What Is a Fast Growing Shade Tree?

Shade trees are an invaluable part of any landscape and property owners often want fast-growing specimens that will provide maximum shade and impact in the shortest possible time. Dr. Michael Dirr of the University of Georgia characterizes a fast growing tree as one that grows 25 inches or more a year. A number of species and varieties meet that criterion. Some fast growing trees provide flowers and fruit in addition to abundant shade.

Large Shade Trees

One of the fastest growing shade trees is the White Willow (Salix alba), which can grow 3 to 4 feet per year under optimal circumstances, reaching 75 to 100 feet in height with an equal spread. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is hardy from USDA zones 4 through 8, reaching an ultimate height of 70 to 100 feet tall with feathery foliage.

Smaller Trees

The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) grows 2 or more feet per year, reaching an ultimate height of 30 to 50 feet. It features fragrant white flowers in spring growing in USDA zones 4 through 9. The graceful "Heritage" variety of river birch (Betula nigra "Heritage") features colorful exfoliating bark, reaching 40 to 70 feet in USDA zones 3b through 9. Growing in USDA zones 5 through 9, sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) offers evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves and white, lemon-scented flowers.

Flowering Trees

With both leaves and flowers reminiscent of tulips, the tulip tree or tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and can grow between 70 and 90 feet tall. On the opposite end of the size spectrum is crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), bearing clouds of small flowers in shades of red, pink, cream or purple in USDA zones 6 through 9.


Hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) can grow to a height of 40 to 60 feet. It is adaptable to a variety of conditions and features long, dark green needles and oval-shaped cones. The Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) is usually treated as a shrub, but if left to grow naturally, it will reach 60 to 70 feet tall, growing up to 3 feet per year as a young specimen. It develops a columnar or narrow pyramid shape and is hardy in zones 6 through 10.