Nobody wants to wait 30 years for a tree to grow. If you planted a tree today and want real results — actual shade, actual privacy, actual impact on your landscape — in the next 5–10 years, you need to be strategic about what you plant.
This guide covers the best fast-growing trees for the Midwest — trees that put on serious size quickly without sacrificing beauty, toughness, or long-term value. Every tree on this list ships directly from our nursery.
What "Fast-Growing" Actually Means
In the tree world, growth rates break down roughly like this:
- Slow: Less than 12 inches per year (Sugar Maple, most oaks)
- Medium: 12–24 inches per year (Red Maple, Red Oak)
- Fast: 2–3 feet per year (River Birch, Silver Maple)
- Very fast: 3–5+ feet per year (Tulip Poplar, Weeping Willow, Green Giant Arborvitae)
Keep in mind that faster growth often means softer wood and shorter lifespan — but not always. Several trees on this list grow fast and live for generations. The key is matching the right fast grower to your specific goal.
Tulip Poplar — The Fastest Shade Tree in the Midwest
If you want the fastest-growing shade tree you can plant in the Midwest, the Tulip Poplar wins. It grows 3–5 feet per year under good conditions — meaning in just 7–10 years you can have a 40–50 foot tree providing serious, deep shade. It's the tallest native hardwood in eastern North America, eventually reaching 70–100 feet with a straight, majestic trunk.
What makes Tulip Poplar even better is that it's also one of the most beautiful trees you can plant. In late spring it produces large, tulip-shaped flowers in yellow-green and orange that are stunning against the sky. The fall color is a clean, bright yellow. It's a fast grower that also happens to be gorgeous. Hardy in Zones 4–9.
Our Tulip Poplar Tree is the top pick for anyone who wants maximum shade in minimum time.
Weeping Willow — 6–8 Feet Per Year
The Weeping Willow is one of the fastest-growing trees in North America, period. Under good conditions it puts on 6–8 feet per year — which means in just 5 years you can have a 30–40 foot tree with a sweeping, dramatic canopy. No other tree gives you that kind of visual impact that fast.
Weeping Willows are especially effective near ponds, streams, or low-lying wet areas where they thrive and look absolutely stunning. They reach 30–40 feet tall and wide at maturity. Hardy in Zones 4–8. Plant away from underground pipes and septic systems as the roots aggressively seek water.
Our Weeping Willow is the fastest statement tree you can plant — nothing else comes close for sheer speed and drama.
Silver Maple — The Fastest Maple, Period
If you want a maple and you want it fast, Silver Maple is your answer. It grows 3–7 feet per year — far faster than Red Maple or Sugar Maple — and quickly develops a broad, spreading canopy that provides dense shade. The leaves have a distinctive silver underside that shimmers in the breeze, giving the tree a beautiful, almost magical quality on windy days.
Silver Maple reaches 50–80 feet tall and adapts well to wet soils, making it a great choice for low-lying areas or yards with drainage issues. It's one of the first trees to flower in spring, producing small red flowers before the leaves emerge. Hardy in Zones 3–9. Our Silver Maple Tree delivers results faster than almost any other shade tree we carry.
Red Maple — Fast Growth With Stunning Color
The Red Maple hits the sweet spot between fast growth and long-term quality. It grows 2–3 feet per year — fast enough to give you meaningful shade within 5–7 years — and it delivers stunning color twice a year: brilliant red flowers in early spring before the leaves emerge, and fiery red-orange fall foliage in October. It's one of the most widely planted shade trees in America for good reason.
Red Maple adapts to almost any soil including wet areas, is cold-hardy to Zone 3, and reaches 40–60 feet tall at maturity. It's a better long-term investment than Silver Maple — stronger wood, longer lifespan, better fall color — while still growing fast enough to make a real difference in your landscape within a few years. Our Red Maple Tree is one of our most popular trees every season.
