When in need of a swiftly filling landscape, evergreen trees present an array of advantages. Not only do they provide privacy as standalone plants, but many can be skillfully pruned to shape screens and borders. Their perpetual color and allure all year round make them a haven for birds and wildlife, offering shelter and sustenance. With needle-bearing types yielding cones and broadleaf varieties boasting flowers and berries, there’s a multitude of choices to select from.
Typically, the most rapidly soaring evergreens are those that attain the greatest height upon maturation. While shorter species exist that can be cultivated as shrub hedges or diminutive trees, there are also slow-growing dwarf variations. Therefore, once a specific type of tree is chosen, it’s wise to opt for one with an accelerated growth pattern. In general, an evergreen or any plant can be classified as fast-growing if it manages to expand by 25 inches or more annually. Below, we present 18 swiftly developing evergreens that can swiftly enrich your landscape with both seclusion and allure.
1. Leyland Cypress
The versatile Leyland cypress is a coniferous evergreen characterized by reddish-brown bark, gray-green foliage arranged in flattened sprays, and dark brown cones. Its pyramidal form tapers to a point at the crown and can be maintained as full-size trees, trimmed to smaller specimen trees, or fashioned into hedges. In the initial decade, Leyland cypress achieves a height of 20 to 30 feet.
- Name: Leyland Cypress (Cuprocyparis leylandii)
- Hardiness Zone: 6 to 10
- Mature Height: 60 to 70 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 4 feet per year
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2. Eastern White Pine
The majestic Eastern white pine, renowned for its splendid windbreak capabilities, adopts a rounded pyramidal shape with long, soft blue-green needles. Requiring minimal pruning, this tree’s sapling, starting at 2 feet tall, can burgeon to 12 feet within five years. Notably intolerant to pollution, mature trees boast a 40-foot spread.
- Name: Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
- Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
- Mature Height: 50 to 80 feet
- Growth Rate: 2+ feet per year
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3. Thuja Green Giant
Exhibiting a dense, narrow growth pattern, the Thuja green giant is amongst the speediest growing evergreens, offering an excellent screen or barrier. Its fan-like green foliage transforms into a richer hue during winter, complementing the brown, shaggy bark. Over a decade, these giants can achieve a 50-foot height with a 5-foot span. Notably, this tree is toxic to livestock.
- Name: Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’)
- Hardiness Zone: 5 to 8
- Mature Height: 40 to 60 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
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4. Monterey Pine
Boasting a tall, erect trunk and a narrow pyramidal silhouette, the Monterey pine thrives in arid conditions. Dark green needles and brown seed cones adorn its branches, contributing to its height of approximately 53 feet over 15 years. Though it’s globally cultivated for lumber, this pine is classified as rare and vulnerable in its native Mexican and Californian habitats.
- Name: Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata)
- Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
- Mature Height: 45 to 190 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 6 feet per year
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5. Norway Spruce
Recognized as an iconic coniferous evergreen and a popular Christmas tree choice, the Norway spruce bears weeping horizontal branches with sizeable 4- to 6-inch brown cones. Its sturdy, dark green needles are perfect for ornamentation, and within five years, a 2-foot sapling can grow up to 10 feet tall.
- Name: Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
- Hardiness Zone: 2 to 7
- Mature Height: 50 to 75 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 feet per year
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6. Italian Cypress
Infusing elegance into any landscape, the Italian cypress showcases a tall, slim cylindrical form that stands out as a decorative accent in gardens worldwide. With its dark gray-green needles and brown to copper-hued cones, this Mediterranean native attains a height of 35 to 40 feet within a decade, but it’s easily pruned to maintain a more modest stature.
- Name: Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
- Mature Height: 50 feet
- Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
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7. Nellie Stevens Holly
Often deployed as a shrub hedge, the Nellie Stevens holly’s glossy, dark green leaves and red berries make it equally appealing as a pruned small tree. Exhibiting rapid growth at 3 feet per year, this holly is well-suited for coastal landscapes due to its salt tolerance. However, its berries are toxic to both people and animals.
- Name: Nellie Stevens Holly (lIex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)
- Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
- Mature Height: 15 to 30 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 feet per year
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8. Western Red Cedar
Native to the Pacific Northwest, the Western red cedar boasts an elegant pyramidal shape with gracefully curving branches. Fragrant green foliage reveals white markings on the underside of leaves, while small brown to copper cones grace the tree in autumn. Achieving a height of over 12 feet within a decade, this cedar thrives in zones 5 to 7.
