By purpose
Fast Growing Shade Trees
These are the best candidates when a yard needs cooling, screening from western sun, or a faster route to canopy cover.
Matching trees
Canopy trees that combine quick growth with useful shade potential.
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
1.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 40–120 ft tall · Zones 2–9
Best for: shade
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 75–100 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade
Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 70–100 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade · privacy
Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–100 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 70–90 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade
American Elm
Ulmus americana
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 60–80 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–80 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–75 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: edible · shade
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–75 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade · street
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 2–7
Best for: ornamental · shade
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade · street
River Birch
Betula nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–70 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade · ornamental
Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade
Autumn Blaze Maple
Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–55 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: shade
Empress Tree
Paulownia tomentosa
3–5 ft/yr (very fast) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade · ornamental
Illinois Everbearing Mulberry
Morus alba x rubra 'Illinois Everbearing'
3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: edible · shade
Willow Hybrid
Salix matsudana x alba
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 35–50 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: privacy · shade
Similar pages
Other useful ways to narrow the list.