Quick-Growing Shade Trees

Eucalyptus trees can reach 50 feet in height.

Shade trees are an excellent addition to a home, park or business landscape. There are a number of varieties that grow very rapidly, reaching up to 18 feet in a single year. The quick-growing shade trees discussed in this article can grow all over North America in virtually every soil condition.

Types

There are many varieties of quick-growing shade trees, suitable for a range of zones. Some of the fastest growing trees include the Royal Empress, Autumn Blaze Maple, Windmill Palm, Sawtooth Oak, Quaking Aspen and Eucalyptus. The Royal Empress is the fastest growing shade tree.

Time Frame

All trees grow at different rates. The Royal Empress will be 30 to 40 feet tall at full maturity, and can grow up to 18 feet in the first year. The Autumn Blaze is the fastest growing type of maple, and grows about 3 feet a year.

Zones

Zones are geographically defined areas in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, based on climate including minimum temperatures. The shade trees mentioned in this article grow in Zones 2 to 11, covering almost every zone in North America. The Quaking Aspen is the most cold resistant of the quick-growing shade trees, tolerating an annual minimum temperature of -50 degrees F. The Royal Empress and Eucalyptus trees do well in Zones 7 to 11. Zone 11 has an annual minimum temperature higher than 40 degrees F.

Size

The Thornless Honeylocust and Sawtooth Oak grow to between 40 and 60 feet tall. The Royal Empress, Autumn Blaze Maple, Eucalyptus and Quaking Aspen will reach 40 to 50 feet. The Windmill Palm is the smallest of the quick-growing shade trees, reaching a maximum height of 30 feet.

Soil

Royal Empress trees grow in the greatest variety of soil conditions, and have even reportedly been successfully grown in toxic soils. Sawtooth Oak trees also do well in a range of soil conditions. The other trees mentioned in this article also are adaptable to many soil conditions.

References

• Fast Growing Trees Nursery: Shade Trees