Green Giant Arborvitae — The Fastest Privacy Screen Available
If your goal is privacy rather than shade, Green Giant Arborvitae is the fastest solution available. It grows 3–5 feet per year — matching Tulip Poplar for sheer speed — and stays dense, dark green, and evergreen year-round. In 5–7 years you can have a 20–30 foot wall of solid privacy that blocks wind, noise, and sight lines completely.
Green Giant eventually reaches 50–60 feet tall, is highly resistant to deer and disease, and requires virtually no maintenance once established. Space them 5–6 feet apart for a solid hedge. Hardy in Zones 5–8. Our Green Giant Arborvitae is the go-to choice for fast, permanent privacy.
River Birch — Fast, Beautiful, and Four-Season Interest
River Birch grows 2–3 feet per year and is one of the most ornamentally beautiful fast-growing trees you can plant. The peeling, cinnamon-colored bark looks like living art in every season — especially in winter when the exfoliating bark catches the light against a gray sky. In summer it fills out into a graceful, airy canopy that provides dappled shade.
River Birch is also one of the most adaptable fast growers — handling wet soils, clay, and heat far better than most birch species. It reaches 40–70 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 4–9. Our River Birch Tree is the best choice when you want fast growth and exceptional year-round beauty.
Northern Red Oak — The Fast Oak That Lasts for Centuries
Most oaks are slow. The Northern Red Oak is the exception. It grows 1–2 feet per year — fast for an oak — and eventually reaches 60–75 feet tall with a massive canopy. The fall color is a deep, rich red that rivals any maple. And unlike faster-growing trees, a Red Oak will still be standing and thriving 200 years from now.
If you want a fast-growing tree that's also a genuine legacy planting — something that will outlast you and add real value to your property for generations — the Northern Red Oak is the answer. Hardy in Zones 3–8. Our Northern Red Oak Tree is the best long-term investment on this list.
Sycamore — Massive and Fast
The American Sycamore grows 2–3 feet per year and eventually becomes one of the largest trees in North America — reaching 75–100 feet tall with a massive, spreading canopy. The mottled white, gray, and green bark is one of the most distinctive and beautiful of any tree, especially striking in winter when the upper branches glow white against a gray sky.
Sycamore is a native floodplain tree that handles wet soils, clay, and urban conditions well. It's a serious shade tree for large properties that want fast results and don't mind a big tree. Hardy in Zones 4–9. Our Sycamore Tree is a native giant that grows fast and looks incredible doing it.
Dappled Willow — The Fastest Colorful Shrub
If you need fast results in a smaller space, the Dappled Willow is one of the quickest-growing ornamental shrubs you can plant. It grows 3–5 feet per year and produces stunning variegated foliage in pink, white, and green that emerges in spring and holds color all season. Cut it back hard each spring and it explodes with the most vibrant new growth imaginable.
Dappled Willow grows 4–8 feet tall, tolerates wet soils, and works beautifully as a colorful border shrub, hedge, or specimen planting. Hardy in Zones 4–9. Our Dappled Willow is the fastest way to add color and structure to any spot in your yard.
How to Make Fast-Growing Trees Grow Even Faster
Even fast-growing trees need the right start. Here's how to maximize growth in the first few years:
- Plant at the right time. Spring and fall are ideal for tree planting in the Midwest. Avoid planting in the heat of summer if possible.
- Water deeply and consistently the first two seasons. The number one thing that slows young trees down is inconsistent moisture. Deep, infrequent watering (1–2 inches per week) beats shallow daily watering every time.
- Fertilize lightly in year two. Don't fertilize newly planted trees in year one — let them focus on root establishment. In year two, a light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring can boost growth significantly.
- Mulch correctly. A 2–3 inch ring of mulch around the base retains moisture and moderates soil temperature. Just keep it away from the trunk — read our guide on why mulch volcanoes kill trees.
- Don't stake unless necessary. Trees that move in the wind develop stronger root systems and trunks. Only stake if the tree is in a very exposed, windy location.
Ready to get growing? Browse our full Large Shade Trees collection, our Privacy & Screening Plants collection, and all available plants to find the perfect fast-growing tree for your Midwest yard.
