Fast growing trees are a good choice to create quick screens, buffers or shade. There are many 'super fast ' growing trees advertised these days by mail order catalogues and internet sites. Beware that many of these can be very short-lived or easily susceptible to wind damage and other environmental factors. The fast-growing trees listed below have been selected based on their outstanding performance in Zone 8.

Fast Growing Shade Trees (Scroll down for flowering and evergreen trees)

A Wilson Bros. Favorite!

Name: Bald Cypress Botanical: Taxodium distichum Height x Width: 30' x 15-20' in dry soil - 70' x 30' in wet soil Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Fall Foliage Color: Orange Bloom Time:   Water: Dry, damp, wet, or standing water! Features: This native is perhaps one of the most versatile trees around. Grow in dry soils or standing water! Grows to 30' or so in dry soils and to 100' in wet soils. A deciduous conifer with bright green leaves thru the season that turn to orange in Fall. Very attractive shedding bark is a winter feature. A Wilson Bros. Favorite! Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Abelias, Barberries, Wax Myrtles, Fothergilla, Beautyberry, Ornamental grasses, Loropetalums, Indian Hawthornes, in dry soil. In wet or damp soil: Yaupons, Horsetail Grass, Iris Psuedacorus, Perennial Hibiscus, Joe Pye Weed, Elephant Ears, Canna and Calla Lilies, and others.

Name: Drake Elm Botanical: Ulmus parviflora Height x Width: 50' H x 40'W Exposure: Full Sun Fall Foliage Color : Pale yellow to purple Growth Rate: Very Fast!! Water: Very drought tolerant Features: Fast growing shade tree with a broad rounded shape. Tolerant to poor soils and drought. Attractive shedding bark exposes the yellow inner bark. Highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Barberries, Ornamental Grasses, Yuccas, Indian Hawthornes, Loropetalums, and many other shrubs. Use with Maples and Oaks to reforest an area.

Wilson Bros. Favorite!

Name: Maple 'Autumn Blaze' Botanical: Acer rubrum - (grafted hybrid) Height x Width: 50' H x 40' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Fall Foliage Color: Fire red Growth Rate: 4 times faster than native red maple Water: Dry or damp Features: A fast growing Hybrid Maple with an upright, rounded form. Attractive, deeply lobed, green leaves turn to an outstanding brilliant red in Fall! Tolerates damp or dry soils. Useful to reforest an area, a screen, , as a specimen, or to shade your home or sitting areas. Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Loropetalums, Indian Hawthorne, Otto Luyken Laurel, Indica Azaleas, Ornamental Grasses, and many more. Combine with Oaks and Elms to reforest an area.

Name: Oak 'Nuttalli' Botanical: Quercus nuttalli Height x Width: 70' H x 40' W Exposure: Full Sun Fall Foliage Color: Red Growth Rate: Fastest growing oak we've seen! Water: Damp or dry Features: The fastest growing Oak we have seen in our area. Dark green deeply lobed leaves turn scarlet red in Fall. Very adaptable tree growing well in almost any soils makes this an excellent selection. Useful as a screen, a specimen, to shade the home or sitting areas, or for reforesting areas. A Wilson Bros. Favorite! Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthorne, Indica Azaleas, Loropetalums, and more. Combine with other Oaks, Maples, and Elms to reforest an area.

Name: Riverbirch Botanical: Betula nigra - Native Height x Width: 35-40' H x 25-30' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Fall Foliage Color: Yellow to tan Growth Rate: Very fast, especially in moisture retentive soils Water: Tolerates dry periods but prefers frequent water Features: Upright, rounded pyramidal form on this highly attractive shade tree. Soft textured leaves and slightly pendulous branching. White and tan shedding bark is a year round attractive feature. Will tolerate dry soils however prefers a site that receives frequent watering, especially during the heat of Summer. Useful on the corners of a home to frame, as a specimen, hedge, or near bodies of water. A Wilson Bros Favorite! Companions: Hollies, Indian Hawthorne, Ornamental Grasses, Horsetail Grass, Iris Psuedacorus, Elephant Ears, Canna Lilies, Ivy, and many other shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers..

Name: Weeping Willow Botanical: Salix Height x Width: 25-30'' H x 25-30' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Fall Foliage Color: Yellow Growth Rate: Very fast, especially in moisture retentive soils Water: Tolerates dry periods but prefers frequent water Features: Upright, rounded weeping form on this highly attractive, fast growing tree. Will tolerate dry soils however prefers a moisture retentive site, especially during the heat of Summer. Plant 30' or more away from underground structures such as swimming pools or septic systems and lines! Companions: Only the most drought tolerant shrubs would perform okay under willows. Groundcovers such as Ivy, Purple Winter Creeper, and Mondo Grass would be our choice.

