We’re going to be talking about the fastest-growing shade trees for small yards.
There are many shade tree varieties that can grow fastest. The fastest-growing shade trees in small yards are saucer magnolias, sweetbay magnolias, flowering dogwoods, American redbuds, American redbuds, American redbuds, American redbuds, American redbuds, emeraldgreen arborvitaes, paper birch and river birch, red maple, red maple, esargent cherry, and Hakuro nishiki.
Learn more about shade trees that can grow quickly in your yard. We have 12 shade trees that are small and fast-growing for small yards.
Japanese Maple Tree, Acer palmatum
Japanese maples, Acer palmatum are beautiful trees that come in many sizes and colors. These trees are great because they can be used in any size yard.
Japanese maples can thrive in all kinds of sunshine. Although they prefer partial shade, they can thrive in full sun or partial sun. They can also grow up to 30 feet in height and come in many shapes. Japanese maples can be used to create beautiful large canopy trees, smaller, delicate, or classic looking trees.
They will make you lust after their leaves. These colors include dark red, deepburgundy, shades green, orange, white, and pink.
When choosing a Japanese maple, it is important to remember that they thrive in zones between 5 and 8. They will not thrive in zones below 5 or higher than 8, and they will be more sensitive to extreme temperatures.
These are some species of Japanese maples that would work well in small spaces.
- Emperor II: This tree’s name says it all. In the fall, its deep burgundy-purple foliage will amaze you. It can grow up to 15 ft in height and is tolerant to partial to full sunlight.
- Autumn Moon Fullmoon – This species will amaze you in fall with its bright orange leaves. This tree can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide. It thrives in partial shade to full sun.
- Shaina – This dwarf species has red and maroon leaves. It can grow up to 8 feet tall and wide, and it does well in both partial shade and full sun.
- Crimson Queen – This tiny, weeping species can grow up to 10 ft in height and width and thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Crape Myrtle Tree, Lagerstroemia
The crape tree, Lagerstroemia is a beautiful tree that can be enjoyed all year. It has showy, elegant flowers in a variety of colors, from pink to purple. This tree can be grown in full sun or partial shade.
It sheds its leaves in winter and its velvet bark becomes visible. These trees can grow to 20-40 feet in height, but they are quite small. They are very resilient and easy to maintain once they have been established. They can withstand heat and drought, but they do need to be pruned every now and again for shaping.
These trees can be found in the United States’ south and west. These trees are great for planting in small spaces.
These trees are also very affordable and pack a punch. A bundle of 4 Muskogee Crepe Myrtle Trees can be found here
Saucer Magnolia Tree, Magnolia x soulangeana
You’ll be able to see why I’m obsessed with magnolia trees if you’ve been there in person. They are magnificent specimens.
This magnolia has smaller flowers with saucer-shaped blossoms that can range in color from pink and white to deep pink and purple. Some magnolias can grow up to 70 feet in height.
The saucer magnolia magnolia x spiritangeana, also known as magnolia magnolia x magnolia, can grow up to 25 feet high and blooms in mid-spring. It is an excellent addition to small spaces because it is fast growing and can grow in either partial or full sun.
Saucer magnolia thrives in acidic, well-drained soil, but will tolerate all soils. It thrives in zones 5-9. You can shape it to be used around, as a large shrub, or as a tree.
You can order a young saucermagnolia tree delivered right to your home .
Sweetbay Magnolia Tree, Magnolia virginiana
The sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana is another option to grow in your small, shaded yard.
The fast-growing magnolia can grow up to 1-2 feet each year. This magnolia species is small-sized and can grow to a height of 10 to 35 feet.
Sweetbay magnolia requires minimal maintenance and is easy to grow. The sweetbay magnolia can be grown in either full sun or partial shade. However, it will produce more flowers if there is more sunlight.
This tree could be a good overall tree! This tree can tolerate acidic soil, but it will thrive in moist, loamy, rich, sandy and clayey soils.
Have a look at this 3-pack of sweet bay magnolia tree, which can be shipped directly to your yard.
Flowering Dogwood Tree, Cornus florida
The Cornus florida flowering dogwood is a small, shade-loving tree that bears reddish flowers. This species of dogwood can grow to 20-25 feet high and 12-15 feet wide. It is a great addition to any yard.
You may be obsessed with a dogwood tree flower once you have seen it!
Dogwood flowers are different from other flower shapes we’re used to. The dogwood bracts look exactly like flowers and are beautiful, showy green leaves. These bracts are actually called bracts and surround the tiny yellow flowers in the middle of the bract. We call this the ‘flower’.
The bract leaves look similar to flower petals and are typically pink, red, white or red in this instance.
Their beautiful canopy is adorned with delicate, lattice-like leaves. The dogwood species is tolerant of moist, well-draining soils, but prefers acidic soil.
If you would like to plant a dogwood tree, Brighter blooms white dogwood tree (same as flowering dogwood).
American Redbud Tree, Cercis canadensis
You will soon remember the American redbud (or eastern redbud), Cercis Canadensis. Redbud is well-known for its heart-shaped leaves and dark pink flowers.
