May 6, 2025
Fast-Growing Trees to Plant Near Your New Home!
Moving into a new build in a new home community usually means personalizing your landscape – laying sod, planting bushes, nurturing trees and establishing perennials. If you happen to be curious, like we were, about which trees might be the fastest growing and recommended for towns like Parker, read on!
The Colorado State Forest Service did a study a few years ago and as it turns out — two of the five varieties of fast-growing trees, absolutely provide quick shade, privacy and beauty for your yard – but the fact that they have shallow roots means that can destroy all kinds of things inside and outside your house!
Consider the other three trees for a new home community which have been scientifically proven to thrive in Colorado’s climate and grow at an impressive rate.
FAST DOESN’T ALWAYS = BEST CHOICE!
Cottonwood Trees: Known for their rapid growth, cottonwood trees can reach heights of over 100 feet and grow more than five to 13 feet every year! But what you might gain in growth and height, you lose in shallow roots, weak wood and the possibility that they’ll fall over in a windstorm!
Cottonwoods can cause damage to foundations, and drainage systems both of which easily makes them less suitable for residential landscapes. You’ll find cottonwoods growing near rivers in mountain communities, with their heart-shaped leaves rustling in the wind – a sound synonymous with the great outdoors!
Silver Maple Trees: Silver maple trees offer a happy medium between catalpas and cottonwoods. They provide excellent shade but require special care to prevent damage from heavy snow or ice. Again, these trees have shallow roots and can be destructive to lawns, sidewalks, and driveways.
MOST DESIRABLE FAST-GROWING TREES
Catalpa Trees: If you’re looking for fast growth and abundant shade for your new home in Parker, Colorado, catalpa trees are an excellent choice. They also produce attractive flowers, adding aesthetic appeal to your yard. Catalpas grow between 1-to-2 feet per year and reach a height of around 50 feet. They grow for 50 to 100 years in a variety of soil types. They’re common in front and back yards spreading a rounded canopy of large, heart-shaped flowers which can measure 12 inches long and 8 inches wide.
Blue Spruce Trees: As Colorado’s official state tree, blue spruce trees are versatile and can be used for privacy, windbreaks, and focal points in your landscaping. These can grow to be 60 feet tall, although there are some dwarf varieties. Growing one to two feet per year, the a conical-shaped evergreen tree with stiff horizontal branches and short stiff bluish green needles add a touch of class to any yard. These trees have a moderate growth rate, typically around one to two feet per year.
White Oak Trees: While white oak trees are slower-growing compared to the other options, they offer sturdy hardwood, durability, and a beautiful leaf canopy that can enhance the visual appeal of your landscape. Oaks are one of the most useful native trees we can plant. The white oak provides a habitation and food for countless species of wildlife. It will attract butterflies and supports hundreds of species of caterpillars. If you want to attract and support pollinators and attract birds, support pollinators and attract birds, planting white oaks will ensure that will happen.
ONE MORE TREE CHOICE!
Tree Vitalize recommends a few more trees for Colorado homes, including the American Sycamore. It’s a fast-growing tree with a wide-spreading crown reaching 75 to 100 feet at maturity and growing about three to six feet a year. The leaves of the American Sycamore resemble those of Maple trees with thick bark that is patchy with shades of olive green and cream white.
In the fall, the American Sycamore produces round, fuzzy seeds 1” across. It’s a hardy and resistant tree, suited to moist sandy loams or silty clay soils, and will grow happily around much of the Denver area.
NEW HOME LANDSCAPING IN LOOKING GLASS
New homes in the master-planned community of Looking Glass are built from 25 different floor plans from three different builders (soon to be four!). Every family can find the perfect fit in this new construction neighborhood with prices starting in the $600s. Living here gives you access to miles of paths, multiple parks, community connections and nearby recreation, entertainment and shopping. Stop by the beautiful model homes from D.R. Horton, Taylor Morrison, Dream Finders and later this year, Richmond American Homes.