Kansas is known for its endless skies and beautiful sunsets, but you probably want some shade trees when you have beautiful, endless skies.
So, we will look at twelve fast-growing shade trees that thrive in any Kansas hardiness zone.
In the greener east, you have many lovely shade trees that will thrive, most of them already native.
But in the drier and windier west, odds are you want drought-tolerant, wind-resistant trees. Wind resistance is important because fast-growing trees often have shallow roots or weak wood.
So, most of the trees recommended here are wind-resistant or noted otherwise.
12 Fast-Growing Shade Trees You Can Grow Anywhere in Kansas
1. Eastern Cottonwood – Populus deltoides

I could not write an article about fast-growing shade trees without mentioning Eastern Cottonwood, one of the fastest-growing trees native to North America, easily growing from 4 – 8 ft per year.
This poplar tree is also native to all of Kansas and one of the most commonly seen trees in the western half of the state, like the one in the photo above from dry and windy southwestern KS.
Since Eastern Cottonwoods grow fast and have a full canopy of rich green triangular-shaped leaves, they will produce shade very fast in your yard.
However, that fast growth translates into relatively short-lived trees susceptible to wind damage. The wind rarely kills the tree, but it can break the branches. This can be remedied by pruning your tree to remove damaged limbs and strengthen them.
You can also learn how to identify Eastern Cottonwood in its natural habitat.
- Other Common Names: Necklace Poplar, Alamo, Carolina Poplar, Common Cottonwood, Eastern Poplar, Plains Cottonwood, Plains Poplar, Southern Poplar, Rio Grande Cottonwood
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 65 – 100 ft (to 120 ft) tall, 35 – 60 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers emerge in catkins from February to April; cottony seeds mature in April to June
- Growth Rate: 4-8 ft per year*
Available at: Nature Hills
2. Silver Maple – Acer saccharinum

Silver Maple is a gorgeous maple tree native to the eastern half and northwest Kansas, where they grow in woodlands, riparian areas, and floodplains.
These are the fastest-growing maple trees in Kansas, and their dense canopy of classic maple-like leaves makes for a lovely shade tree. The leaves have long leaf stalks and silver-white undersides that flash in the wind. In the fall, they turn pretty shades of yellow and orange.
Silver Maples grow best in full sun to partial shade in moist, deep, acidic soil but are highly adaptable to various soil pH, moisture, and quality and tolerate urban pollution.
They have shallow, aggressive roots and shouldn’t be planted beside sidewalks or foundations. Those shallow roots and their rapid growth also make them susceptible to wind damage, so plant them in a protected location in the windier west.
Also, learn how to identify Silver Maple in its native habitat.
- Other Common Names: Creek Maple, Silverleaf Maple, Soft Maple, Water Maple, Swamp Maple, White Maple
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 50 – 80 ft (to 100 ft) tall, 35 – 50 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers emerge before the leaves from March to April; samaras (winged seeds) mature around June
- Growth Rate: 4-6 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. American Sycamore – Platanus occidentalis

American Sycamore is a big, beautiful tree with maple-like leaves that cast rich shade and unique bluish or greenish-gray bark mottled with brown and gray, adding winter interest to the landscape.
They are very fast-growing trees, growing 3 – 6 ft per year when young. Under ideal conditions, they can even grow faster.
American Sycamore is an eastern North American species also native to Kansas in the eastern ⅓ of the state.
These trees grow best in deep, moist, rich soils in the neutral to moderately alkaline range but will tolerate various soils, wind, and urban pollution, and they have moderate drought tolerance.
While they grow best in the east, they can be grown in the west as well, but mulch with a thick layer of organic matter to keep the soil moist and water during the hottest and driest parts of the summer to help prevent leaf scorch.
- Other Common Names: American planetree, Buttonwood, Buttonball, Eastern sycamore, Western plane, Occidental plane, Water beech
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 100 ft tall, 40 – 70 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Spherical flower heads emerge from April to May; spherical dry fruits ripen from September to October
- Growth Rate: 3-6 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. American Elm – Ulmus americana

