Three Fast-Growing Trees
I often get asked, “What is the fastest growing tree? I have no canopy in my landscape, and I want more.”
Here are three trees that grow relatively quickly, compared to others in the South Florida landscape. Of course, tree species selection is important. But of equal importance is ensuring the tree has ample root space, quality soil, access to sunlight and fresh water, and is pruned and maintained for structural integrity and optimum growth. These are critical components to building out an ideal landscape.
Royal Poinciana, Delonix regia
The Royal Poinciana is cultivated across the tropics and is easily recognized for its striking orange flowers that paint the South Florida landscape in the summertime. It grows wider than it is tall, and can easily grow up to 5 feet in a year. One tradeoff to fast-growth: the branches are brittle. So be sure to use selective pruning to reinforce the tree’s stability against stormforce winds.
Gumbo Limbo, Bursera simaruba
The Gumbo Limbo is a fast-growing tree found in the hardwood hammocks of Florida and the Keys. They have a versatile and adaptable growth structure, that can grow to fill in the gaps of a forest planting, or stand on their own as a specimen. Aesthetically, you might choose a Gumbo Limbo for its bronze or silver bark color. Happy in the shade or sun, this tree is your wild card.
Slash Pine, Pinus elliottii
In general, most pine trees grow faster than hardwood trees. So if you’re interested in height, and shade is not as important of a factor, consider South Florida’s preeminent pine tree: the Slash Pine. A Slash Pine can easily reach 30 feet in under 10 years, and ultimately soar to over 100 feet tall. Plant these trees in clusters if you want dappled shade, and allow the needles to coat planting beds with a natural, regenerative source of mulch.
This ought to get you started when looking for the right tree to add to your landscape. Again, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the growth and success of a tree depends mainly on the care and ongoing maintenance applied to the tree. A tree planted in poor soil will not grow to its full potential. A tree planted in the right conditions, and taken care of over time, will provide maximum value to the landscape you are aiming to achieve.
Contact bryce@dimension.land to create a canopy and landscape plan.
