Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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fast growing evergreen shade trees

Looking to create a lush, sheltered oasis in your garden with minimal wait time? Fast growing evergreen shade trees are a popular choice for New Zealand gardens, offering year-round foliage, quick coverage, and excellent protection from harsh sun and wind. Whether you’re landscaping a new section, adding privacy, or wanting to cool down your backyard patio, choosing the right fast-growing evergreen trees will give you instant impact and ongoing beauty. Here’s our expert guide to the best options, ideal planting tips, and top species to help you transform your outdoor space in no time.

A Ficus hillii (Evergreen Fig) specimen tree with lush, green foliage.

Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan)

Ficus hillii (Evergreen Fig, Hill's Fig) is a fast growing evergreen tree valued for its dense glossy green foliage and excellent screening ability. This popular fig performs very well in New Zealand gardens, particularly in warmer regions and sheltered sites. It is ideal for gardeners wanting privacy, shelter, or a strong structural tree.

Buy Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan)

From $12.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Trees

Height: 12.00 m

Spread: 5.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Architectural, Formal, Japanese, Modern

Acacia howittii (Sticky Wattle)

Acacia howittii, commonly known as Sticky Wattle, is an attractive evergreen tree valued for its graceful weeping habit, fine green foliage, and masses of pale yellow flowers during late winter and spring. It is fast growing, hardy, and makes an excellent specimen or shelter tree in New Zealand gardens.

Buy Acacia howittii (Sticky Wattle)

From $349.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 2.50 m

Spread: 80 cm

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Parks, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Why Choose Fast Growing Evergreen Shade Trees

Evergreen shade trees keep their leaves all year, meaning your garden stays lush and private through every season. Fast growing varieties offer rapid results, filling out to provide a cooling canopy in just a few years. These trees are perfect for creating shaded play areas, screening from neighbours or roads, and providing a haven for native birds.

Top Fast Growing Evergreen Shade Trees for New Zealand

New Zealand’s climate supports a number of excellent fast growing evergreen shade tree options. Here are some standout performers:

Hoheria populnea

Known as the New Zealand Lacebark, Hoheria populnea grows quickly to a medium size, with glossy green leaves and brilliant clusters of white flowers. Its dense canopy makes it a favourite for instant shade and shelter. Lacebark is also hardy and adaptable to a range of soil types, thriving from the Far North to the lower South Island.

Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan)

The versatile Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan) is prized for its lush, dense foliage and rapid growth rate. Perfect for larger properties or creating a dramatic statement, Ficus Hillii easily forms a wide, shady canopy and can even be pruned into formal screens or hedges.

Alnus jorullensis

Fast to establish and robust in many conditions, Alnus jorullensis is an evergreen alder valued for its upright growth and soft, serrated leaves. It’s especially good for shelterbelts and wet areas, quickly offering cool shade and strong wind protection.

Olearia traversii

Tough and wind-tolerant, Olearia traversii is a native that excels as a fast growing evergreen shade tree. With its dense, glossy foliage and salt tolerance, it’s well suited to coastal sites and exposed gardens needing fast shelter and evergreen cover.

Pseudopanax arboreus (Five-Finger)

The easy-growing Pseudopanax arboreus (Five-Finger) brings a distinctly native touch to any garden. Its broad leaves and upright growth create great shade, while attracting native birds with nectar-rich flowers and berries.

Planting and Care Tips

For the quickest results, plant your fast growing evergreen shade trees in well-prepared soil with regular watering during their first summers. Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, while an annual feed with organic fertiliser will keep your trees powering along. Select the right species for your climate and site conditions to ensure lasting success.

Transform Your Garden with Fast Growing Shade

From classic natives like Hoheria populnea to the stunning Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan), you’ll find a fast-growing, evergreen shade tree to suit every part of your New Zealand garden. Browse our full selection to find your favourite and enjoy cool, green shade in just a few seasons.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

fast growing evergreen shade trees

Ficus Hillii (Australian Banyan)

Acacia howittii (Sticky Wattle)

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Why Choose Fast Growing Evergreen Shade Trees