The American Elm is a tall tree native to most of Kansas and was previously widely planted for its elegant spreading crown and fast growth (3 – 6 feet per year when young).
Unfortunately, Dutch Elm Disease has devastated this lovely tree. In its native habitat, its population is Endangered.
However, numerous beautiful cultivars developed from resistant trees are now available commercially, and this beautiful tree is making a comeback.
American Elms thrive in full sun in any moist, well-drained soil. They are highly tolerant of alkaline soils, clay, road salt, air pollution, and hot, dry conditions. They would do well anywhere in KS.
Their strong wood makes them resistant to wind damage for those living in windier parts of KS.
For more information, learn how to identify American Elm.
Please avoid planting Siberian Elm; it’s incredibly invasive and even invades habitats in the Great Plains previously without trees.
- Other Common Names: White Elm, Water Elm, Soft Elm, Common Elm
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 60 – 90 ft (to 130 ft) tall, 40 – 70 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Small flowers emerge before the leaves in March or April; samaras (winged seeds) mature in mid to late summer
- Growth Rate: 3-6 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera

The Tulip Tree has been a favorite flowering tree of mine since I first saw one in New Orleans. I was thrilled to learn they are cold-hardy and later planted one in the Canadian Rockies.
These intriguing trees have lovely, unusually lobed leaves and incredibly unique large tulip-like yellow flowers. They are closely related to magnolia trees.
Tulip Trees are fast growers, growing 2 – 3 ft per year, and with their lush canopy of leaves, they make excellent shade trees.
These trees grow best in full sun in moist, acidic, loamy, sandy, or well-drained clay soils but can also tolerate alkaline soils.
Tulip Trees can be grown anywhere in Kansas. However, irrigation is necessary during the summer since they have shallow roots and do not tolerate drought unless the climate is humid.
While they aren’t totally wind resistant, they aren’t especially susceptible either. Proper pruning can help strengthen your tree.
- Other Common Names: American Tulip Tree, Tulipwood, Tuliptree, Tulip Poplar, Whitewood, Fiddletree, Hickory Poplar, Yellow Poplar
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 60 – 100 ft (to 150 ft) tall, 30 – 50 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Showy flowers bloom in May and June; dry cone-like fruits mature in fall
- Growth Rate: 3-5 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Green Giant Arborvitae – Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’

Not too many conifer trees are very fast-growing, but Green Giant Arborvitae can grow an amazing 3 – 5 ft per year.
It has beautiful, rich, green, scale-like leaves and grows up fast and straight. However, it has a narrow columnar habit best planted as a hedge or privacy screen style with multiple trees, which will cast dense shade over your entire yard.
Green Giant Arborvitae grows best in full sun or light shade in various loamy, sandy, and clay soils, from slightly acidic to moderately alkaline, but they must be well-drained. They do poorly in wet or compacted soils.
They will grow well in KS but are relatively thirsty trees, wanting weekly irrigation during hot, dry spells. Mulching the root zone with thick organic mulch will help retain moisture.
They can be prone to storm damage when young, but once established, they can withstand snow, ice, and wind. The Green Giant Arborvitae is a great tree to plant if you are looking to transform your backyard.
- Other Common Names: Green Giant, Thuja Green Giant
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8
- Average Size at Maturity: 50 – 60 ft tall, 12 – 20 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Large amounts of pollen are released from March to April; seed cones mature in the fall of the same year
- Growth Rate: 3-5 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
7. Shumard Oak – Quercus shumardii

In Kansas, oak trees are a perfect fit. They grow very well, and the Shumard Oak is also native to the eastern ⅓ of the state, where it likes to grow in rich clay soils alongside streams.
These massive trees are one of the fastest-growing oaks, growing 2 – 3 ft per year when they are young. Their classically lobed oak leaves will cast rich shade fast in your yard.
In the fall, the leaves turn a gorgeous, vibrant shade of red, making them popular landscape trees you should have no trouble finding.
Shumard Oaks grow best in full sun in acidic or alkaline, loamy, well-drained soils, but they are highly adaptable trees tolerating various soil types, wind, drought, short-term floods, road salts, and urban pollution. This makes them a perfect fit for growing anywhere in KS.
For more information, check out how to identify the Shumard Oak.
- Other Common Names: Shumard Red Oak, Swamp Red Oak, Spotted Oak, Schneck Oak
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
- Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 60 ft (to 115 ft) tall, 40 – 60 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers bloom between March and April; acorns mature in September or October
- Growth Rate: 2-3 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
8. Black Cherry – Prunus serotina

