Shade Trees That Grow Fast in the Northeast

Hardy in USDA Zone 3

• For year-round color, texture and screening, the Eastern white pine grows 24 to 36 inches per year and reaches heights of 80 feet. This evergreen is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 and has dense, blue-green needles. It grows best in sunny sites with rich, acidic soil. If you have a moist -- or even wet -- site, plant a European black alder (Alnus glutinosa). This dense tree grows up to 80 feet tall with a 40-foot canopy and tolerates partial shade. It's hardy in zones 3 to 7 and has dark, round leaves. European black alders grow up to 3 feet per year.

Hardy in USDA Zone 4

• The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) grows up to 3 feet per year to heights of 65 feet, although some trees can grow as tall as 90 feet. This deciduous tree comes in a range of cultivars, from the upright "Emerald Queen" to the rounded "Summershade." Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7, Norway maples prefer moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate drought when established. For year-round interest, This Old House recommends planting a Heritage river birch (Betula nigra "Cully"). This cultivar grows up to 60 feet tall with a similar spread and has exfoliating, multicolored bark that adds winter color. Heritage river birch trees are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and grow best in partially shaded sites. They grow more than 24 inches per year.

Hardy in USDA Zone 5

• If you've got a lot of space to fill, plant a tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipfera). Named for its tulip-shaped foliage and bright yellow flowers, this deciduous tree grows 36 inches per year to heights of 90 feet with a 50-foot spread; some specimens grow up to 150 feet tall. The tulip tree is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and prefers rich, moist soil. The Sargent cherry grows up to 30 feet tall. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, this deciduous tree bursts into bloom in spring, then puts on a colorful foliage show in fall. Sargent cherries are native to Japan. They prefer sunny sites with acidic soil.

Hardy in USDA Zone 6

• The red oak (Quercus rubra) is among the fastest-growing oaks, with a growth rate of 24 to 36 inches per year. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, the red oak is native to eastern North America and grows up to 75 feet tall. Its broad, spreading crown has glossy, dark-green foliage in summer that turns coppery red and yellow in autumn. Plant the red oak in acidic sites with good drainage. Also hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, the sawleaf zelkova grows up to 65 feet tall at a rate of 3 feet per year. This Japanese native comes in several cultivars, including "Green Vase," a dark-foliaged variety that has a vase-shaped canopy. Plant the sawleaf zelkova in sunny spots with rich, moist soil.