The tree is medium-fast in growth, with an average rate of 1-2 feet per year. The American redbud can reach 20-30 feet in height and be 25-35 feet wide when mature. The redbud can tolerate all soil types, including sandy and clay, as well as soils that are acidic or alkaline. The redbud can also thrive in partial shade or full sun, making it ideal for any area of your yard.
This tree’s beautiful blooms attract songbirds as well as butterflies. They also provide nesting areas for many birds.
The American redbud is a tree that will give you beautiful, heart-shaped leaves. It can change in color from yellow to dark purple, beautiful pink-purple flowers and has a stunning shape. This tree will be a great choice for your outdoor or backyard.
Emerald Green Arborvitae Tree, Thuja occidentalis (Smaragd)
Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”, an emerald-green arborvitae, is an evergreen that provides year-round interest and color. They require little maintenance and can grow to 10-15 feet in height and 3-4 feet in width. The tree is fast growing and can grow up to 1-2 feet within the first year, and 6-9 inches every other year.
This arborvitae can be used in all kinds of landscapes. The dense, privacy-enhancing foliage of this arborvitae is great for any type of landscape. It can grow in either full sun or partial shade. The emerald-green arborvitae is tolerant to all soil types, temperatures, lighting, and other conditions.
The tree is a pyramid-shaped and narrow in shape. It can be cut to your specifications for shaping. This tree is ideal for any space due to its size and tolerance. This tree is not to be confused by the green giant arborvitae which can grow up to 50-60ft tall and 12-20ft wide.
Get ready to plant Thuja Smaragd trees at
Paper Birch Tree, Betula papyrifera
The paperbirch, Betula Papyrifera, Also known as the American white and canoe birch, These birches are similar to the river birch’s peeling bark.
The paper birch’s delicate bark is thin and beautiful, with a lovely white color. It can grow up to one to two feet annually and is most common in New England. The stunning tree can be found in both full sun and partial shade. Its beautiful yellow leaves make it stand out. The tree can also grow in sandy soils to clayey, and thrives in zones 2-7.
River Birch Tree, Betula nigra
Betula nigra, also known as the river birch or black birch is one of my favourite trees. It’s a beautiful birch that is full of personality and interesting all year.
The river birch is the only type of birch tree that can be found in the south, unlike other birch trees. The beautiful, reddish-peeling bark of the black birch is well-known.
River birch is a tree that grows quickly and can be found in all 50 states. It can often be found at the banks of rivers, thus its name. River birch prefers acidic soil but is quite adaptable to drought.
They can grow up to 30-60 feet high and 20-50 feet wide. It is not uncommon for them to take quite a while to reach maturity.
The birch tree adds character and interest to your yard all year. The bark makes it almost as beautiful in the winter than in the spring.
Red Maple Tree, Acer rubrum
Red maple Acer rubrum has many names. It’s also known by many other names, including scarlet maple and Carolina red maple. It is found in eastern North America, as well as other areas with colder climates like Canada.
The red maple can grow to 60-90 feet in height, but they live more than 150 years. They don’t mature until 70-80 years. Even if your yard is small, it doesn’t matter if the tree reaches that height within 10 to 20 years.
The red maple is shade-tolerant and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. It can grow well in both wet, swampy soils and dry, mountainous soils. It can be found in Nova Scotia, as well as Florida.
Sargent Cherry Tree, Prunus sargentii
The Prunus Sargentii is a deciduous tree that is native to Russia, Japan, and Korea. The cherry tree is a stunning pink, cluster-growing cherry tree that blooms in April.
Because of its small size, this tree is great for small shaded yards. It can grow between 20-30 feet in height and width. It is beautiful all year, with beautiful flowers in spring and dark purple and green leaves in summer. In the fall, it bears bronze leafs. In winter, it bears interesting bark.
These beautiful trees thrive in zones 4-7, particularly in well-draining soil. They require little maintenance and are drought-tolerant.
Hakuro Nishiki tree, Salix Integra (Dappled Willow).
The Hakuro Nishiki, Salix Integra is a fast-growing, beautiful willow tree and bush. It has beautiful variegated foliage.
It can be found in a variety of colors, including pink, green, or white. The color changes throughout the year. Spring is when the leaves turn pink, green, or white-cream colors.
The entire bark turns fiery red depending on where you live. This is more common in warmer areas. No matter where you live, the stems of new growth transform into beautiful red.
The Hakuro Nishiki grows quickly, reaching heights of up to 15-20 feet. It can thrive in both full sun and part shade. It is tolerant of acidic, poor, or wet soils. It can also tolerate extreme cold.
If you are interested, Here’s a link to buy a Hakuro Nishiiki for the yard.
That’s A Wrap!
This is all we know about the fastest-growing shade plants for small spaces. There are many species that can be used in your backyard, but these are only a few suggestions to make your space a little oasis.
Here are 12 shade trees that can grow quickly in small spaces.
- Japanese maple
- Crape myrtle
- Saucer magnolia
- Sweetbay magnolia
- Flowering dogwood
- American redbud
- Emerald green arborvitae
- Paper Birch
- River Birch
- Red maple
- Sargent cherry
- Hakuro Nishiki
These are some of the shade trees that can be planted in your yard.
This list can be used to help you find the right tree for you, whether it is an evergreen or deciduous.