- Name: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
- Hardiness Zone: 5 to 7
- Mature Height: 50 to 70 feet
- Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
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9. Japanese Black Pine
Distinguished by a twisting trunk and emerging dark green foliage that appears white upon new growth, the Japanese black pine stands out as a distinctive specimen tree. Its slightly drooping branches and flat or rounded crown set it apart from other evergreens. Numerous cultivars exist, some ideal for bonsai enthusiasts.
- Name: Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
- Hardiness Zone: 5 to 8
- Mature Height: 3 to 80 feet
- Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year
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10. Rocky Mountain Juniper ‘Skyrocket’
A faster-growing variant of the Rocky Mountain juniper, the ‘Skyrocket’ cultivar exhibits a rounded conical form and moderate height, rendering it versatile for various landscaping roles. Silvery-blue to dark green foliage and distinctive blue berry-like cones define its appearance. Within a decade, it achieves a height of 15 feet with a 3-foot spread.
- Name: Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’)
- Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
- Mature Height: 30 to 40 feet
- Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
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11. Common Myrtle
Ideal for hedging, the common myrtle offers a flowering evergreen option. Its fuzzy white flowers contrast with dark green foliage, leading to edible berries. The peeling cinnamon-colored bark adds an appealing dimension to this evergreen.
- Name: Common Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
- Hardiness Zone: 8 to 11
- Mature Height: 3 to 15 feet
- Growth Rate: 2+ feet per year
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12. Wax Myrtle
Often referred to as the Southern bayberry tree, the wax myrtle can reach heights of 40 feet. With fragrant olive-green foliage, it serves as a suitable border or screening hedge. Catkins appear in spring, followed by pale blue fruits in winter. Both male and female plants are necessary for berry production.
- Name: Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)
- Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
- Mature Height: 12 to 40 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
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13. Cherry Laurel
Sporting glossy green foliage and white flower spikes in spring, the cherry laurel is a versatile evergreen that tolerates various soil types and responds well to pruning. Its autumn flowers and red berries attract birds and pollinators. With proper care, it can form a 10-foot-tall hedge in a few years, but it’s toxic to both people and pets.
- Name: Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
- Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
- Mature Height: 25 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
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14. Grand Fir
As its name implies, the grand fir tree impresses with its size and appearance. Characterized by smooth gray bark, dark green needles, and sizable reddish-brown cones, this tree is a focal point in any landscape. While dwarf species exist, they may not match the rapid growth of their towering counterpart.
- Name: Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
- Hardiness Zone: 5 to 6
- Mature Height: 100 to 250 feet tall
- Growth Rate: 4 feet per year
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15. Carolina Sapphire Cypress
Adaptable to hot and dry climates, the Carolina sapphire cypress boasts fragrant lacy foliage adorned with soft blue needles. Its open structure lends it a light, airy appearance, while small blue cones with a powdery coating grace mature trees.
- Name: Carolina Sapphire Cypress (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra ‘Carolina Sapphire’)
- Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
- Mature Height: 30 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
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16. Taylor Juniper
Known for its slender columnar shape, the Taylor juniper is a fast-growing cultivar of the Eastern red cedar. Its blue-green foliage and blue berries make it well-suited to colder climates. Naturally forming without extensive pruning, it’s ideal for tall hedges, reaching a height of 20 feet and a 3-foot width within a decade.
- Name: Taylor’s Juniper (Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’)
- Hardiness Zone: 4 to 9
- Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 to 5 feet per year
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17. Chinese Holly ‘Burford’
Displaying glossy dark olive-green foliage, small yellow-green flowers, and dark red fruits, the Chinese holly ‘Burford’ thrives as a shrub or small tree. While its spring flowers attract bees, fruiting requires both male and female plants. This holly, however, is considered invasive in Georgia and is toxic to both people and pets.
- Name: Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta ‘Burfordii’)
- Hardiness Zone: 7 to 9
- Mature Height: 15 to 25 feet
- Growth Rate: 3 feet per year
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18. American Pillar Arborvitae
With its narrow columnar form, the American pillar arborvitae serves as an excellent tall privacy hedge or border, requiring just 3 to 5 feet of space. Glossy green foliage transitions to bronze-purple in autumn. Highly adaptable to varying climates, it maintains its graceful appearance with minimal pruning, but is toxic to livestock.
- Name: American Pillar Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’)
- Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
- Mature Height: 23 to 30 feet
- Growth Rate: 2+ feet per year
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