11 Fast-Growing Deciduous Trees for Year-Round Beauty

red maple tree in yard — Credit:
Debora Vandor / Getty

Deciduous trees are defined by their seasonal shedding of leaves, which they do to prepare for winter dormancy. These towering plants often fill yards with multiple seasons of interest, from foliage that changes color throughout summer and fall to exfoliating bark that adds beauty to the winter landscape. One downside? Many deciduous tree species can be slow-growing. To help you reap the beauty of these trees without the wait time, consider these expert picks for fast-growing deciduous trees that can grow up to 3 feet a year.

Mark Canney, urban forester at the Arbor Day Foundation
Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State Universit

01 of 11

Tulip Tree

Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a tall variety with bright green leaves and yellow-green tulip-like flowers, hence the name. "Fall foliage will be shades of golden yellow for this Eastern North American tree," says Mark Canney, urban forester at the Arbor Day Foundation. Avoid overwatering this variety and ensure it gets full sun for better blooming.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 70 to 130 feet tall x 30 to 60 feet wide
Care requirements: Full to partial sun; slightly acidic, well-drained soil

02 of 11

American Sycamore

Known for its large, maple-shaped leaves, American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has clusters of beautiful flowers that appear in spring. "However, its most distinguishable feature is the marbled gray, cinnamon, and creamy-white bark," says Canney, adding that this tough, adaptable tree is consistently long-lived.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 75 to 100 feet tall x 75 to 100 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; adaptable to a range of soil and pH types

03 of 11

Bald Cypress

Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a deciduous conifer with a feathery appearance. It's native to the Southeastern U.S. and resembles a needled evergreen during the growing season before transitioning into a russet color by fall, says Canney. This variety can grow in both wet and dry conditions.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 80 to 110 feet tall x 80 to 110 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

04 of 11

Northern Catalpa

North Catalpa tree — Courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation

Looking for a fast-growing showstopper? Consider northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). "Known for its height and large heart-shaped leaves, this forest favorite looks tropical with its white-to-purple hue of flowers that bloom from May to June and fill the air with sweet fragrance," says Canney. "In late summer or autumn. fruit will appear."

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 40 to 60 feet tall x 40 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

05 of 11

Red Oak

Red oak (Quercus rubru) is an iconic tree with an attractive, broad, rounded canopy of dark green leaves. "The leaves are known for their fall colors, which put on a show of shades of red, burgundy, and copper," says Canney. "Fun fact: The oldest of the red oaks may live to 300 to 500 years of age."

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 50 to 70 feet tall x 40 to 50 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; acidic, well-drained soil

06 of 11

Red Maple

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a fast-growing deciduous tree that boasts rounded, green leaves and showy red flowers from March to April, says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. She says that you shouldn't plant red maple by sidewalks or driveways because of its shallow root system.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 40 to 70 feet tall x 30 to 50 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; medium to wet soil with a slightly acidic pH

07 of 11

Sugar Maple

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a large deciduous tree native to the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. "Sugar maples are famed for their distinctive leaves (think: Canadian flag) that explode into ideal fall colors supported by the smooth gray bark of the trunk," says Canney. "In optimal conditions, sugar maple trees can live for several centuries, with some individuals exceeding 400 years of age."

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 60 to 75 feet tall x 40 to 50 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil

08 of 11

American Sweetgum

Sweet gum tree (liquidambar styraciflua) in vibrant colors next to a bend in an asphalt road in the Zuidelijk Randpark (Southern Border Park) in Rotterdam on a day in autumn — Getty Images

American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a woody deciduous tree that's often found in wet river bottoms and swamps, as well as on drier uplands. "It's noted for the star-like leaves and hard, spiked fruits with fall color that resemble embers of a fire," says Canney. "Regular care is essential, including regular watering, especially during periods of drought, and essential during the tree’s establishment phase."

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 60 to 75 feet tall x 40 to 50 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; neutral to acidic soil that is moist but well-drained

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Weeping Willow

Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is beloved for its beautiful crown of branches that sweep downward to the ground, says Langelo. "This tree is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate trees. These appear in silvery green catkins," she says. Weeping willows aren't very cold-hardy and are only moderately drought-tolerant.

Zones: 6 to 8
Size: 50 feet tall x 35 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, acidic soils

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Paper Birch

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is a fast grower with peeling white bark and leaves that turn a beautiful shade of yellow in the fall. This tree needs regular watering, especially when it's hot and dry outside or if it's planted in drier soils, says Langelo.

Zones: 2 to 7
Size: 50 to 70 feet tall x 25 to 50 feet wide
Care requirements: Partial sun; loam or sandy soil that is moist but well-drained

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Pin Oaks

Pin oaks (Quercus palustris) feature small yellowish-green flowers that are overshadowed by their glossy green foliage that turns red in fall. During autumn, it produces acorns with shallow, saucer-shaped acorn cups on the bottom, says Langelo.