Your home is supposed to be your refuge. But as summer settles in, the house is rivaling the oven in temperature. You can turn on the AC, but the bills are more than the mortgage. You dream of hammocks and shiny new lawn furniture all protected from the mean old sun.

Is there any quick relief?

Luckily, there are shade saviors out there that can grow from 5 -15 feet per year. These quick growers will not only alleviate your mood, but you can also cut your energy bills by 25%.

Ready to let off some steam?

Which Shade Tree is Right for You?

Your yard, home, and tree should be in complete syncopation with each other. The wrong tree may give shelter, but its growing habits may put your yard and home out of whack. The first thing you need to consider is how big of a tree you want. While an October Glory Maple is gorgeous, it can grow upwards of 50 feet and stretch about 25 feet. If you have a small yard, this tree could shade out your precious gardens.

Secondly, make sure your tree is non-invasive. An invasive tree’s roots can wreak havoc on a house’s foundation.

Also consider for your tree…

● The length of your region’s growing season
● Suitable temperatures
● Rainfall amounts
● Soil type of your region

With these things in mind, here are some the best and quickest growing shade trees on the market.

Weeping Willow Tree

Growth per year: 8 feet
Height: 40-50 feet
Width: 35 feet
Soil Adaptability: High
Maintenance: Low
Growing Zones: 4-9

The graceful sweeping beauty of a Weeping Willow Tree is undeniable. Not only does it brighten the yard, it can also maintain it. The Willow is perfect for fighting flooded areas, since the roots soak up water like a giant sponge. It can also stop erosion in its tracks, preserving your precious topsoil. Despite the Willow’s hard work, it doesn’t need much in return. You can essentially plant it and leave it. Pests and disease seek refuge elsewhere, and the tree is fairly drought tolerant.
The traditional weeping look will start to manifest once the tree reaches 8-10 feet tall. From there, the dramatic show of a spreading canopy will lengthen each year. Within 4-5 years, you will have the weeping willow of your dreams.

Crimson King Maple

Growth per year: 2 feet
Height: 40-50 feet
Width: 25-35 feet
Soil Adaptability: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Growing Zones: 4-7

If you want an array of colors in your shade tree, then you’ve found a natural soul-mate with the Crimson King Maple. The tree begins its show in spring with red and yellow flowers atop the purple leaves. If you’re a bird enthusiast, you’ll be busting out the binoculars as winged wildlife seek out the berries in the fall. The maple can adapt to several soil types, handles drought, and resists most disease and insects.

A royal canopy indeed.

American Sycamore

Growth per year: 6 feet
Height: 70-100 feet
Width: 50-60 feet
Soil Adaptability: High
Maintenance: Low
Growing Zones: 4-8

This king of the sycamores grows faster than any of its relatives. The American Sycamore is also noted for its longevity, living 200 years or more in the right conditions. And it’s a beauty. Bright green leaves of spring and summer give way to rich gold foliage in autumn. The bark is even more handsome. As it peels, the bark reveals an inner mosaic of greens, browns, and yellows. By age 7, the sycamore begins to flower, with revealing clusters of green and then red blooms. It can handle any soil, from dense clay to flood prone marshes. Insects and disease are rarely an issue, and it can flourish in either hot or cold conditions with ease. If you have room for this giant, the American Sycamore is an epic choice.

Royal Empress Tree

Growth per year: 15 feet…yes, 15 feet
Height: 40-50 feet
Width: 30-40 feet
Soil Adaptability:Medium
Maintenance: Low-Medium
Growing Zones: 5-11

Alright, you say, the trees in this blog are great, but I want to see it grow. While this is not possible with the naked eye, the Royal Empress Tree comes close. Its growth rate of 15 feet per year is perfect for new homes needing a quick shade fix. It also gives your yard the beauty treatment. An intense burst of lavender flowers in the spring are only outdone by the sweet fragrances that will enrapture every nose.

The Empress can handle most soil types, but a loamy medium is preferred. It resists disease and insects, is drought tolerant, and prevents erosion. However, be judicious with pruning. If you cut too much back in early spring, the Empress may not flower.

This type of Royal Empress is also non-invasive (unlike most Paulownia types). It’s grown from tissue culture, ensuring a hearty and healthy tree from the nursery.

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