Not Eastern Redbud Nor Cherry: The Fast-Growing Shade Tree For Privacy

Not Eastern Redbud Nor Cherry: The Fast-Growing Shade Tree For Privacy

https://www.housedigest.com/2179150/fast-growing-shade-tree-for-privacy-in-yard-crabapple/

Publish Date: 2026-05-26 13:00:00

Source Domain: www.housedigest.com

Zbynek Pospisil/Getty Images

Many people adore cherry trees (Prunus spp.) and Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensis), and it’s easy to see why. When in full bloom, the soft pink blossoms of cherries and the purple-hued flowers of Eastern redbuds steal the show in a garden. What if you could have a tree that is just as eye-catching but also grows quickly, provides shade, and adds privacy? That’s exactly what crabapple trees (Malus spp.) bring to the table.

Crabapples are not one species. The genus Malus contains more than 50 species and includes flowering deciduous shrubs and trees that grow between 14 and 40 feet tall. If you want a fast-growing shade tree to cool off your hot backyard, choose an appropriately sized species or cultivar. Some good options include Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii), which reaches 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide; flowering crabapple (Malus ‘Amberina’), which grows to 10 feet tall and wide; and Harvest Gold crabapple (Malus x ‘Hargozam’), which can reach about 25 feet tall and wide.

Privacy plantings involve multiple trees, so plan the spacing between your trees carefully. For instance, smaller crabapples will only need about 10 feet between them, but large cultivars will need at least 25 feet. Note, too, that your newly planted crabapple seedlings won’t fill in those big gaps right away. While you can plant these fast-growing trees in your yard for a natural privacy screen, they typically grow about 1 to 2 feet a year and take 10 to 20 years…

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