Fastest Growing Trees In Texas: Texans are passionate about their trees and have a close bond with them. Aside from providing some much-needed August shade, they’re admired for their position as local landmarks that people can easily recall when making plans to meet up with one another. We are fortunate that our environment allows us to plant trees throughout the year.
The Top Tree in Texas is the Live Oak
You can plant a wide variety of trees in your yard. This is a ranking of the best Texas trees to plant, as determined by Fannin Tree Farms. Live oaks, which may grow up to 50 feet tall, have a short, robust trunk and a vast canopy that provides shelter from the Texas sun. Their wood is extremely durable, making it easy to defend the tree in the event of a crisis. In Texas, Live Oaks are among the most popular and well-known trees for landscape design.
Bur Oak, Texas’s Second-Best Tree
Large-leaved Bur Oak trees are endemic to Texas, and their gigantic acorns pique people’s creative sensibilities, too. It is an ideal choice for the Texas climate because of its capacity to adapt to both cold and extreme heat. When it comes to Bur Oaks, their long taproot means they are extremely drought-resistant, and they can flourish on a limited quantity of water.
Bald Cypress is the fourth-best tree in Texas, according to the Texas Forest Service
There are a variety of soil types in which Bald Cypresses can thrive in the state of Texas, but they prefer a wetter climate. However, they are more tolerant of poor drainage than most trees. They’re good for providing shade, and their feather-like leaves give them a distinct pyramidal form.
Cedar Elm is the third popular tree in Texas
Cedar elms, along with American elms, are the most prevalent elm trees in Texas, and they may be found across the state’s eastern, southern, and central regions. Cedar elms can flourish in a wide range of soil types, making them a highly sought-after tree throughout the world. In addition, Cedar Elms are extremely drought-resistant and provide a pleasant shade to combat the sweltering Texas sun.
Magnolia, Texas’s Favorite Tree No. 5
As a “southern” type of tree, Magnolias thrive in the eastern section of Texas. Their glossy, dark green, leathery leaves and huge, fragrant, waxy white blossoms are a visual treat. Magnolias prefer deep, well-drained soil and full sun, both of which Texas abundantly provides. Fast-growing trees have become increasingly popular in recent years. A mature tree’s benefits can be enjoyed sooner with the help of fast-growing trees. Fast-growing shade trees and fast-growing hedges seem to be particularly popular with homeowners who want to get the most out of these high-value landscape design strategies as quickly as possible.
Arborday.org has a list of the ten fastest-growing trees, which I’d like to highlight today. These trees, if properly planted and nurtured, can reach heights of up to ten feet each year once established. Fast-growing trees can be found in a variety of varieties. Please keep in mind that with proper tree care, these trees can grow even faster. Good annual pruning procedures will help you get the most out of your tree’s potential if you have a strong root system.
Adding shade trees to a landscape provides both beauty and habitat for wildlife. But there are other advantages to trees that are strategically planted. When it’s hot outside, you can save money and energy by using shade trees to keep your home cooler. According to Arborist News, a single shade tree can “lower net carbon emissions from summertime power use by 31%” over the course of a century.
Fastest Growing Trees In Texas
Widow’s Term (Salix babylonica): A wide variety of trees that provide shade can be grown in a variety of climates and planting zones. Fast-growing trees are a good option if you want to make a difference right now. With a growth rate of more than two feet each year, this well-known shade tree is also a quick grower. Despite the fact that weeping willows thrive in water, there are a number of hybrids that may thrive in drier settings.
Tree of the Catalpa in the Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Catalpa, also known as the cigar tree or the Catawba, has enormous, beautiful blossoms that contribute to its allure as a shade tree. The tree is fantastic for bees, but its high canopy of heart-shaped leaves is what really makes it special. When the catalpa blooms, it produces a significant amount of detritus, which has to go somewhere. Plant the catalpa far from structures, fences, property lines, and septic systems, and give it plenty of room to expand. In order to attain its full height and spread of 40-60 feet and a diameter of 20-40 feet, the northern catalpa grows at a rate of 13 to 24 inches per year.
Sycamore trees native to the United States (Platanus occidentalis)
In the US, the sycamore tree, sometimes known as the American planetree, has the potential to grow to great heights. With enough room in a yard to grow them, sycamores can thrive in urban areas as well as in rural areas. The average annual growth rate of an American sycamore is about two feet, and mature trees can reach heights of 75 to 100 feet or more. 65 to 80 feet is the width of the tree’s spread, and these majestic trees can survive for up to 250 years. It is possible for the limbs of American sycamore trees to be injured by wind and ice, as they shed a lot of debris.
Gum with a Sweet Taste (Liquidambar styraciflua)
The sweetgum is a popular shade tree because of its star-shaped leaves and brilliant fall hues. When fully grown, this hardwood can reach a mature height of 60 to 75 feet or more, growing at a rate of 13 to 24 inches each year. 14 Even in regions with little outdoor space, the sweet gum’s 40 to 50-foot spread provides abundant shade.
Sweetgum is a sun-loving plant that cannot tolerate any shade. Squirrels, chipmunks, and songbirds all benefit from the tree’s fruit. The maintenance necessary to keep the area below the tree in good shape could be a drawback of the tree’s abundant fruit production. Large, shallow roots of the tree threaten sewers and drainage systems. 30 to 50 feet tall and wide, weeping willow trees can be found throughout the United States. 3 Plant the tree away from buildings and underground pipelines if you intend to use it for residential purposes.
How to Select a Tree that’s Right for You
The length of the growing season, the frost dates, the temperatures, the yearly rainfall, and the kind of soil all vary from location to location, so not all of these shade trees will be suitable for your yard. A local nursery or extension office can help you identify the best fast-growing shade trees for your area since they can direct you away from invasive or nuisance species. You can also use the National Invasive Species Information Center to see if a tree is invasive in your area.