Black Cherry is a native Kansas cherry tree from the eastern ⅓ of the state, often grown ornamentally for its lovely fragrant, small white flowers.
These fast-growing trees (2 – 4 ft per year) have a canopy of rich green leaves, making lovely shade trees.
Black Cherries also produce edible fruits of various sizes and flavors, sometimes eaten raw or made into preserves or juice. However, if you leave them on the tree, the wildlife will love you for it!
These trees grow best in full sun or partial shade in moist, acidic, well-drained soils but will tolerate most soils if they are moist. Add a thick layer of organic mulch to keep their roots cool and retain moisture in the drier west.
Black Cherry does have shallow roots prone to windthrow. In the windy west, plant it with other trees for protection.
You can also learn to identify Black Cherry.
- Other Common Names: Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, Mountain Black Cherry
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 80 ft tall, 30 – 50 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: White flowers bloom in April or May; fruits ripen in August or early September
- Growth Rate: 2-4 ft per year*
Available at: Nature Hills
9. Bitternut Hickory – Carya cordiformis

Sometimes, hickory trees are recommended as fast-growing shade trees. However, not all are fast-growing or suited to Kansas.
The Bitternut Hickory is one of the fastest-growing hickories at 16 – 24” per year, and it’s already native to the eastern ⅓ of Kansas, where it grows alongside streams and swamps as well as dry sites with poor soils.
Bitternut Hickory has beautiful, large compound leaves that cast rich shade and turn vibrant shades of yellow and orange in the fall.
These trees grow best in full sun to partial shade in humusy, rich, medium to wet soils but are also moderately drought-tolerant. Still, occasional summer watering will be needed during extended droughts.
Bitternut Hickory has strong wood and deep taproots, making them fairly resistant to high winds.
They get their name from the bitter nuts that wildlife love.
For more information, check out how to identify the Bitternut Hickory.
- Other Common Names: Bitternut, Swamp Hickory
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 50 – 80 ft (to 150 ft) tall, 30 – 50 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers bloom in April or May; fruits mature from late summer to early fall every 3 – 5 years
- Growth Rate: 1-2 ft per year*
Available at: Nature Hills
10. Pin Oak – Quercus palustris

Pin Oak is another beautiful oak tree native to the eastern ⅓ of Kansas. It has deeply and sharply lobed classical oak leaves that turn orange and yellow in the fall and then remain dead on the tree until spring.
Its fast growth (about 2 ft per year) doesn’t affect its wind tolerance, so it should work well in the windier parts of KS.
Pin Oak grows best in full sun in moist, mildly acidic, well-drained loam, sand, or clay but will tolerate occasional flooding and poorly drained soils.
Its preference for moist, acidic soils means it may not perform as well in areas with alkaline soils or in the drier west unless heavily mulched with organic matter and irrigated regularly or grown near a water source.
You can also learn how to identify the Pin Oak in its native habitat.
- Other Common Names: Swamp Oak, Water Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
- Average Size at Maturity: 60 – 80 ft (to 100 ft) tall, 40 – 60 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers (catkins) bloom in late April or early May; acorns mature between September and October
- Growth Rate: 2-3 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
11. Pecan Trees – Carya illinoinensis

