By growing zone
Fast Growing Trees Zone 6
Zone 6 users often have the widest overlap between cold-hardy shade trees and fast privacy evergreens. This page brings those options together in one place.
Matching trees
Fast-growing trees that fit USDA Zone 6 landscapes.
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
Natchez Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Natchez'
3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Leyland Cypress
x Cuprocyparis leylandii
2.3–5 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: privacy · windbreak
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
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 60–90 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: windbreak · evergreen
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
Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria japonica
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–60 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: privacy · 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
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 6–30 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 4–9
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Muskogee Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei 'Muskogee'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 20–30 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: flowering · ornamental
Nellie Stevens Holly
Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'
2–3 ft/yr (fast) · 15–25 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: privacy · 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
Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara
1.1–3 ft/yr (fast) · 40–70 ft tall · Zones 6–9
Best for: ornamental · privacy
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
Chicago Hardy Fig
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy'
1–2 ft/yr (fast) · 10–15 ft tall · Zones 6–10
Best for: edible · orchard
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.