Fast-Growing Trees for Instant Garden Impact

Five fast-growing trees that deliver real impact in just a few seasons: Ficus Hillii Flash, Waterhousea, Pyrus nivalis, Crepe Myrtle Natchez and Chinese Elm.

Chinese ElmCrepe Myrtle Natchezfast growing treesFicus Flashinstant impact treesPyrus nivalisUlmus parvifoliaWaterhousea floribunda

You don't always have ten years. New builds, renovations and house sales all need impact now. The right fast-growing tree gets you most of the way there in two to four seasons.

These five are the fastest trees we recommend that still look beautiful in the long run. Each one earns its place in a real garden, with vigorous roots easily managed through regular pruning where needed.

Fast and polished

The picks below pair fast growth with long-term beauty. Each is a fast grower that also makes a polished mature tree.

The five trees

Use them as feature trees, fast privacy hedges or layered together for full impact in a new garden.

How to push fast growth

Three things speed up establishment. Deep watering once or twice a week through the first two summers. A thick mulch layer to lock in moisture and feed the soil. And a single annual spring feed with a slow release fertiliser. Summer planting is great with morning and evening watering for the first two weeks.

Keep feeding balanced. More nitrogen does not equal faster, and a steady measured feed produces stronger growth.

FAQ

Which is the fastest privacy option?
Ficus Hillii Flash. Expect 1m to 1.5m of new growth a year once established.

Which fast-growing tree is best for a backyard shade tree?
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese Elm. Fast, polite roots and beautiful all year.

Are fast-growing trees short lived?
Not at all. Pyrus nivalis, Ulmus parvifolia and Magnolia varieties can live 50+ years while growing quickly when young.

1. Ficus hillii 'Flash' (Ficus Hillii Flash)

The fastest privacy hedge in Australia. Lime-green new flushes age to glossy mid-green for a polished tight screen.

Type: Evergreen fast hedging tree
Height: Can be pruned to desired height (2-8m)
Width: 1-2m as a hedge
Growth rate: Very fast
Foliage: Lime-green new growth, glossy mid-green mature foliage
Form: Dense upright
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Wide soil tolerance. Drought tolerant once established.
Maintenance: Moderate. Clip 2-3 times a year.
Best for: Instant impact privacy hedges, pleaching, fast urban screens.

Why choose it

Goes from skinny stick to dense screen faster than any other evergreen we sell.

Perfect pair

Pair the hedge with a Magnolia Coolwyn Gloss as a feature tree in front.

Tips for planting

Plant 80cm-1m apart. Keep at least 2m from boundaries and plumbing.

Privacy this year, not in three years.

Shop Ficus hillii 'Flash'

2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Fast-growing native screening tree with soft pink new growth and a graceful weeping habit.

Type: Evergreen native fast screening tree
Height: Can be pruned to desired height (3-8m)
Width: 2-3m as a hedge
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green with rich pink new growth
Form: Soft weeping
Conditions: Full sun to part shade. Coastal tolerant. Wide soil tolerance.
Maintenance: Low. Clip lightly twice a year.
Best for: Tall fast native screens, soft evergreen backdrops, large gardens.

Why choose it

Fast like a Ficus but with the soft movement of a weeping native and bird life thrown in.

Perfect pair

Pair the screen with a Crepe Myrtle Natchez as a flowering feature tree.

Tips for planting

Plant 1.2-1.5m apart. Mulch heavily and water consistently in the first summer.

Speed without losing the soft.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda

3. Pyrus nivalis (Snow Pear)

Fast deciduous feature tree with white spring blossom and silver-grey summer foliage. Reliable, hardy, fast.

Type: Deciduous fast feature tree
Height: 6-8m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Silvery grey-green ageing soft yellow in autumn
Flowers: Pure white blossoms covering bare branches in early spring
Form: Soft rounded canopy
Conditions: Full sun. Frost tolerant. Free-draining soil.
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Front garden statement, fast avenue planting, large lawn features.

Why choose it

Quickly delivers the look of a settled feature tree without waiting a decade.

Perfect pair

Pair Pyrus nivalis as a feature with a clipped Murraya hedge below.

Tips for planting

Stake firmly in exposed positions. Mulch well through summer.

A grown-up looking feature tree in a few seasons.

Shop Pyrus nivalis

4. Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' (Natchez White Crepe Myrtle)

Fast-growing deciduous feature tree with white summer crepe flowers, glossy autumn foliage and smooth cinnamon bark.

Type: Deciduous fast feature tree
Height: 6-8m
Width: 4-5m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy green ageing orange-red in autumn
Flowers: Pure white crepe panicles, summer to autumn
Form: Upright multi-stem with smooth cinnamon bark
Conditions: Full sun. Hardy, drought tolerant once established, frost tolerant.
Maintenance: Low. Light prune in winter.
Best for: Fast feature planting, courtyards, pool surrounds, street trees.

Why choose it

Three seasons of impact from a tree that grows quickly to mature feature size.

Perfect pair

Pair as a feature with a Waterhousea floribunda hedge as an evergreen backdrop.

Tips for planting

Plant in full sun. Limb up over seasons to expose the smooth multi-stem trunk.

Fast impact with smooth bark, blooms and colour.

Shop Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez'

5. Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm)

Hardworking deciduous shade tree with mottled bark, glossy summer foliage and golden autumn colour. Fast and forgiving.

Type: Deciduous fast shade tree
Height: 8-12m
Width: 6-8m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Glossy dark green ageing golden in autumn
Form: Spreading vase-shaped canopy with mottled bark
Conditions: Full sun. Wide soil tolerance. Drought tolerant once established. Frost and coastal tolerant.
Maintenance: Low.
Best for: Backyard shade trees, urban streets, larger lawn features.

Why choose it

Few deciduous trees grow this fast while staying easy to live with.

Perfect pair

Pair Chinese Elm as a shade feature with a Waterhousea hedge for evergreen privacy below.

Tips for planting

Stake firmly when young. Water deeply through the first two summers.

Fast, polite shade for a backyard.

Shop Ulmus parvifolia

Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Ficus hillii 'Flash' Ficus Hillii Flash	Can be pruned to desired height (2-8m)	1-2m as a hedge	Dense upright	Lime-green new growth, glossy mid-green mature foliage	Instant impact privacy hedges, pleaching, fast urban screens.
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	Can be pruned to desired height (3-8m)	2-3m as a hedge	Soft weeping	Glossy green with rich pink new growth	Tall fast native screens, soft evergreen backdrops, large gardens.
Pyrus nivalis Snow Pear	6-8m	4-5m	Soft rounded canopy	Silvery grey-green ageing soft yellow in autumn	Front garden statement, fast avenue planting, large lawn features.
Lagerstroemia indica 'Natchez' Natchez White Crepe Myrtle	6-8m	4-5m	Upright multi-stem with smooth cinnamon bark	Glossy green ageing orange-red in autumn	Fast feature planting, courtyards, pool surrounds, street trees.
Ulmus parvifolia Chinese Elm	8-12m	6-8m	Spreading vase-shaped canopy with mottled bark	Glossy dark green ageing golden in autumn	Backyard shade trees, urban streets, larger lawn features.