Fast Growing Trees for Sale: What to Know Before You Buy

The fast growing trees for sale here add real height in just a few seasons, so you're not waiting a decade for a tree to do its job. Most people shop this collection for privacy screening or quick shade, though it also includes fast growing shrubs and a handful of other fast-growing plants that share the same growth rate.

How to Choose the Right Fast Growing Trees for Your Yard

Knowing your growing zone is the first step, since this collection spans zone 2 through zone 12, and not every fast grower survives every winter. From there, think about what your goal is for the tree. Autumn Blaze Red Maple, for example, is a fast growing shade tree built for a wide canopy, while Thuja Green Giant is bred more for dense, quick privacy than for shade.

Mature size still matters even when speed is the priority. A fast grower that reaches 60 feet needs the same clearance planning as a slow one that eventually gets there, just sooner.

Best Fast Growing Trees for Privacy and Shade

For privacy, look at evergreen trees like Leyland Cypress or Italian Cypress, both fast growers that fill in as a screen faster than most hedge plants. Our dedicated privacy trees collection narrows this down further if screening is your main goal.

For shade, shade trees like Red Sunset Maple grow quickly enough to make a real difference in a few years rather than a lifetime, which is usually the whole reason someone chooses a fast grower over a slower, more traditional shade tree.

When and How to Plant Your Fast Growing Trees

Generally, you should plant these fast growing trees in early spring or fall. However, you can plant in pots to stay on the porch or move indoors nearly any time of year!

Specific planting directions for each pick will depend on the variety you choose, but first, ensure you're buying for proper growing zones. Other than that, the most important factors for your fast growing trees are sunlight, soil type, and watering needs.

From there, the actual planting process is simple. Find an area with the proper sunlight and well-drained soil. Then, dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide, place your tree and backfill the soil. Finally, water the surrounding soil to settle your plant’s roots and mulch to conserve moisture.

This Collection Includes More Than Trees

Despite the name, fast growing trees aren't the whole story here. This collection also includes fast growing shrubs, vines, and fruiting plants that share the same fast growth rate as the trees. If you're specifically after fruit, our fruit trees collection is a better starting point than filtering by growth rate alone.