Fast Growing Flowering Trees

Name: Flowering Cherry 'Okame' Botanical: Prunus x Okame Height x Width: 25' H x 25' W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Bloom Color: Bright Pink Bloom Time: Early Spring for up to 30 days! Water: Low Features: The first tree to bloom in Spring. An abundance of pink flowers in early Spring on this upright, broadly vase-shaped tree. Foliage is dark green on this fast growing tree. Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthornes, Azaleas, and more

Name: Flowering Cherry 'Snowgoose' Botanical: Prunus Height x Width: 25-30' H x 15-20' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Pure White Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low Features: An abundance of white flowers are produced in Spring on this upright, broad vase shaped tree. Foliage is dark green on this fast growing tree. Companions: Hollies, Junipers, Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthornes, Azaleas, and more

Name: Crape Myrtle 'Muskogee' - Fauriei Hybrid Botanical: Lagerstroemia Height x Width: 20' H x 12-15' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Light Lavender Bloom Time: Summer Water: Very drought tolerant Features: Large, light lavender flowers are produced in abundance during Summer on this upright form with a broad pendulous canopy. Large leaves turn orange-red in Fall. Attractive exfoliating bark. Mildew resistant Fauriei Hybrid. Drought tolerant. Georgia Gold Medal Winner! Companions: Abelias, Barberries, low growing Hollies, Junipers, Ornamental Grasses, Lantanas,Indian Hawthornes, Dwarf Spireas, and many more.

Name: Crape Myrtle 'Natchez' - Fauriei Hybrid Botanical: Lagerstroemia Height x Width: 20-25' H x 12-15' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: White Bloom Time: Summer Water: Very drought tolerant Features: Large white flower clusters on this upright form with a pendulous canopy. Very attractive cinnamon color exfoliating bark. Foliage turns to orange-red in Fall. Mildew resistant Fauriei Hybrid. A Wilson Bros. Favorite! Drought tolerant. Drought tolerant. Georgia Gold Medal WInner! Companions: Abelias, Barberries, low growing Hollies, Junipers, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthorne, Lantanas, Dwarf Spireas, and many more.

Name: Magnolia 'Little Gem' Botanical: Magnolia grandiflora - Height x Width: 23' H x 10-12' W Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade Bloom Color: White - Fragrant Bloom Time: July to November Water: Dry to Damp Features: A dwarf Magnolia excellent for use as a screen, specimen, or as espalier against a wall. The highly fragrant white flowers of 6" in diameter are produced from June thru November. Begins blooming at 2' height! Companions: Abelias, Hollies, Junipers, Spireas, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthorne, Lantanas, and many nmore. Combine in screens with Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Wax Myrtle, Crytpomeria Yoshino, Weeping Yaupon, Pyramidal Hollies, Hetzi Column Juniper, Hollywood Juniper, and others.

Name: Purple Leaf Plum Botanical: Prumus cerifera Height x Width: 20' H x 20' W Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Light Pink Bloom Time: Spring Water: Low Features: Light pink flowers are produced in abundance on this upright, rounded tree with dark purple foliage throughout the season. Companions: Abelias, Hollies, Junipers, Dwarf Spireas, Dwarf Nandinas, Knockout Rose Pink, Lantanas, Indian Hawthorne, and many more.

Fast Growing Evergreen Trees

Name: Arborvitae 'Green Giant' Botanical: Arborvitae Height x Width: 30'+ H x 6'+ W Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Bloom Color:   Bloom Time:   Water: Low once established Features: Very fast growing evergreen best used as a screen. Tolerates moisture well and no diseases. An excellent alternative for Leyland Cypress. Companions: Combines nicely with Cryyptomeria, Nellie Stephens Holly, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Magnolias, Weeping Yaupon and other screen plants.

Name: Deodora Cedar Botanical: Cedrus deodora Height x Width: 50' H x 30' W - Space 20' part for screen Exposure: Full Sun Foliage Color: Grey-Blue turning to Dark Blue-green with age Growth Rate: Very fast Water: Drought tolerant Features: Considered the most refined cedar of all. Graceful weeping habit with outstanding blue-gray foliage. Pyramidal form to 50' height. Excellent for screening, on the corners of three story homes or buildings, or as a specimen. Companions: Combine with Cryyptomeria, Leyland Cypress, D.D. Blanchard magnolia, Pines, Cedars, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, and tall Hollies for screenings.

Name: Carolina Sapphire Cypress Botanical:   Height x Width: 20-30' H x 12-15' W - Space 8-12' for screen Exposure: Full Sun Foliage: Silver-grey Growth Rate: Very fast! Water: Drought tolerant Features: Outstanding silver foliage on this upright pyramidal shape evergreen excellent for screening, as a corner plant on two story homes or buildings, or as a specimen in the perennial garden. Companions: Combine with Magnolias, tall growing Hollies, Leyland Cypress, Cedars, Cryptomeria, Pines, and Wax Myrtles.

Name: Cryptomeria 'Yoshino' Botanical: Cryptomeria japonica Height x Width: 30-40' H x 12-15' W - Space 10-12' for screen Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade Foliage Color: Rich, bright green turns to orange in Winter Growth Rate: Very fast! Water: Drought tolerant Features: Brilliant, rich green foliage turns to orange in Winter on this fast grwoing upright pyramidal evergreen. Excellent for screening, as a corner plant on two story homes or bulidings, or as a specimen. Companions: Deodora Cedar, Magnolias, Leyland Cypress, tall growing Hollies, Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Cedars, and Pines for screenings.

Name: Weeping Yaupon Botanical: Ilex vomitoria Height x Width: 10-20' H x 6-8' W Exposure: Full Sun Berries: Red berries in winter Bloom Time:   Water: Dry or damp Features: The weeping habit of this yaupon adds plenty of personality to to the landscape. Let it weep to the ground or limb it up as a tree form. Excellent corner plant, screen, or tree-form specimen. Lots of red berries in winter! Companions: Carissa Holly, Indian Hawthorne, Miss Huff Lantana, Junipers, Barberries, Loropetalums, Ornamental Grasses, and many more.

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