Trees are the most visual and imposing representatives of the plant kingdom. Its high tops shade the forests and are a source of shelter and food for countless species of all sizes. From a human point of view, these silent giants may appear to be immovable and eternal, but trees are constantly growing and some even develop much faster than one might think.
Do you want to know how long a tree takes to grow and what factors influence its growth? Join us in this curious article, in which we will talk about the growth and longevity of these vegetable colossi.
Growth time of a tree
The growth time of each tree varies greatly depending on the specific species and the circumstances of the environment in which the tree grows. Location of the tree, climate, altitude above sea level, type of soil or amount of light it receives are things that have a great impact on the development capacity of the tree. However, there are trees that tend to grow in certain types of environments and whose indicative growth times are quite characteristic. Below is a list of approximate growth times for some of the more well-known trees. Remember that it is only a guide value, which can vary a lot in each case.
- How long it takes to grow an oak: the Quercus Robur , also known as the common oak it is a slow – growing sturdy tree with a life expectancy of over 500 years. This can reach more than 30 m in height, and has an average growth of 23 cm per year.
- How long does a pine take to grow: the Pinus Pinea , or stone pine has an average annual growth of 50 cm and can reach up to 30 meters in height. Like oak, thanks to its robust appearance, although somewhat more slender, it has a life expectancy of more than 500 years.
- How long does it take for an oak to grow: the oak or Quecus Ilex , is another robust tree capable of growing more than 24 cm a year and reaching more than 25 meters in height. However, despite belonging to the same genus as oak, it has a life expectancy that does not exceed 20 years.
- How long does a beech take to grow: The beech or Fagus sylvática is a leafy-leaved crown tree that grows up to 1 m a year and reaches a height of about 24 meters during its more than 400 years of life expectancy.
- How long does it take for a eucalyptus to grow: with a life expectancy that also exceeds 400 years, the eucalyptus or Eucalyptus regnans can grow more than 1 meter a year and reach a height of 24 meters.
- How long does a chestnut tree take to grow: the chestnut or Castanea sativ a, is one of the longest-lived trees characteristic of Europe. Their life expectancy can not only exceed 500 years, but there are still specimens with more than 1000 years. Its growth is fast, exceeding 1.5 m a year.
- How long does a mahogany tree take to grow? The average growth rate of a Swietenia mahagoni is about 24 cm per year, reaching maturity around 25 years.
- How long it takes to grow a lemon tree: the Citrus x lemon reaches heights of up to 7 meters, reaching approximately 6 meters in his first two decades of life.
- How long does it take for a mango tree to grow: the mango tree, or Mangifera indica , takes between 20 and 40 years to reach a maturity size, usually the one sought to give abundance of fruits, although after 10 years it already gives a abundant fruiting.
- How long does it take for an avocado tree to grow: the Persea americana , or avocado, is a tree that, under ideal conditions, will reach an early maturity period around 5 years, bearing fruit from this moment, although it is common for take 15 years or more to start.
- How long does an apple tree take to grow: the apple tree, with the scientific name Malus domestica , takes around 10 years to complete its juvenile period, after which it begins to bear fruit.
How much does a tree grow per year
As with their growth times and with the life cycle in general, each plant has different capacities to develop in a single year. Trees in warm and tropical climates, where winters are not cold, grow in a similar way throughout the year, while those in areas where the seasons are well differentiated, the tree spends the winters in a state of rest, to grow back in the warm months and regain all its strength and vitality.
In the previous list we have mentioned the average annual growth of the indicated species, indicating how much they grow approximately in the ideal conditions, although naturally this growth also depends on the life stage of the tree. These plants continue to grow throughout their lives, but not in all stages they do so with the same vigor.
For example, the paulonia or kiri tree , with the scientific name Paulownia tomentosa , is one of the fastest growing trees : in its first year of life it can reach 6 meters in height and can grow 30 cm in just 3 weeks. , that is, at 10 cm per week! Eucalyptus is also another very fast growing tree , although not as fast as Paulownia: it can grow a meter each year in good conditions.
The Western yours , however, has a very slow growth . A specimen of Thuja occidentalis was recorded in the Great Lakes of Canada that, in 155 years, did not grow more than 10 cm in height. Obviously, their conditions should not be the best.
What to do to make a tree grow fast
Each species has specific needs for soil, climate, water and light. When the tree grows in a suitable environment for it, its growth will always be much faster .
Thus, what may be optimal for one tree may be lethal for another. While some trees need cold winters to thrive in spring, others will be killed by frost. While some need a soil with abundant moisture, others will cause disease and root rot. The same happens with the soil: there are tree species that require sandy and arid soils, while others need soils with abundant organic matter and rich in nutrients. Even with light, there are no absolute truths, because while some species require a lot of sun and direct exposure to grow well, others would burn under those conditions. So, find out well about the needs of your tree and do everything possible to ensure that they are met.
