1. Niagara, Catawba, and Concord Grapevines (Vitis labrusca cvs.) — 6 to 12+ feet per year [1]

As vigorous, woody climbing vines, all three of these grape varieties easily outpace every tree and shrub on this list, putting out massive vegetative growth that requires heavy annual pruning.


2. Lombardy Poplar & Poplar (Eastern Cottonwood/Hybrid) (Populus nigra 'Italica' / Populus spp.) — 4 to 8 feet per year

The fastest-growing trees available. Lombardy poplars and hybrid poplars push immense vertical growth to establish fast screens, though their wood is weak and their lifespans are notoriously short.


3. Weeping Willow & Black Willow (Salix babylonica / Salix nigra) — 3 to 5 feet per year

Willows are aggressive, water-loving giants. They prioritize rapid vertical shoot extension and widespread root networks over density and structural longevity.


4. Privet (Ligustrum spp.) — 2 to 3+ feet per year

A highly aggressive, dense hedge shrub that packs on heavy vertical and lateral growth in a single season.


5. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) — 2 to 3 feet per year

The fastest-growing native maple species, shooting upward quickly to establish large shade canopies at the cost of brittle wood.


6. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) — 2 to 3 feet per year [2]

A highly active pioneer tree that spreads via root suckers and climbs upward aggressively to dominate clearings or open fields.

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7. Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) — 2 to 3 feet per year [1]

An exceptionally fast-growing southern pine widely prized in timber industries for its rapid trunk and canopy expansion.

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8. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) — 2 to 3 feet per year

An explosive spring-blooming shrub that expands radially, sending out long, arching branches that can root wherever they hit bare dirt.

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9. Sycamore (American) (Platanus occidentalis) — 2 to 2.5 feet per year

A massive canopy tree that relies on moisture and full sun to shoot upward, developing its signature mottled, peeling bark at a quick pace.


10. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) — 2 feet per year

An opportunistic, fast-establishing tree known for silk-like pink flowers. It grows aggressively but suffers from weak wood and short lifespans.

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11. Red Hibiscus & Lucy Althea Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp. / Hibiscus syriacus) — 2 feet per year [1]

Both the classic perennial/tropical Hibiscus and the woody Rose of Sharon (Althea) grow vigorously in summer heat, shooting up multiple sturdy, flower-laden stalks.


12. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) — 2 feet per year [1]

An aggressive, colony-forming small tree that shoots up fast in poor soils, prioritizing rapid horizontal thicket expansion alongside vertical growth.


13. Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) — — 1.5 to 2 feet per year

A highly resilient shade tree that maintains a steady, quick-to-moderate growth rate in its youth before broadening out.


14. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) — 1.5 to 2 feet per year

A highly adaptable deciduous conifer that shows surprisingly swift growth rates in both saturated wetlands and dry upland soil.

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15. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) — 1.5 to 2 feet per year [1]

Slower and more structurally sound than the silver maple, it builds a reliable, sturdy framework accompanied by brilliant autumn color.


16. Pin Oak & Water Oak (Quercus palustris / Quercus nigra) — 1.5 to 2 feet per year

The fastest-growing oaks on your list. Both species thrive in moist lowland conditions and outpace traditional upland white and red oaks.


17. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) — 1.5 to 2 feet per year

A sprawling, multi-stemmed native shrub that flushes thick canes out each season to produce heavy umbrella-shaped flower clusters.

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18. Mulberry (Morus spp.) — 1 to 2 feet per year

Highly adaptable and rapid to establish, though wild varieties outpace cultivated dwarf garden types.


19. Red Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) — 1 to 2 feet per year

Grows moderately fast in full sun and warmth, pushing out long blooming tips that can be maximized through seasonal trimming.

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20. Spicy Satin Plumcot & Wild Plum (Prunus hybrids / Prunus americana) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [1]

Stone fruits naturally drive growth energy into early wood expansion to support fruit weight, spreading out wide rather than strictly tall.

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21. Chestnut (American/Chinese) (Castanea spp.) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year

A moderately fast hardwood that establishes a broad, deep canopy much quicker than beech or hickory.

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22. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [1, 3]

A prized hardwood that grows straight and relatively quickly in deep, fertile, well-drained bottomland soils.

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23. Red Oak & Willow Oak (Quercus rubra / Quercus phellos) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [1]

Classic, reliable hardwoods that maintain a steady, moderate upward climb, building legendary strength and widespread branches.


24. Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [4]

A scrubby pioneer evergreen that grows moderately fast on poor, rocky soils but yields in speed to the more aggressive loblolly pine.


25. Brown Turkey Fig (Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey') — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [1]

Can produce incredibly long vegetative shoots in a single summer, but its net upward height is routinely checked by heavy pruning or winter dieback.


26. Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) — 1 to 1.5 feet per year [1]

A moisture-loving native shrub that maintains a steady growth clip as long as its roots remain consistently wet or damp.


27. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) — 1 foot per year [1]

The fastest-growing member of the hickory family, though still modest in speed compared to softwoods like maples and poplars.

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28. Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) — 1 foot per year [5]

A true moderate grower, prioritizing thick, glossy leaf structure and fragrant blossoms over rapid height extension.


29. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) — 1 foot per year

An understory ornamental tree that grows moderately in its youth but slows down significantly once it rounds out its signature canopy.


30. White Dogwood (Cornus florida) — 1 foot per year

A gentle understory tree that slowly develops its elegant, horizontal branching structure beneath larger shade canopies.


31. Hazelnut (American Filbert) (Corylus americana) — 1 foot per year

A compact, multi-stemmed shrub that grows at a predictable, modest pace, shifting its energy to nut production after a few seasons.

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32. Carolina Allspice & Spice Bush (Calycanthus floridus / Lindera benzoin) — 1 foot per year

Native understory shrubs that appreciate dappled forest light, focusing on aromatic foliage and dense, compact forms.


33. Weigela (Pink, Red) & Viburnum (Weigela florida / Viburnum spp.) — 1 foot per year

Popular landscape shrubs that exhibit very steady, predictable habits. They maintain tidy, compact shapes without sudden, unruly growth spurts.


34. Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) — 1 foot per year

A famously patient grower that invests heavily in a deep, tough taproot during its initial years before building top growth.

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35. Burr Oak, Post Oak, and White Oak (Quercus macrocarpa / Q. stellata / Q. alba) — 1 foot or less per year [1]

The slow, majestic giants of the forest. They focus their energy on creating incredibly dense wood, deep root networks, and multi-century longevity.


36. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) — 6 to 12 inches per year [1, 2, 4]

A late-succession forest tree that grows exceptionally slowly, creating beautiful, smooth grey bark and dense shade over many decades.

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37. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) — 6 to 12 inches per year [1]

Because it retains massive, thick, leathery evergreen leaves year-round, it expands its framework at a very deliberate, measured pace.


38. Hickory (Shagbark/Pignut) (Carya spp.) — 6 to 12 inches per year

Known for intensely tough, dense wood. Hickories channel their early seasons almost entirely into below-ground taproots rather than upward leafy heights.

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39. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) — 6 to 8 inches per year

A slow-maturing native understory shrub that quietly fills out woodland borders, saving its unique ribbon-like blooms for late fall and winter.

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40. Deciduous Holly (Possumhaw) (Ilex decidua) — 6 inches per year

The slowest grower on this extensive list. This native holly trickles upward incrementally, spending years building the dense twig structure required to showcase its bright winter berries.

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[1] https://burlingtonnc.gov

[2] https://bhort.bh.cornell.edu

[3] https://quizlet.com

[4] https://snr.unl.edu

[5] https://monroe.cce.cornell.edu