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Catalpa
The common name for catalpa is cigar-tree, owing to the resemblance of its elongated brown seedpods to cigars. There are two related species that overlap geographically: Southern catalpa (C. bignonioides), Zones 5 to 9, and Northern catalpa (C. speciosa), Zones 4 to 8. Annual growth rate is between 13 and 24 inches a year, with Southern catalpa being the smaller of the two, at 30 to 40 feet tall and wide.
Northern catalpa reaches 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. Along with the seedpods, both trees feature large heart-shaped leaves and showy clusters of white flowers in spring. Both are also adaptable to difficult soils, but it all starts with planting the tree correctly. Once you’ve done that, these fast growing shade trees should thrive.
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Red Maple
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is not the fastest growing maple. That distinction belongs to the silver maple (Acer saccharinum), which grows like a weed and, unfortunately, acts like one too. Silver maple is one of the trees you should never grow in your yard. Red maple is a much better choice. It still belongs on the fast growing shade trees list, but it doesn’t act like a pest.
This maple tree has stronger wood, so it’s not as prone to storm damage. Plus, it has great red fall color. The species grows 40 to 60 feet tall and 35 to 45 feet wide, but there are many cultivars with differing heights and widths. Annual growth rate is between 13 and 24 inches.
A word about hardiness: Red maple is hardy in Zones 3 to 9, so you’ll see it everywhere from New York to Florida. However, provenance (place of origin) is critical to survivability, so be sure to get one that originates from a climate similar to yours.
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Honeylocust
Farmers hate the species honeylocust, renowned for long, sharp thorns that can pierce a tractor tire. You’ll still see that thorny thug in rural areas but not at the local nursery. Instead, you’ll find thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), which has the fast growth rate and toughness of the species but no thorns.
Hardy in Zones 3 to 9, honeylocust grows two feet or more per year and reaches 30 to 70 feet high and wide. It is tolerant of different soils and gives dappled shade that allows plants to grow beneath the tree.
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