As long as you understand their limited lifespan, planting
fast-growing trees is not a problem. Do expect some extra maintenance and
damage issues when they reach maturity. For example, some selections have messy
annual flower, fruit, needle, or pod droppings you will want to consider.
These trees are often selected for their rapid growth:
Bald Cypress
A good choice for wet or swampy sites, bald cypress
(Taxodium distichum) has few insect or disease problems. The foliage turns
russet red in late fall before dropping and exposing attractive reddish-brown
bark. Growing at a rate of 18 to 24 inches per year, it can reach up to 100
feet tall and 40 feet wide. Bald cypress is a North American native plant.
Zones 5-10. It one of the best shade trees
Learn more about bald cypress.
Box Elder
Box elder (Acer negundo) has some real drawbacks: It can be
messy, weedy, and short-lived. But it thrives in tough conditions -- even in
the Dakotas, western Nebraska, and eastern Colorado -- where many other trees
fail. It's also useful for windbreaks and grows on most sites. Zones 2-9
Test Garden Tip: Check local restrictions before planting;
it may be considered an invasive species in your area.
Chinese Tallow Tree
Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) is a good replacement
for poplars in warmer regions because it encounters fewer pests. It can show
good fall color and grows with a rounded shape. At a growth rate of 12 to 18
inches per year, it eventually reaches up to 40 feet. Although it's a good
shade tree, avoid placing it near decks, patios, or terrace gardens because the
flower and fruit litter can be a problem. Instead, tuck boost privacy with this
fast-growing tree by placing it in a back corner of your landscape. Zones 8-10
Test Garden Tip: Check local restrictions before planting;
it is considered an invasive species in some regions.
Cottonwoods and Lombardy Poplars
Long known for their propensity to grow along rivers and
other moist areas in the Eastern United States, cottonwoods (Populus deltoides)
also are known for their brittle, weak wood. They grow 3 to 4 feet per year,
reaching up to 70 feet tall. Their relatives, Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra
var. italica), named for the Italian region where they originated, are often
used as 40- to 50-foot-tall screens. Zones 3-9
Test Garden Tip: Check local restrictions before planting;
some species are considered invasive pests.
Dawn Redwood
A good fast-growing tree to boost privac in the corner of a
large residential lot, dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) grows about
2 feet per year until reaching maturity at about 80 feet tall. It grows best in
moist or wet soil in sun or shade. One interesting thing about dawn redwood is
that it looks like an evergreen during the growing season with soft, fine
needles. Then in autumn, the needles turn shades of red and brown before
dropping, exposing the tree's interesting branching pattern and bark in winter.
Zones 5-8
Empress Tree
An interesting tree with an unusual shape and look, empress
tree (Paulownia tomentosa) lends a tropical effect to the landscape. Plant it
near other trees and shrubs, but allow for its wide spread. It grows at least 2
feet per year, reaching 50 feet tall and wide. Zones 7-9 (and southern Zone 6)
Test Garden Tip: Check local restrictions before planting
empress tree; it may be an invasive weed tree in your area.
