The new trees you choose for your property come with a range of different criteria, and one of the most important is their growth rate. After all, you don’t want to wait half your life for your trees to reach their full height!
Fast-growing trees are extremely convenient – they allow you to establish beautiful gardens, borders, windbreaks, privacy screens, and more in a relatively short amount of time.
Gardeners in Virginia, which comes under USDA hardiness zones 5-8, have plenty of fast-growing trees to choose from. Whether you want an ornamental garden established ASAP or simply want to add some privacy to your home, here are some options that will thrive in your landscape.
8 Tree Species That Grow Quickly in Virginia
1. Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’)
The Lombardy poplar grows in a wide range of climates, all the way from USDA hardiness zones 3 up to 9, which is excellent news for most American gardeners since this poplar is one of the fastest-growing trees in the country. It grows at an average rate of 6 feet per year, with some even reaching annual rates of 9-12 feet!
With their columnar growth habit, heart-shaped leaves, and naturally neat crown, Lombardy poplars add a touch of elegance to your property. They are most often grown in rows to be used as windbreaks and privacy screens and sometimes used to line roadways and as garden border backdrops. However, they also look good as individual specimens.
These trees are moisture-loving and typically found growing wild in boggy, low-lying areas. Plant the Lombardy poplar in moist, sandy, or loamy soil in a location with plenty of sun exposure.
Other Common Names: Black Poplar
Growing Zones: 3-9
Average Size at Maturity: 40-60 feet tall, with a 10-15 foot spread
Flower Season: Late Winter to Early Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
While it may not grow as prolifically as the aforementioned Lombardy, the handsome Dawn Redwood is still a relatively fast-grower compared to the majority of deciduous trees. They will grow continuously from 1-3 feet per year, though they may grow more quickly in the right conditions.
Dawn redwoods are statuesque trees, regularly reaching 90 feet or even higher, and have thick, flared trunks and a naturally pyramidal growth habit that add beauty and gravitas to any landscape.
This ornamental has a fascinating history that also makes it an excellent talking point for guests and other gardeners. According to the Harvard University Arboretum, the dawn redwood was considered extinct for thousands of years, before being rediscovered in a single valley in Hubei, China.
These trees grow best near water sources, as it absorbs water quickly and needs plenty of it. Acidic soil and full sun are also required for the best growing results.
Other Common Names: Metasequoia
Growing Zones: 4-8
Average Size at Maturity: 50-90 feet tall, with a 15-25 foot spread
Flower Season: Early Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii)
In recent decades the Leyland Cypress has gained immense popularity amongst landscape gardeners in the southeastern US. This is in large part due to its speedy growth rate, as the Leyland will shoot up to 3 or 4 feet per year.
With its upright growth habit and dense, attractive blue-green foliage it is a nearly unbeatable choice for homeowners who want an established evergreen privacy screen within a few short years. But they can also be planted individually as handsome specimen trees.
When growing as a hedgerow, plant your Leyland Cypress 8 to 10 feet apart so they have enough space to spread. While these trees typically reach up to 60 or 70 feet tall, they can be thoroughly pruned and sheared to keep short and maintain a neat, uniform hedge.
Plant the Leyland Cypress in moist, fertile, well-draining soil with full sun for best results. Well-draining soil is essential, but otherwise, these trees are fairly adaptable to different soil types and pH levels.
Other Common Names: Leylandii
Growing Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 60-70 feet tall, with a 15-20 foot spread
Fruiting Season: Cones emerge in Winter
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’)
Similar to the leyland cypress, the Green Giant Arborvitae is a very popular choice for a fast-growing privacy screen.
This coniferous evergreen is a hybrid cultivar of the Western Redcedar and Japanese Arborvitae, designed specifically for its fast growth and pleasing aesthetic. The rich color of the Green Giant will add vibrancy to your landscape all year round, with its needle-like sprays of foliage adding softness and texture.
These trees grow between 3 and 5 feet per year, reaching around 50 feet tall within 10-15 years. In rows, they should be planted 5 to 6 feet apart. While they are most often planted as privacy screens and backdrops, these beautiful trees can also be planted alone, or in loose groupings to accentuate certain parts of your property.
The Green Giant is low maintenance, resistant to most major pests and diseases, and requires little pruning. Otherwise, ensure these trees are planted in well-draining soil, and do not plant them in areas with high exposure to salt spray.
