Trees That Reach 40 Feet

2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–8

Best for: flowering · ornamental

Carolina Silverbell

Halesia carolina

1–2 ft/yr (slow) · 20–40 ft tall · Zones 4–8

Best for: flowering · native

Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 2–9

Best for: privacy · windbreak

Goldenraintree

Koelreuteria paniculata

0.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–9

Best for: ornamental · street

Kwanzan Cherry

Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 25–40 ft tall · Zones 5–9

Best for: flowering · ornamental

Empress Tree

Paulownia tomentosa

very fast

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

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

Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica

1–2 ft/yr (slow) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: shade · native

October Glory Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–50 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: shade · ornamental

Red Sunset Maple

Acer rubrum 'Franksred'

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–50 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: shade · ornamental

Yellowwood

Cladrastis kentukea

1–2 ft/yr (slow) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 4–8

Best for: flowering · native

Autumn Blaze Maple

Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'

2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–55 ft tall · Zones 3–8

Best for: shade

American Chestnut Hybrid

Castanea dentata hybrid

4–7 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 4–8

Best for: edible · native

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

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

American Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

0.9–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 30–60 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: edible · native

Atlas Cedar

Cedrus atlantica

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 6–8

Best for: ornamental · evergreen

Chinkapin Oak

Quercus muehlenbergii

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 4–8

Best for: shade · native

Colorado Blue Spruce

Picea pungens

1–2 ft/yr (slow) · 30–60 ft tall · Zones 2–7

Best for: ornamental · privacy

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 30–60 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: shade · native

Spartan Juniper

Juniperus chinensis 'Spartan'

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 50–60 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: privacy · windbreak

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 4–8

Best for: shade · native

Norway Spruce

Picea abies

1.5 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 3–7

Best for: privacy · windbreak

Deodar Cedar

Cedrus deodara

1.1–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–70 ft tall · Zones 6–9

Best for: ornamental · privacy

River Birch

Betula nigra

2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–70 ft tall · Zones 4–9

Best for: shade · ornamental

Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–75 ft tall · Zones 5–9

Best for: shade · street

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–80 ft tall · Zones 4–7

Best for: evergreen · windbreak

Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

1–2 ft/yr (moderate) · 40–80 ft tall · Zones 8–10

Best for: shade

Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–100 ft tall · Zones 3–9

Best for: shade

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

1.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 40–120 ft tall · Zones 2–9

Best for: shade

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum