Fast Growing Shade Trees For Any Yard

Fast growing shade trees can help your home. If you’re in the market for fast growing shade trees, you’ve come to the right place. Find out what you need to know about fast growing shade trees before buying one.

fast-growing shade trees

If you’re looking for the best house plants instead, check out this article on plants for indoors. If you still want shade trees, then read on. 

What Are Shade Trees?

fast growing shade trees
Black Bear Builders, Inc.

Shade trees provide protection from the sun. They offer relief from hot weather. They are found in yards for their practical uses. 

Shade trees have a cloud-like crown, though some have different shapes. What matters is that they offer some sort of shade for people or animals to stand under. 

What To Consider Before Choosing A Fast Growing Shade Tree

What To Consider Before Choosing A Fast Growing Shade Tree
Wallace Landscape Associates

Choosing a tree is not easy. All it requires is a little knowledge of what you want, and then letting you know you’re making the right decision. Before learning about the different types of trees, consider a few things: 

Seed Vs. Sapling 

Growing a tree from a seed will take longer than growing one from a sapling. You also need to know a lot more about trees in order to grow one from a seed. Most trees take months, or years, to reach sapling height.

A tree is a sapling when it is three feet tall. Shorter than that and it’s a seedling or sprout. You can buy a tree at any stage, but if you want it to be a guarantee that it will be healthy, get a sapling. The hard work is already done. 

Speed Of Growth

Consider what you’re looking for in a fast-growing tree. Do you want something that will reach an adult height in a year or are you willing to wait five or ten years? When it comes to trees, “fast-growing” can confuse you. 

Find out how long you’re willing to wait before looking at trees. Then, you can cancel any tree that isn’t within your growth speed range. 

Height Of Tree

The height of the tree is important. Some trees never grow past a few feet while others never stop growing even if they reach 400ft tall, as the Hyperion tree can. 

If you have a small yard, you will want a smaller tree. But if you live on a farm, you may want large trees that will give your family shade for decades to come. 

Home Climate

What is the weather like where you live? Does it frost every winter? Is it so hot and dry in the summer you don’t want to be outside? Trees have needs just as humans do. Some will die if not in the proper climate. 

Research the tree you want before you decide on it. If it won’t survive in your area, find the trees that can thrive in your climate and pick one of those that are fast-growing shade trees. 

Aesthetics 

Consider what vibe you want your tree to give off. The wrong tree can change the feel of your yard. The right one can create an aura that reaches the interior of your home. 

The Most Popular Fastest Growing Shade Trees

Popular Fastest-Growing Shade Trees
Finton Construction

If you want a fast growing shade tree, then look at the following options. The trees grow faster than any other trees like them. They offer shade too, so you won’t be missing out.

Poplar

From the family of deciduous shade trees, poplar trees are fast growing shade trees, and often bought for this purpose. They are grown in rows and along driveways to create a tunnel. The poplar tree is one of the best fast growing shade trees. Keep in mind, though, that there are over 30 species of poplar trees. 

Weeping Willow

fast-growing shade trees
Whitmores Landscaping

An artful tree, the weeping willow is also an inspiration. The tree is one of the best trees to plant for shade. They have long strands of branches that droop drown, which is where the tree gets its name as the tree appears to be weeping. 

Quaking Aspen

Aspens are tall, thin trees that offer a medium amount of shade. Much of the year, the quaking aspen is a bright yellow color. The quaking aspen doesn’t live very long for a tree.

October Glory Red Maple

The October Glory Red Maple is a popular tree in some areas due to the bright red color of the leaves. In the fall, this leaves a beautiful carpet of red on the ground. You won’t find a more appealing tree than this. 

Arborvitae Green Giant

One of the fastest-growing trees, the Arborvitae Green Giant can grow up to three feet a year. The trees also grow in a cone shape and look quite royal when planted together. Much like a regal courtyard or garden. 

River Birch

fast-growing shade trees
Wagner Hodgson

The curling bark and moisture tolerance make the river birch a favorite amongst tree enthusiasts. These trees grow in a funky way, and are naturally found on riverbanks. They can grow almost anywhere. 

Dawn Redwood

Dawn redwood trees are one of the few living redwood species. The tree grows tall and has gorgeous drooping branches. Despite its name, it spends most of the year in a green state, turning red in the fall. 

Leyland Cypress

Leyland cypress trees are perfect if you want a Christmas tree in your yard. They are one of the fastest-growing evergreen trees. However, that does come with drawbacks, considering they don’t live over 30 years. 

Paper Birch

Another great birch tree is the paper birch. This birch tree has light-colored bark with a beautiful texture. This bark often peels off in thin layers and looks like paper. Another short-lived tree that doesn’t grow tall. 

Swamp Spanish Oak

The pin oak tree is a safe tree to plant. It grows fast and large, is easy to take care of, and can live to be over 100 years old. It also offers a great amount of shade and blends with any environment or landscaping style. 

Small Shade Trees

Small shade trees may seem unreal. After all, usable shade is created by something above head height. But there are smaller-scale trees that offer plenty of shade without taking up your entire yard. 

Sargent Cherry

fast-growing shade trees
Harmonia Inc.

If you’re interested in smaller fast-growing trees for a small yard, the Sargent cherry tree is a safe place to turn. It offers a wide shade and a color that is rare in small trees. Sargent cherry trees have pink leaves, making it unique. 

Red Buckeye

The red buckeye won’t grow over 20 feet. It’s a simple tree with a pleasing shape and red flowers. For a small tree, it has a great amount of shade due to the round shape of the crown, which is round. 

Crapemyrtle

The Crapemyrtle is a gorgeous pink tree native to Asia. The average size at full maturity is 15 feet by 15 feet. This is on the larger end of small trees but will fit in most yards. You won’t find a more beautiful small tree.

American Elder

The American elder produces elderberries. Elderberries are a medicinal berry that should be handled with care and in small amounts. Unlike other elderberry trees, the American elder won’t grow over 15 feet. 

Dogwood

Though some dogwood trees can reach up to 40 feet, most of them won’t grow taller than 15 feet. You can get both pink dogwood trees or white dogwood trees, which appear more primitive. Dwarf dogwoods are also available which are much smaller. 

Witch-hazel

Witch-hazel trees have a unique and original shape. The leaves are yellow and the limbs are wiry. In most cases, they are considered shrubs. They max out at 20 feet. 

Most Fruit Trees

fast-growing shade trees
Bevan Associates

If you want small, appealing, and useful shade trees, consider getting fruit trees. Apple trees, peach trees, cherry trees, and more all offer great shade and are a nice addition to any yard. 

So What’s Next?

Before you decide on a tree, do some research. You need to know the care that you need to put into it. Some trees require more than you will have time for while others take care of themselves. 

There are hundreds of species to choose from, so maybe you need to “branch” out to find that perfect tree waiting for a good home. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What Is The Fastest Growing Shade Tree?

If you live in a hot climate like Texas, then you don’t won’t to wait a few years before you can have a shade tree on your property. The fastest growing shade tree is the Willow Hybrid. The tree grows ten feet in one year.

Other fast-growing shade trees are the Quaking Aspen and the Hybrid Poplar. Both tree species have an annual growth rate of six feet.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Shade Trees?

Trees are good for your health. Research has shown that hospital patients recover faster when they have a view of trees from their hospital windows.  

A UK medical study found that people living among trees were in better shape than those who didn’t live near trees. It’s also been proven that trees help reduce heart disease.

Fast Growing Shade Trees With Non-Invasive Roots

In the tree world, non-invasive means “not aggressive.” The question to ask about shade trees is: how will they affect your home? Apple, pear, rowan, and birch trees, for example, are safe to plant next to your house because their roots won’t hurt your home’s foundation.

Other non-invasive species that won’t hurt your home include willow, poplar, aspen, and cottonwood trees. Non-invasive trees are good for you home due to their sun-shielding abilities. A big shade tree next to your home will help keep it cool during the summers.

Fast-Growing Eucalyptus Shade Tree

The fastest-growing eucalyptus shade tree is the Plunkett Mallee. Unless you live in Queensland, Australia, the Plunkett will out of reach for you.

The eucalyptus shade tree is from Australia. In the 1850’s, the tree arrived in the US. In California, the most common eucalyptus is the blue gum. The tree species can grow between 150 to 200 feet tall. However, the blue gum is a “moderate invasive” tree.

Overall, eucalyptus trees are not a good to plant close to your home. 

Fast Growing Shade Trees Conclusion

A fast growing shade tree functions like a mini fan. Trees evaporate water from nearby surfaces. This makes the air around them cooler.

A shade tree can cool your property and home. By protecting your home from outside heat, you won’t use your air conditioner as much which will lower your utility bills. When you look at it like that, a fast growing shade tree is a long-term investment.

A recent report found that three trees next to your home will reduce electricity usage for cooling by 50 percent. With that in mind, a shade tree adds value to your property. Plus, shade trees are good for your health. The benefits of a fast-growing shade tree are endless and lifelong.