Other Common Names: Thuja Green Giant, Tree of Life
Growing Zones: 5-8
Average Size at Maturity: 40-50 feet tall, with an 8-12 foot spread
Fruiting Season: Cones emerge in Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Autumn Blaze Red Maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’)
Few trees will draw such envy and attention to your yard as the Autumn Blaze Maple. A hybrid of the red and silver maple, this tree will light up your landscape with spectacularly vivid orange and red foliage in fall. Not only do the leaves turn from green to orange-red earlier than most, but their fall color lasts longer too!
The Autumn Blaze is a practical choice in more ways than one when choosing a maple tree for Virginia. It grows quickly, between 2 to 5 feet per year, though this will depend on its growing conditions. The better the conditions, the faster it will grow.
Thankfully this tree is easy to care for and adaptable to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions. It isn’t bothered by urban pollution and makes relatively little mess as its leaves fall. It likes moist, well-draining, and acidic soil, but can otherwise adapt to poor, heavy soil.
Other Common Names: Freeman Maple
Growing Zones: 4-8
Average Size at Maturity: 40-60 feet tall, with a similar spread
Flower Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
A classic image of romance and elegance, some VA gardeners may be surprised to know that the weeping willow is an exceptionally fast-growing tree, one of the fastest you can find. With a growth rate of 6-10 feet per year, you can have the dramatically sweeping, rounded form of the weeping willow established on your property in just 2 or 3 years.
This is great news for gardeners who want an iconic shade tree, but there are plenty of other uses.
A single tree can block out any unsightly views near your home, beautify virtually any space, and also be planted near a water feature such as a pond or stream to prevent soil erosion. But be aware of its aggressive root system – weeping willows should not be planted near underground infrastructure such as septic systems or swimming pools.
Plant your weeping willow in moist, slightly acidic soil in an area with standing water and full to partial sun exposure.
Other Common Names: Silver Willow, Babylon Weeping Willow,
Growing Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 30-50 feet tall, with a similar spread
Flower Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
7. Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Also commonly known as tulip poplar, the tulip tree is neither a tree nor a poplar. It is actually part of the magnolia family, which some keen-eyed gardeners may note from their goblet-shaped flowers and similar fragrance.
These impressive flowering trees are known for their unique tulip-like green, yellow, and orange blossoms, and their enormous height – under the right conditions, many tulip trees will soar up to 130 feet tall, making them one of the most striking flowering natives in the eastern US.
According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, some will grow as high as 170 feet. What some don’t realize is how fast these impressive trees grow, as the average tulip tree grows approximately 2-3 feet per year.
While they may simply be too tall for some residential properties, the height and rounded symmetry of the tulip tree canopy makes it an excellent shade tree and specimen.
Other Common Names: Tulip Poplar, Tuliptree, Yellow Poplar, Canoewood, Lyre Tree, Canary Whitehood, Western Poplar, Whitewood, North American Whitewood
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 70-130 feet tall, with a 30-60 foot spread
Flower Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
8. Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Cully’)
The river birch is already known as a fast-growing deciduous tree, but the Heritage cultivar takes it to the next level. These trees shoot up by 3 or 4 feet every year, making them an excellent choice for Virginia gardeners who want a subtle, beautiful ornamental established as quickly as possible.
This versatile tree can suit virtually any landscaping style. It is most prized for its multi-colored cinnamon to light brown bark which peels back to reveal creamy white and pink inner bark which adds a unique texture and visual interest. They can be grown as both single or multi-stemmed trees and can be used as shade trees, privacy screens, shelterbelts, and more.
The Heritage River Birch is particularly pest and disease resistant compared to other birch varieties. It is adaptable to a wide variety of soil types, though it needs an acidic pH, and is happy in both full sun and partial shade.
Other Common Names: Heritage Birch Tree
Growing Zones: 4-9
Average Size at Maturity: 40-60 feet tall, with a 25-40 foot spread
Flower Season: Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
The Fastest-Growing Trees For Your VA Backyard
Choosing a fast-growing tree in Virginia is easy if you know what your landscape needs. Trees like the autumn blaze add incredible visual appeal to your property, while the Leyland Cypress and Green Giant Arborvitae are both classically brilliant privacy screens that will cloister your property in just a few years.
If you are seeking fast-growing trees for the shade or privacy they provide, you may want to consider these beautiful evergreen trees that grow well in Virginia.
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