Some people plant trees for shade. Others want privacy, flowering branches, or colorful autumn leaves. But for gardeners who love wildlife, planting fast-growing trees can accomplish something even more meaningful. The right species can provide food, nesting locations, and protective cover for birds, pollinators, deer, and other animals.
Native trees are particularly valuable because many have established ecological relationships with insects and wildlife in their natural growing regions. Their flowers, foliage, seeds, nuts, and fruit can contribute to a healthier landscape when the species are suited to the local environment.
At TN Nursery, our family has been growing native trees since 1959. We've seen how planting the right species can transform open land into wooded habitat over time.
For homeowners and landowners who want rapid growth along with ecological value, these ten trees deserve consideration.
The Top 10 Fast Growing Trees That Benefit Wildlife
- Mulberry Tree: Mulberries are relatively fast-growing trees that can provide edible fruit for birds and other wildlife. Suitable varieties often establish quickly and develop broad canopies. Gardeners should choose appropriate species and avoid invasive white mulberry selections in sensitive natural areas.
- Black Locust: This vigorous native tree can grow approximately two to four feet annually under favorable conditions. Its fragrant white flowers attract bees, while its ability to tolerate challenging soils makes it useful for selected restoration projects. It can spread aggressively through root suckers.
- American Plum: This native small tree produces beautiful white spring flowers followed by fruit used by wildlife. It often spreads through root suckers to create thickets that provide valuable cover for birds and small mammals.
- Tulip Poplar: One of eastern North America's relatively fast-growing hardwoods, Tulip Poplar produces distinctive spring flowers that provide resources for pollinators. Its mature canopy supports a variety of wildlife.
- American Sycamore: This large native tree grows rapidly in suitable moist locations. Its broad crown offers nesting and shelter opportunities, while mature bark and woody structures contribute to wildlife habitat.
- Red Maple: Red Maple offers relatively rapid development and early-season flowering resources for insects. Its foliage and seeds also contribute to woodland food webs, while its autumn color adds beauty to the landscape.
- River Birch: Particularly useful in moist environments, River Birch develops attractive peeling bark and provides habitat for insects and birds. Its relatively fast establishment makes it useful in appropriately planned naturalized areas.
- Bald Cypress: Bald Cypress can develop into a magnificent long-lived native tree. It is valuable in wetland environments and provides nesting opportunities and shelter for wildlife as it matures.
- Willow Oak: A comparatively fast-growing native oak, Willow Oak produces acorns used by birds and mammals. Its graceful canopy and substantial mature size make it an excellent addition to larger properties.
- Catalpa: Catalpa's large leaves and showy flowers create seasonal interest. Its flowers attract visiting insects, and native Catalpa species also support specialist caterpillars. Their rapid growth makes them appealing for suitable open landscapes.
These selections offer different combinations of growth rate, wildlife value, and landscape adaptability. Their order is based on practical usefulness rather than an exact annual-growth ranking, and some require considerably more space than others.
How Fast Growing Native Trees Create Better Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife habitat depends on more than simply having trees on a property. Animals need food, protection, and places to reproduce. A diverse planting containing suitable trees, shrubs, and ground-level vegetation can provide these resources more effectively than a landscape consisting of closely mowed grass.
The Mulberry Tree from TN Nursery is an appealing choice for people who enjoy watching birds.
Mulberries produce fruit that can attract songbirds and other animals. Their branches provide shelter, and mature trees can develop into attractive landscape features.
However, placement is important. Fallen fruit may stain pavement, outdoor furniture, or vehicles, so mulberries are often better suited to open lawns, rural property edges, and wildlife areas than directly above patios.
Gardeners should also select the correct mulberry species. Native red mulberry can be valuable in eastern North American habitats, while invasive white mulberry can create ecological concerns in certain regions.
Another interesting selection is the Black Locust Tree from TN Nursery.
Black Locust produces hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers that are attractive to pollinating insects. Its rapid growth and tolerance of disturbed soils make it useful in certain planting situations.
It also belongs to the legume family and has a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing it to grow on some relatively nutrient-poor sites.
However, Black Locust should never be planted without considering its spreading habit. It can form colonies through root suckers and may be invasive outside parts of its native range.
For wildlife plantings, combining fruiting trees with native oaks and flowering hardwoods can create a more diverse environment than relying exclusively on one rapidly growing species.
TN Nursery discusses the importance of native species in Shop Native Trees for Fast Shade and Privacy Growth.
Planning a Fast Growing Wildlife Landscape That Lasts
One of the best approaches for creating habitat is to plant several compatible species rather than a single type of tree across an entire property.
For example, fruit-producing trees can be planted near woodland edges, while larger shade trees develop farther into the landscape. Native shrubs and perennial plants can create additional cover beneath the developing canopy.
Spacing is important because trees compete for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. A young woodland planting may initially appear open, but each tree needs enough room to develop naturally.
Landowners should also consider soil conditions. River Birch and Sycamore are appropriate for certain moist landscapes, while Black Locust is better suited to locations where its spreading habit can be managed.
For larger installations, Tennessee Wholesale Nursery supplies Wholesale Black Locust Trees and Wholesale Willow Oak Trees.
Willow Oak is particularly attractive for long-term habitat projects because its acorns provide wildlife food while its canopy becomes an important part of the landscape.
Additional information about using native trees in restoration projects is available in Tennessee Wholesale Nursery's Fast-Growing Restoration Plants for Tennessee.
When planting young trees, protect the roots from drying and install them at the correct depth. Bare-root trees are commonly planted during dormancy, when suitable soil conditions allow them to establish before the most demanding part of summer.
New trees may also require protection from deer browsing. Even wildlife trees intended to provide food for animals need an opportunity to grow before their shoots are repeatedly eaten.
Tree tubes, appropriate fencing, or other protective methods can help young plantings become established. Once the trees develop substantial height, they may be less vulnerable to certain forms of browsing damage.
Watering is another essential consideration. Native trees are adapted to regional conditions, but newly installed saplings still need appropriate moisture while their roots expand into surrounding soil.
Mulching around the root zone can reduce weed competition. However, avoid piling mulch against the trunk, where trapped moisture may create problems.
Over time, a planting of fast-growing trees can begin to provide shade, leaf litter, nesting habitat, and food resources. These changes can encourage a greater variety of wildlife to use the property.
It is also important to retain existing healthy native vegetation wherever possible. Mature trees and established habitat features may provide ecological benefits that young plantings cannot immediately replace.
For additional diversity, consider leaving suitable standing dead wood in safe locations, preserving natural leaf litter, and allowing appropriate native understory plants to grow.
So, what are the top 10 fastest growing trees for wildlife? Mulberry, Black Locust, American Plum, Tulip Poplar, Sycamore, Red Maple, River Birch, Bald Cypress, Willow Oak, and Catalpa are ten useful options to investigate.
At TN Nursery, we believe planting trees is an investment in more than property appearance. A thoughtfully selected native tree can eventually support generations of birds, insects, and other wildlife while adding beauty to the surrounding landscape.
The most rewarding result isn't always how quickly a tree reaches a particular height. Sometimes it's the first nesting bird, the first pollinating bee, or the new wildlife activity that appears as the landscape begins to grow.
