Fastest growers
Trees That Grow 3 Feet Per Year
These trees sit at the top end of the current inventory for annual growth. They are useful when speed matters more than tight form or small mature size.
Matching trees
Trees that can approach or exceed roughly 3 feet of annual growth under good conditions.
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
Chinese Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
2–3 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–50 ft tall · Zones 5–10
Best for: shade · ornamental
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
American Linden
Tilia americana
1.5–3 ft/yr (moderate) · 50–80 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: shade · native
Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
1.1–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–70 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: ornamental · privacy
Similar pages
Other useful ways to narrow the list.
Fastest growers
Trees That Grow 5 Feet Per Year
The fastest options in the dataset, including trees with evidence or strong estimates that reach 5 feet per year.
Fastest growers
Fastest Growing Trees in America
A ranked look at the fastest-growing trees in the current U.S.-focused inventory.