There are many different types of trees all over the planet. According to some studies, there are at least sixty thousand unique tree species on Earth. It is barbarism! These vegetables not only live in forests and jungles, but also in our gardens and orchards. So many people wonder How long does it take for a tree to grow?
We will precisely answer this question in this article. Of course, not all trees grow at the same speed. However, we will explain what factors influence and we will comment on which trees grow faster and which tree takes the longest to grow.
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tree growth
Let’s start by answering the big question: How long does it take for a tree to grow? The answer is simple, but imprecise: it depends. Some species of these gigantic vegetables grow relatively quickly, while others grow very slowly. Two factors determine the growth rate of trees: Tree species and location. This last factor is essential to the development of plants for several reasons which we will discuss below.
climate and temperature
As per usual, vegetables tend to grow faster when they are in warm weather. For this reason, many species of trees that live near the equator can grow several meters in a single year and reach maturity in twenty or even ten years. In contrast, trees found in northern latitudes tend to grow much more slowly. In fact, on many occasions they do not exceed one meter, or even two, in the same year.
Also Sunlight is essential for plant growth. Returning to the example of equatorial trees, these generally receive a lot of sunlight, which is very beneficial for their development and also for photosynthesis. It is therefore not surprising that tree species from Costa Rica grow much faster than trees from Norway.
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fast growing trees
An aspect that also influences in terms of temperature is the elevation of the land. For this reason, trees growing in alpine regions tend to grow more slowly than those found at lower elevations.
Specific context and rainfall
Another factor that makes location so important is the specific context. Let’s take a few examples: a tree that grows in the sun grows faster than a tree of the same species that is in the shade, or a tree that grows at the bottom of a hill can grow slower or faster than a tree of the same species. which is at the top of this same hill.
When it comes to determining the growth rate of trees, rainfall plays a fundamental role. Water is essential for the development of all plants. A clear example that reflects this fact is the temperate rainforest zone, which is found in the United States. It rains much more in this region than in the rest of North America and, as a result, the trees there are the tallest on the planet. These include redwood, Sitka spruce, giant sequoia, and Douglas fir. Obviously, the amount of water does not only affect the height of the trees, but also their growth rate.
Which trees grow the fastest?
Now that we are clear about the factors that influence tree growth, let’s see what they are fastest to reach the height:
- Ash: Its growth is very fast, which is why it is very popular for gardens and for harvesting its wood. It usually reaches a height of between fifteen and twenty meters.
- Willow: There are over 400 species of willows, some grow faster than others. As this tree is one of the most shady, it is very popular in parks.
- Eucalyptus: Due to its high strength and rapid growth, eucalyptus is widely used in the cosmetics industry and in the paper and furniture manufacturing industry.
- Indian brown : Also known as the false chestnut, this tree is capable of reaching a height of up to thirty meters, but the vast majority usually stay between ten and twenty meters.
- Mimosa: Mimosa is a very popular type of acacia in gardens and parks, thanks to its rapid growth and ornamental value.
Which tree takes the longest to grow?
As we have already mentioned before, it is difficult to answer the question of how long it takes for a tree to grow. Let’s still put some examples of popular trees and by the way we see which of them is the one that takes the longest to grow. This way we can get a rough idea of the growth time:
- Pine: This species of tree grows quite quickly. It is capable of reaching fifty centimeters in diameter in the trunk in just twenty years.
- Moringa: Native to India, this tree begins to flower just eight months after planting. The fruits it bears ripen in about three months.
- Holm oak: Instead, the oak takes its time growing. This species of tree generally bears its first acorns when it is fifty years old.
- Walnut: At only five years old, the walnut tree is already beginning to bear the first nuts. Thus, the growth of this tree is quite fast, compared to others.
- Oak: The oak is probably one of the slowest growing trees, perhaps the slowest. This species can live up to 600 years and take about 200 years to fully develop.
Although I am unable to give an exact figure that determines how long it takes for a tree to grow, I hope you were able to get a rough idea of how long certain types of trees can take. To see how a tree grows and fully develops, you need a lot of patience.