If you’re a Wisconsin resident looking to add some height and shade to your yard quickly, you’ll want to explore the many fast-growing tree options available in the Badger State. While slower-growing trees like oaks and maples have their charms, sometimes you need a speedier solution for privacy, windbreaks, or just general landscaping oomph. From towering favorites to multi-trunk showstoppers, here are some of the best fast-growing trees to consider planting in your Wisconsin yard.
List of Fast-Growing Trees of Wisconsin
Hybrid Poplar
When it comes to growth rate, few trees can match the hybrid poplar. This cross between different poplar species is a super-charged tree factory, capable of adding an astonishing 6-8 feet of height per year when young. The hybrid poplar’s narrow pyramidal shape and bright green foliage create a striking vertical accent. However, be warned that this rapid growth comes at a cost – hybrid poplars are relatively short-lived (30-50 years) and their roots can be invasive, so plant them away from foundations, pipes, and septic areas.
Quaking Aspen
The dancing, shimmering leaves of the quaking aspen are a sight to behold on a windy Wisconsin day. This native tree derives its name from the flat petioles that allow the leaves to tremble in the slightest breeze. Aspens may grow 3-5 feet per year for the first 20 years before slowing down. They thrive in full sun and just about any soil, though extremely dry or wet areas should be avoided. The white trunk can reach 40-50 feet and the tree is valued for its golden fall color.
Arborvitae
While not technically a tree (it’s a coniferous evergreen shrub), the arborvitae is included here for its unmatched versatility and rapidgrowth rate in hedge and screen plantings. The ubiquitous ‘Emerald Green’ cultivar is capable of putting on 2-3 feet annually until it reaches its mature height of 12-14 feet. Arborvitae are low-maintenance champs that thrive in full sun and are frequently used to create privacy screens and windbreaks. Just be sure to space multiple plants a few feet apart, as their dense growth habit requires some room.
River Birch
With its peely, salmon-hued bark and airy, weeping branches, the river birch is an ornamental delight and surprisingly fast-growing for a birch tree. It can add 2-3 feet per year when young, maturing at a pyramidal 40-60 feet. The river birch is a good choice for moist areas along ponds, streams and lowlands, though it does not tolerate standing water. Its graceful silhouette and yellow fall foliage give it triple-season appeal. Consider planting a grove or cluster for maximum visual impact.
Red Maple
Beloved for its brilliant fall colors, the red maple is a moderately fast grower that can reach 2 feet of height increase annually. While still considered a relatively short-lived tree (lifespan of 80-100 years), red maples offer considerably more longevity than options like hybrid poplars. At maturity, they can reach 40-60 feet tall with an attractive rounded crown. Red maples are widely adaptable and a smart choice for Wisconsin, performing well from full sun to partial shade.
Northern Catalpa
If you dream of creating an eye-catching ornamental statement in your yard, look no further than the Northern Catalpa. This distinctive tree has a unique upright pyramidal shape and gigantic heart-shaped leaves that give it an almost tropical appearance. In the late spring, large clusters of striking white flowers resembling sweet peas appear as well. The Northern Catalpa can gain 1-2 feet per year until it reaches its mature height of 40-60 feet tall. It prefers full sun and handles a wide range of soil conditions.
Bur Oak
Among the heavyweight oaks, the bur oak stands out as a fairly rapid grower for its kind, increasing 1-2 feet per year in height until leveling off at 40-60 feet mature height. With its broad, spreading crown and corky ridged bark, the stately bur oak is a classic shade tree and fitting choice for spacious yards or areas where it has room to stretch out. Be patient though – this oak is a slow starter, so get it in the ground while young to give it a head start before it achieves its massive, mighty status.
Willow Hybrids
From the tall and narrow Thurlow’s Weeping Willow to the compact shrub willows, trees in the willow family offer some of the fastest-growing options for landscaping in Wisconsin. Many hybrid willows can pack on an astonishing 6-10 feet of height annually when young, though slowing substantially as they mature. Willows thrive in consistently moist soils near water features but can adapt to drier areas with supplemental watering. Most offer tremendous visual interest with their weeping forms. Just be mindful of their aggressive root systems.
American Elm Hybrids
Once the quintessential shadestreet tree, elms were nearly wiped out from the horrific Dutch elm disease that swept the nation. But through the efforts of plant breeders, we now have access to a stunning collection of disease-resistant American elm hybrids that exhibit the same rapid growth and graceful vase-like silhouettes of their ancestors. Many can shoot up at a rate of 3-6 feet annually when young, making them an excellent shade tree option if you don’t want to wait around. Popular varieties include Valley Forge, Princeton, and New Harmony.
Ornamental Pears
Though not native to Wisconsin, Callery ornamental pear trees like Bradford, Aristocrat and Chanticleer have become ubiquitous in residential landscapes thanks to their dense pyramidal forms, prolific spring blooms, and respectable growth rate. When young, these flowering ornamentals can increase 1.5-2.5 feet per year before topping out around 25-35 feet in height eventually. Their tight branching and tidy, compact appearance lend a pleasing structural accent. Just make sure to pick a newer variety to avoid the invasive spread seen with aging Bradford pear trees.
White Pine
Our final pick is a state tree of Wisconsin – and the tallest of them all. The towering white pine can eventually reach a mammoth height of 80-100 feet when mature, but don’t let that intimidate you. This evergreen grows at a relatively brisk clip of 1-2 feet annually while young. With its straight trunk, horizontal branching and soft bluish-green needles, the statuesque white pine is a classic windbreak and screening option for large-scale landscapes. Its thick foliage makes it ideal for blocking wind and visually obscuring unsightly views.
With this diverse array of fast-growing options, Wisconsin gardeners have the flexibility to find trees that suit their ornamental preferences, space requirements, and growth timelines. Whichever you choose, give your new trees a solid start by digging a proper planting hole, applying mulch, and keeping them well-watered during establishment. A little patience and care will pay off as these vertical wonders rapidly transform your landscape into a lush, shaded oasis.
