing trees in the US that is low maintenance, providing privacy and protection from wind. It thrives in Zones 6 to 8 and grows 3 to 4 feet yearly. After 3 years, it reaches 15 to 20 feet, while its mature height reaches 40 to 60 feet.
6. Lombardy Poplar
Boasting an Italian-inspired look, Lombardy Polar is a fast-growing tree with irregular branches and a columnar shape. It’s often planted on golf courses and serves as privacy screens or wind protection. Aside from its unusual appearance, Lombardy Polar can withstand -30ºF and grows 6 to 10 feet yearly. It stands 30 to 40 feet tall within 3 years and reaches 40 to 60 feet at maturity.
7. Mexican Fan Palm Tree
If you want to build a tropical-style home, the Mexican Fan Palm Tree is the best fast-growing tree. It grows 3 feet a year and stands 70 to 100 feet tall once mature. However, this tree can only be cultivated outdoors in Zones 8 to 11. Meanwhile, those in Zones 4 to 11 can grow this tree on their patios and transfer it indoors.
8. Thuja Green Giant
Thuja Green Giant is another fast-growing tree ideal for homeowners. It requires minimal upkeep as it grows uniform without being sheared or pruned. This tree flourishes in Zones 5 to 9 and is incredibly sturdy and adaptable. Thuja Green Giant is resistant to drought, disease, and insects. Also, it grows 3 to 5 feet per year and stands 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity.
9. Tulip Poplar Tree
Want to add color to your landscape? Then, the Tulip Poplar Tree is an excellent choice, which grows 6 feet per year and stands 70 to 90 feet tall once mature. It’s a flowering tree that boasts flamboyance and elegance, blossoming bright yellow leaves in May and June. But note that this tree reaches its full potential in open areas will full access to the sun.
10. Weeping Willow
The Weeping Willow is another fast-growing tree, a hybrid blend of the White and Peking Willow that thrives in Zones 4 to 9. If you want to add dramatic value to your landscape, the Weeping Willow is the perfect statement piece. It grows 4 to 8 feet a year and reaches 30 to 40 feet once mature.