Flowering trees are a fantastic way to add beauty, shade, and privacy to your garden, and the best part is that many of them grow quickly, providing immediate impact.
These trees offer vibrant blooms, lush foliage, and can help create a serene, private outdoor space in no time. Whether you’re looking for dramatic spring blossoms, fragrant summer flowers, or colorful autumn leaves, there’s a fast-growing flowering tree for every garden.
In this article, we explore 20 of the best fast-growing flowering trees that will bring beauty, shade, and privacy to your yard.
Crape Myrtle
Known for its long-lasting summer blooms, this tree thrives in sunny spots. With a variety of colors including white, pink, and red, it adds vibrant beauty to any landscape. Its peeling bark adds visual interest even after the blossoms fade, making it a year-round attraction.
Eastern Redbud
An early harbinger of spring, the eastern redbud dazzles with clusters of purple-pink flowers along bare branches. Its heart-shaped leaves provide shade through the warmer months, and its adaptability makes it suitable for various climates.
Cherry Blossom
Famed for its breathtaking spring display, this tree offers delicate pink and white blossoms. Ideal for creating a romantic or meditative garden space, it’s also a cultural icon in many countries. Its fast growth ensures a quick transformation of your outdoor area.
Dogwood Tree
This tree’s stunning white or pink flowers cover its branches in spring, followed by vibrant red berries in fall. Its layered branching pattern provides dappled shade, and it’s well-suited for small gardens, enhancing any landscape design.
Magnolia Tree
With large, fragrant blooms, this tree is a symbol of Southern charm. Its glossy foliage remains attractive after the flowers fall, and its moderate size makes it perfect for residential gardens. Magnolias thrive in well-drained soil and full sun.
Golden Chain Tree
Renowned for its striking yellow flower clusters, this tree is a showstopper in any garden. It prefers cooler climates and can be an excellent choice for adding a touch of elegance and color. Its moderate height makes it suitable for smaller spaces.
Tulip Tree
This towering beauty is noted for its unique, tulip-shaped flowers and fast growth. Its lofty stature provides ample shade, while its bright flowers add a splash of color to large landscapes. Tulip trees are hardy and thrive in a variety of soils.
Empress Tree
One of the fastest-growing flowering trees, the empress tree boasts large lavender blossoms. Its broad leaves offer significant shade, perfect for hot climates. Despite its rapid growth, it requires regular maintenance but rewards with immense beauty.
Fringe Tree
This compact tree features unique, fringe-like flowers that provide a cloud-like appearance. It fits well in smaller gardens, offering ornamental appeal with minimal space. Its adaptability to different soil types makes it a versatile choice for many gardeners.
Mimosa Tree
Also known as the silk tree, it features fluffy pink flowers and fern-like leaves. Its rapid growth rate makes it ideal for quick privacy or shade. However, it requires warm climates and can spread aggressively, so placement must be considered carefully.
Royal Poinciana
Praised for its flamboyant display of red-orange flowers, this tree is a tropical gem. Its broad canopy provides ample shade, and it thrives in warm climates. Suitable for larger gardens, it adds a splash of color and tropical flair to any space.
Silk Floss Tree
Featuring striking pink flowers and an interesting thorny trunk, this tree is both ornamental and unique. It prefers subtropical climates and can grow rapidly under the right conditions. Its showy flowers and distinctive appearance make it a conversation starter.
Weeping Cherry Tree
Renowned for its graceful, cascading branches and abundant pink flowers, this tree is a favorite for romantic settings. It provides ample shade while adding an element of elegance. Best suited for cooler climates, it thrives in well-drained soil.
Golden Shower Tree
This tree’s vibrant yellow flowers hang in clusters, creating a stunning visual in any tropical garden. Its medium size is perfect for residential settings, and it thrives in sunny locations. The golden shower tree’s rapid growth and striking appearance make it a popular choice.
Jacaranda Tree
Famed for its spectacular purple blooms that carpet the ground beneath it, this tree thrives in warm climates. Its fern-like foliage provides dappled shade, making it ideal for urban settings. The jacaranda’s rapid growth and stunning visual impact are unmatched.
Bottlebrush Tree
This tree’s unique, brush-like flowers attract pollinators and add vibrant color to gardens. It’s drought-tolerant and suitable for coastal areas, providing both beauty and resilience. The bottlebrush tree’s rapid growth and adaptability make it a favorite among gardeners.
Purple Leaf Plum
Notable for its striking purple foliage, this tree offers a beautiful contrast in any garden. Small white flowers add to its charm during spring. It’s an excellent choice for privacy screens or as a focal point, given its moderate size and ornamental appeal.
Red Maple
Famous for its brilliant red foliage in autumn, the red maple is a versatile choice for many landscapes. It provides ample shade and thrives in various climates. Its rapid growth and seasonal color transformation make it a favorite for those seeking year-round interest.
Catalpa Tree
Large, heart-shaped leaves and showy white flowers characterize this tree. Its fast growth and adaptability to different soils make it a hardy choice. The catalpa’s unique seed pods add interest, and it’s well-suited for rustic or rural landscapes.
Mexican Plum
Early spring brings a burst of white blossoms on this tree, followed by small, edible plums. Its rugged bark and moderate size make it an attractive addition to any garden. The Mexican plum is drought-tolerant and ideal for dry, sunny locations.