By growing zone
Fast Growing Trees Zone 5
Zone 5 is a strong search pattern because it balances cold winters with a wide usable tree palette. This page keeps the focus on trees that are both hardy enough and still relatively quick to establish.
Matching trees
Fast-growing trees that can handle USDA Zone 5 conditions.
American Chestnut Hybrid
Castanea dentata hybrid
4–7 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · native
Empress Tree
Paulownia tomentosa
3–5 ft/yr (very fast) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade · ornamental
Illinois Everbearing Mulberry
Morus alba x rubra 'Illinois Everbearing'
3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 30–50 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: edible · shade
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja x 'Green Giant'
3–4 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
American Pillar Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'American Pillar'
3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 75–100 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade
Dawn Redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 70–100 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade · privacy
Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–100 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Tulip Poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 70–90 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade
American Elm
Ulmus americana
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 60–80 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–80 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: privacy · windbreak
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–80 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: shade
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–75 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: edible · shade
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–75 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade · street
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 2–7
Best for: ornamental · shade
Pin Oak
Quercus palustris
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 50–70 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: shade · street
River Birch
Betula nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–70 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: shade · ornamental
Hybrid Poplar
Populus deltoides x nigra
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 3–9
Best for: privacy · windbreak
Shumard Oak
Quercus shumardii
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: shade
Autumn Blaze Maple
Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–55 ft tall · Zones 3–8
Best for: shade
Willow Hybrid
Salix matsudana x alba
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 35–50 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: privacy · shade
Yoshino Cherry
Prunus x yedoensis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Methley Plum
Prunus salicina 'Methley'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 10–20 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: edible · orchard
Contender Peach
Prunus persica 'Contender'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Redhaven Peach
Prunus persica 'Redhaven'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 5–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Reliance Peach
Prunus persica 'Reliance'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 12–15 ft tall · Zones 4–8
Best for: edible · orchard
Kieffer Pear
Pyrus communis x pyrifolia 'Kieffer'
1.5–2.5 ft/yr (fast) · 15–25 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: edible · orchard
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
1.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 40–120 ft tall · Zones 2–9
Best for: shade
Goldenraintree
Koelreuteria paniculata
0.5–2 ft/yr (fast) · 30–40 ft tall · Zones 5–9
Best for: ornamental · street
Similar pages
Other useful ways to narrow the list.