Tree Growth Information

Browse info about the needs and cultural requirements for Missouri deciduous trees, evergreens, and shrubs.

Deciduous Trees

American sycamore 

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Black gum

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Black haw

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Black locust 

Size: 30-60 feet
Soil: Wide
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Black oak 

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Black walnut

Size: Over 60 feet
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Blackberry

Size: Under 10 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Shade
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Bur oak

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Cherrybark oak

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Deciduous holly

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Wide
Sun: Partial
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Downy serviceberry

Size: 30-60 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Eastern cottonwood

Size: Over 60 feet
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Eastern redbud

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Flowering dogwood

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Moist
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Gray dogwood

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Wide range
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Green ash

Size: 30-60 feet
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Hackberry

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wide range 
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Hawthorn

Size: Under 30 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Kentucky coffee tree 

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Nannyberry viburnum

Size: Under 30 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Northern red oak

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Nuttall oak

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Osage orange         

Size: 30-60 feet 
Soil: Wide range
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Pawpaw    

Size: Under 30 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Shade
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Pecan              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Persimmon         

Size: 30-60 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Pin oak            

Size: Over 60 feet
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Red mulberry         

Size: 30-60 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

River birch       

Size: 30-60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Roughleaf dogwood    

Size: Under 30 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Scarlet oak            

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Shagbark hickory              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Partial
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Shellbark hickory              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Shumard oak              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Silver maple              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Sweet gum              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Tulip tree         

Size: 30-60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Ward's willow    

Size: Under 30 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

White ash            

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

White oak              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Wild plum  

Size: Under 30 feet 
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

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Evergreen Trees

Bald cypress              

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Eastern red cedar         

Size: Under 30 feet
Soil: Wide range
Sun: Full
Growth: Slow — Having an annual growth increment of 12 inches or less

Eastern white pine              

Size: Over 60 feet
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.  

Jack pine         

Size: 30-60 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Red pine  

Size: Over 60 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year          

Shortleaf pine

Size: Over 60 feet 
Soil: Dry 
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.         

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Shrubs

American hazel         

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Wide range
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year 

Arrowwood viburnum       

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Moist
Sun: Shade
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Fragrant sumac    

Size: Under 10 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Meadow willow       

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Wet
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Ninebark    

Size: Under 10 feet
Soil: Wide
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.

Ozark witch hazel         

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Moist
Sun: Partial
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Sandbar willow         

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Wide range 
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.  

Shrub lespedeza    

Size: Under 10 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Medium — Between 12 and 24 inches of growth per year

Shining sumac         

Size: 10-20 feet
Soil: Average
Sun: Full
Growth: Fast — Has the potential to grow 24 inches or more annually.