When moving into a new home or planting a garden, fast-growing trees are often in demand as homeowners quickly want results.
Whether you’re after shade for the hot summer months or a privacy hedge, there are plenty of fast-growing trees for Washington homeowners to plant.
Read on for six fast-growing trees suitable for Washington State.
6 Fast-Growing Trees that Grow Well in Washington
1. Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)
The Weeping Willow is a well-known and loved tree, famed for its low sweeping branches. It’s often one of the first trees to come into leaf in the spring when the bright green foliage emerges.
Weeping Willows grow at a fast rate of 5-10 ft a year and function well as shade trees in a matter of a few short years. They are often planted alongside rivers and streams to prevent erosion or planted in low-lying areas of the landscape to catch and store rainwater in the landscape.
Despite their preference for wet soils, Weeping Willows are also moderately drought-tolerant. They are also one of the last trees to shed their leaves each year and can grow in full sun or partial shade.
- Other Common Names: Babylon Weeping Willow
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 30-50 ft tall and wide
- Flowering Season: April – May
- Growth Rate: 5-10 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. Cryptomeria Radicans (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Radicans’)
If you’re looking for an evergreen privacy hedge for your WA yard, then consider the Cryptomeria Radicans.
It grows in a pyramidal or columnar shape when left on its own but can also be pruned into a hedge. It’s been bred specifically for its fast growth rate of 3-5 ft a year. It features a slender form and tapers off to a tip.
Cryptomeria Radicans will grow in a variety of soil types, including compacted clay, and is drought tolerant once established.
The state of WA has a varied landscape, including mountain peaks, plateaus, bottomlands, and coastal areas.
Needless to say, there are corresponding differences in climactic conditions, so make sure you check the hardiness map of Washington before planting to know what is likely to grow in your area.
- Other Common Names: Japanese Cedar, and Sugi
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 30-40 ft tall and 15-20 ft wide
- Flowering Season: February – March
- Growth Rate: 3-5 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Ginkgos provide unique foliage and are drought, and disease resistant. The leaves have a distinct shape and color that sets them apart from almost every other tree.
They are also one of the first trees to change color in the fall when temperatures start to cool. Ginkgos are highly adaptable and can tolerate inner city environments.
Plant male trees to avoid the unpleasant smell and mess associated with the female fruit. Ginkgos can adapt to many different soil types, are drought tolerant once established and can provide delicate shade in the home landscape.
- Other Common Names: Maidenhair Tree, and Ginkgo
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 40-70 ft tall and 30-40 ft wide
- Flowering Season: April – May
- Growth Rate: 1-2 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
The Incense Cedar is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to the Pacific Northwest. This type of Cedar tree is a hardy tree capable of withstanding cold and extreme moisture but is happiest in areas that experience dry summers.
The foliage is dense and flows down to the ground if left uncut. They also make superb choices for hedges or screens. The bark is scaly and reddish brown, and the cones are small in size and are also covered in scales.
The Incense Cedar is great at attracting wildlife, being a native tree. Its common name comes from the pleasant aroma emitted from the foliage.
- Other Common Names: California Incense Cedar
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Average Size at Maturity: 40-60 ft tall and 8-12 ft wide
- Flowering Season: April – May
- Growth Rate: 1-2 ft per year*
5. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
The Hackberry is a remarkably fast-growing tree when young, is tolerant of a wide range of different soil types, and can handle urban pollution. It’s native to the Eastern and Mid-Western States.
They develop a wide cylindrical crown that provides good shade. Small edible berry-like fruit with a sweet taste are produced which are favored by local wildlife. The leaves measure up to 5”, are alternate, and appear at the same time as the small springtime flowers.
In their native range, the Hackberry grows in moist bottomlands but they’re tolerant of clay and poor soils.
- Other Common Names: Western Hackberry, and Common Hackberry
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 50-75 ft tall and 25-40 ft wide
- Flowering Season: April – May
- Growth Rate: 1-2 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Red Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
The Red Japanese Maple provides year-round entertainment with its striking colors.
Summer sees the leaves emerge in shades of bright red, turning burgundy for the summer and scarlet for the fall. Even the bark has tones of red interspersed with black to provide winter interest.
Red Japanese Maples are strong and hardy trees whose fast growth makes them suitable for shade. This, alongside their beauty, makes them multifunctional, and thus suitable for those with smaller areas.
In the warmest areas, plant in partial shade to protect from the harsh sun. Other than that, the Red Japanese Maple requires little to no maintenance once established.
If you love all different types of maple trees, we did an article on which other maple trees grow well in WA that might be worth reading.
- Other Common Names: Palmate Maple, Smooth Japanese Maple
- Growing Zones: 5-8
- Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide
- Flowering Season: May – June
- Growth Rate: 1-2 ft per year*
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees
Washington’s Fast Growing Trees Compared
| Tree Name | Growing Zones | Average Size at Maturity | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeping Willow | 5-9 | 30-50 ft tall and wide | 5-10 ft per year |
| Cryptomeria Radicans | 5-9 | 30-40 ft tall and 15-20 ft wide | 3-5 ft per year |
| Ginkgo | 3-9 | 40-70 ft tall and 30-40 ft wide | 1-2 ft per year |
| Incense Cedar | 5-8 | 40-60 ft tall and 8-12 ft wide | 1-2 ft per year |
| Hackberry | 3-9 | 50-75 ft tall and 25-40 ft wide | 1-2 ft per year |
| Red Japanese Maple | 5-8 | 15-20 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide | 1-2 ft per year |
Rapid Green Growth
Fast-growing trees are desirable for homeowners and residential areas to provide green cover at a rapid rate.
Whether this is to provide shade, hedging for landscaping, blocking out unwanted noises and sounds, or for privacy, there are innumerable options for WA homeowners to choose from when it comes time to decide what to plant in the home.
got an orange tree but sure what to do. do i plant in a pot now or wait? no instructions.
Hi Steve,
I would recommend looking up the planting and care requirements for the particular cultivar of orange you purchased. Local garden centers can also be a wealth of gardening knowledge specific to your area. All the best with your tree and I hope it produces a bounty of delicious fruit for you in the years to come.