Fastest growers
Fastest Growing Trees in America
This page prioritizes trees with the strongest growth estimates first, then breaks ties by mature size. It works well for visitors who want speed before anything else.
Matching trees
A ranked look at the fastest-growing trees in the current U.S.-focused inventory.
American Chestnut Hybrid
Castanea dentata hybrid
4–7 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · native
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
Natchez Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Natchez'
3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Leyland Cypress
x Cuprocyparis leylandii
2.3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: privacy · windbreak
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja x 'Green Giant'
3–4 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
American Pillar Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'
3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
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
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 60–90 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: windbreak · evergreen
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
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–80 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
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
Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria japonica
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: privacy · ornamental
Hybrid Poplar
Populus deltoides x nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: privacy · windbreak
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
Willow Hybrid
Salix matsudana x alba
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 35–50 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: privacy · shade
Yoshino Cherry
Prunus x yedoensis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 6–30 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Muskogee Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Muskogee'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Cherry Laurel
Prunus caroliniana
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 15–25 ft tall · Zones 7–10
Best for: privacy · ornamental
Nellie Stevens Holly
Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 15–25 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: privacy · ornamental
Methley Plum
Prunus salicina 'Methley'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 10–20 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: edible · orchard
Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 10–20 ft tall · Zones 7–11
Best for: privacy · ornamental
Contender Peach
Prunus persica 'Contender'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Redhaven Peach
Prunus persica 'Redhaven'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Reliance Peach
Prunus persica 'Reliance'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
1.1–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–70 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: ornamental · privacy
Kieffer Pear
Pyrus communis x pyrifolia 'Kieffer'
1.5–2.5 ft/yr (fast) · 15–25 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: edible · orchard
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
1.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 40–120 ft tall · Zones 2–9
Best for: shade
Brown Turkey Fig
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
1.1–2 ft/yr (fast) · 10–20 ft tall · Zones 7–10
Best for: edible · orchard
Chicago Hardy Fig
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy'
1–2 ft/yr (fast) · 10–15 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: edible · orchard
Goldenraintree
Koelreuteria paniculata
0.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: ornamental · street
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