Pecans are big, beautiful trees with large compound leaves that make perfect shade trees. As an added bonus, if you choose the right 2 – 3 cultivars, you will be rewarded with bountiful harvests of delicious nuts you can grow in Kansas.
The wild variety has more variable and less productive nuts, but this is the perfect choice if you want it only for shade. They are already native to southeastern KS.
Pecans will grow from 1 – 3 ft per year when young, but their growth slows as they mature.
Hardiness varies between cultivars, so if you want it for nut production and shade, then choose the hardy pecan cultivars if you live in the northern part of the state.
Pecans grow best in full sun in deep, moist, but well-drained soil. Many prefer acidic soil, but some will do well in alkaline soil, so choose your cultivar carefully.
- Other Common Names: Hardy Pecan, Northern Pecan
- USDA Growing Zones: 6(5) – 9(10)
- Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 150 ft tall*, 30 – 80 ft spread *Size depends on variety
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers bloom from mid-March to mid-April; fruits mature from September to November, depending on the cultivar
- Growth Rate: 1-3 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
12. River Birch – Betula nigra

River Birch is a unique, uncommon native tree found in the extreme southwest corner of Kansas, where it grows along rivers, swamps, and floodplains.
These trees are popular commercially for their fast growth and their unique salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates in large strips in multiple layers, revealing lighter inner layers and providing year-round color.
Its dark green leaves also make it a good shade tree; they turn a soft, buttery yellow in the fall.
River Birch grows best in moist soil in full sun to partial shade. While it doesn’t tolerate alkaline soil, it does have moderate drought tolerance and is one of few heat-tolerant birch trees.
This tree is also known for its resistance to wind and ice, where the branches will bend rather than break, which is great news for those in areas prone to storms.
For more information, check out how to identify River Birch.
- Other Common Names: Black Birch, Red Birch, Water Birch
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
- Average Size at Maturity: 40 – 80 ft tall, 40 – 60 ft spread
- Flowering / Fruiting Season: Inconspicuous flowers in catkins bloom in early spring; tiny samaras (winged seeds) mature early in the year in late spring
- Growth Rate: 2-3 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
Kansas Fast Growing Shade Trees Compared
Tree Name | USDA Growing Zones | Average Size at Maturity | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Cottonwood | 2 – 9 | 65 – 100 ft tall, 35 – 60 ft spread | 4-8 ft per year |
Silver Maple | 3 – 9 | 50 – 80 ft tall, 35 – 50 ft spread | 4-6 ft per year |
American Sycamore | 4 – 9 | 40 – 100 ft tall, 40 – 70 ft spread | 3-6 ft per year |
American Elm | 2 – 9 | 60 – 90 ft tall, 40 – 70 ft spread | 3-6 ft per year |
Tulip Tree | 4 – 9 | 60 – 100 ft tall, 30 – 50 ft spread | 3-5 ft per year |
Green Giant Arborvitae | 5 – 8 | 50 – 60 ft tall, 12 – 20 ft spread | 3-5 ft per year |
Black Cherry | 4 – 9 | 40 – 80 ft tall, 30 – 50 ft spread | 2-4 ft per year |
Pin Oak | 4 – 8 | 60 – 80 ft tall, 40 – 60 ft spread | 2-3 ft per year |
Shumard Oak | 4 – 8 | 40 – 60 ft tall, 40 – 60 ft spread | 2-3 ft per year |
River Birch | 4 – 9 | 40 – 80 ft tall, 40 – 60 ft spread | 2-3 ft per year |
Pecan Trees | 6(5) – 9(10) | 40 – 150 ft tall, 30 – 80 ft spread | 1-3 ft per year |
Bitternut Hickory | 4 – 9 | 50 – 80 ft tall, 30 – 50 ft spread | 1-2 ft per year |
Fast-Growing Shade Trees That Thrive in Kansas
As you have seen, there is no shortage of beautiful, fast-growing shade trees that you can grow in Kansas, no matter where you live.
Those living in the east have an easier time growing trees, with many options available to you. However, even those living in the drier and windier west can easily grow shade trees; just be sure to choose more drought-tolerant or wind-resistant ones if those are concerns in your area.
Growing shade trees is easy, and by choosing fast-growing ones that can withstand your conditions, you will quickly be rewarded when you get to sit beneath your tree on a sunny day with a cold beverage. Enjoy!
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