Fast growing shade tree recs

Hi there,

I live in Vancouver and I need a shade tree. Our deck faces south and the sun is intense in the summer. I'm looking for recommendations for something relatively fast growing, with a low root impact. Sycamore was mentioned as an option. Any more ideas?

 

How long are you willing to wait? Even fast-growing trees take many years to produce substantial pools of shade, are often kinds that will go on to eventually overwhelm anything less than a parklike setting - if you are thinking in terms of the side of the house being well shaded within a few years then you are talking about an unsuitable location for a large growing tree.

Such as a Platanus, which is one of the most massive kinds seen in the local planted landscape. And one that also produces allergenic hairs.

Probably pretty much every time when effectively instant shade from a tree is being visualized and asked for what is really needed is solutions like patio umbrellas, arbors, trellises or awnings.

 

Rons points are very salient
Depending on your deck height.
Albizia julibrissin would be my suggestion.
Over 1 metre per year (in the right conditions)
Keep in mind that any tree that grows fast can sometime die fast (10 -20yrs).
Tree borers love them down our way

 

With a south-facing deck, you have lots of options. Building a tall trellis and planting fast-growing deciduous vines would allow you to select a configuration that shades critical areas in the summer and lets light in during the winter. I've built a simple trellis of free bamboo poles attached to our deck railing for growing dessert grapes; it provide plenty of shade as well as fruit.

 

this earlier thread has good info

i think also the city has official tree list

British Columbia: - Persian Walnut Tree for Shade and Free Nuts

 

Needs much hotter summers to do well than Vancouver gets

 

Persian Walnut is a very nice tree, but is also slow-growing!

 

I believe there were other suggestions in that earlier thread plus the reference to official city tree list

If you have a naturescape you could have the typical red elderberry - the birds love the berries

Fast growing is not always your friend long term ..... example : Willow

(And I am a big fan of Curly willow ... just in a place it can’t invade and tangle like a septic system or concrete paths or the buried pipes to and from the city street or your house foundation )

 

Needs much hotter summers to do well than Vancouver gets

The generally similar climate of Seattle has not prevented it from being common in plantings there, where it was known in at least one instance to have grown 50' tall by 2005.

Persian Walnut is a very nice tree

Any time a large-growing nut tree is planted the planter better be willing to eventually have nuts dropping all over the place in season. And be comfortable with hosting the animals theses nuts attract.

 

As Ron B points out - above - the fruit / nuts attract a variety of guests fr pretty birds to loud crows (or raccoons and rats which most of don’t want at our homes )

So I agree - careful with productive trees / shrubs

Someone else earlier pointed out that in our part of the world it’s helpful to have some sun in the winter to keep the patio free of ice or slime and it warms the house - not to mention soul.

 

But how many decades did it take to get there?

 

Ron B - what about Katsura ... it’s on the city list .... tho w/o knowing fr OP the exact space avail for tree at 10 yr age (maturity?) - it’s hard to suggest anything

I like Katsura for its small leaves and fall colour and bare branches in winter

The other MAJOR consideration for this OP is water restrictions in summer pretty much everywhere in the PacNW of NAm.

 

This comment was made about Albizia julibrissen. These trees do well in Vancouver and are popular here, but they are very late leafing out (sometimes not until June) and among the first to lose their leaves in the fall, so for a lot of the year, they do not provide much shade. On the other hand, they do provide the shade during the hot summer months (well I don't think Vancouver gets hot summer months), and they let in light during the rest of the year.

 

This old thread (must read to the end) might answer my own question about Katsura tree (NB not the maple)

Katsura trees in Vancouver -invasive roots?

 

Can you tell us how high up you are trying to shade?

Is it shade for the entire house or simply shade so humans can sit out in the deck area?

Is this a ground floor deck or upstairs deck?

I imagine you’ve got a normal Vancouver street lot? So really not much space for large plantings

I would be sure to read the info and rules fr the city too.

 

Yeah if you want it to shade the entire house, fast growing tree might not be the best solution for you.