The 21 Best Quick-Growing Trees & Shrubs For Sustainable Firewood – Grow Your Own Heat!

The following 21 fast-growing trees and shrubs offer an elegant firewood solution for homesteaders, farmers, ranchers, and anyone seeking sustainable heat for their home. I’m passionate about this topic because, in our era of rising energy costs, the ability to grow firewood is more than just practical. It’s empowering!

Sound intriguing?

Then, let’s analyze the 21 firewood crops in detail! (Including each firewood crop’s pros and cons.)

The 21 Best Quick-Growing Trees For Sustainable Firewood

Let’s explore these remarkable firewood trees and shrubs that combine quick growth and impressive heat output.

1. Osage Orange

Osage Orange is one of the most underrated heating powerhouses! This wood burns super-hot with high BTUs. Although Osage Orange can be tricky to split and tends to spark, it’s fantastic for outdoor or well-enclosed stoves. It also grows as a dense hedge, making it handy for fencing and windbreaks. Overall, it’s a double-duty firewood option for homesteaders.

• USDA Zones: 4 through 9.
• Tree Height: 30 to 60 feet.
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast. Around 1 to 2 feet per year.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 30 to 32 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Very difficult.

The sharp thorns of the Osage Orange make it a great natural hedge or windbreak. But you’ll want to handle the wood carefully when harvesting!

2. Alder

Alder is another fast-growing tree that makes lovely firewood. It’s fast-growing and easy to season. Alder burns quickly, so it’s ideal as kindling or a backup for denser woods. It’s light to handle and great if you need fuel in a pinch.

• USDA Zones: 3 through 8.
• Tree Height: 40 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. 2 to 3 feet yearly, particularly in moist soil.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 19 to 20 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

Alder is an excellent choice for homesteaders looking to establish a quick-growing brush or windbreak. The light, softwood is also perfect for making charcoal and smoking meats.

3. White Ash

White Ash is easily one of the best fast-growing firewoods for homesteaders. It burns well even when not fully seasoned and produces steady, moderate heat with a clean burn. It’s a favorite for homesteaders because it’s easy to split and doesn’t spark much, making it great for indoor heating.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
• Tree Height: 50 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Moderately fast. About 1 or 2 feet yearly, depending on soil quality.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 22 to 23 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 18 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy to moderate.

In addition to its excellent firewood properties, white ash is famous for its strength and flexibility. It’s a go-to material for tool handles, baseball bats, and other durable homestead necessities, including hammers, axes, cabinetry, and furniture.

Read More – 7 Easy Ways To Reduce Smoke In Your Backyard Firepit!

4. Trembling Aspen

Trembling Aspen grows and seasons remarkably fast, though it doesn’t have the highest heat output. It’s easy to split and handle, so it’s excellent for kindling or warmer climates where extreme heating isn’t necessary. Plus, aspen is often readily available and a breeze to cultivate.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 6.
• Tree Height: 40 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Very fast. 3 to 5 feet per year. It’s easily one of the quickest-growing hardwoods.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 18 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

Beyond its firewood value, aspen is always a lovely addition to any homestead landscape. The shimmering leaves of the trembling aspen provide a soothing visual and auditory experience.

5. Sweet Chestnut

Sweet Chestnut offers excellent heat and seasons reasonably well. However, it can crackle a bit, so it’s better suited for outdoor fires or well-managed stoves. Homesteaders appreciate its easy-to-grow nature and the added benefit of edible chestnuts, which provide a yummy fall harvest!

• USDA Zones: 5 to 8.
• Tree Height: 60 to 100 feet.
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast. 1 to 2 feet per year under optimal conditions.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 24 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

In addition to its firewood prowess, sweet chestnut produces edible nuts that were once a dietary staple for early Americans. These yummy and savory treats provide an extra food source for the self-sufficient homesteader.

6. Sycamore

Sycamore grows tall and relatively fast. It also produces a decent amount of wood per tree. While it doesn’t burn as hot as some hardwoods, it seasons quickly and burns cleanly. It’s a good choice if you need wood on a shorter timeline, though you’ll want to pair it with higher-BTU wood for the freezing winter evenings.

• USDA Zones: 4 to 9.
• Tree Height: 75 to 100 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. 2 to 3 feet yearly, especially with good water access.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 18 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

Sycamore wood may not be the longest-burning. However, sycamores offer the homesteader beautiful, mottled bark. These majestic trees also sport large, shade-giving leaves that turn golden yellow in the fall.

Read More – 5 Easy Designs For Building A DIY Smokeless Firepit!

7. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a top choice for high heat output but needs ample seasoning time due to its high sap content. It’s ideal for warming fires and provides a delightful fragrance when burned. Just be cautious with storage and seasoning! Ensure it’s well-dried to reduce excessive sparking.

• USDA Zones: 8 to 11.
• Tree Height: 50 to 150 feet.
• Growth Rate: Blazing fast. Up to 6 to 8 feet per year, depending on species and climate.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Up to 30 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 24 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

Homesteaders drawn to eucalyptus’s aromatic, medicinal properties can also utilize the fast-growing trees for crafting. The straight, uniform trunks make perfect poles, posts, fencing, paneling, shade structures, millwork, and handrails.

8. Willow

Willow is surprisingly fast-growing and offers low-density wood that burns quickly and needs frequent refueling. While it doesn’t produce much heat, it’s perfect for kindling or in combination with denser wood. Another downside is that willow has high moisture content and takes longer to season than most other firewood on our list.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 9.
• Tree Height: 30 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Very fast. 4 to 6 feet per year.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 13 to 15 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 16 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

Beyond firewood, willows are famous for their flexibility and strength, making them ideal for creating living fences, basket weaving, and other homestead crafts and structures. (Insects and birds love nesting within their thick, dense branches.)

9. Black Locust

Black locust is a homesteader’s dream. It burns hot and slow and produces little smoke, which is ideal for heating. It’s also incredibly rot-resistant and perfect for fencing and other outdoor structures. Although it can be difficult to split, its high heat is well worth the effort.

• USDA Zones: 4 to 9.
• Tree Height: 30 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. 2 to 4 feet per year. It’s a rapid grower among hardwoods.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 27 to 28 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 18 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Difficult.

Though its thorns can be a nuisance, black locust is beloved for its long-burning wood. This hardwood also works perfectly to create fence posts that last a lifetime and sturdy gates that won’t sag.

Read More – How To Keep A Fire Warm And Roaring All Night Long!

10. Poplar

Poplar grows ludicrously fast and is easy to manage, though it doesn’t offer the longest or hottest burn. It’s an efficient filler wood to keep on hand. Since it seasons fast and is easy to split, it’s a reliable option for those just starting their firewood stockpile.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
• Tree Height: 60 to 150 feet.
• Growth Rate: Very fast. 5 to 8 feet per year, particularly hybrid varieties.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 17 to 18 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

The lightweight, efficiently worked poplar wood makes it a good choice for DIY projects around the homestead, from simple construction to carving and woodworking.

11. Silver Birch

Silver Birch is a beautiful, fast-growing tree with a low to moderate burn rate. It’s excellent for kindling and burns cleanly with a sweet aroma. Its bark ignites easily, so it’s perfect for starting fires and gives an extra cozy ambiance to any homestead fireplace.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 7.
• Tree Height: 40 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. About 2 or 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 20 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

The silver birch’s beautiful, peeling white bark makes it a lovely ornamental tree. Silver birch wood is also great for crafting traditional items like canoe hulls, broomsticks, plywood, kitchen utensils, and wooden toys.

12. Common Caragana

Common Caragana, or Siberian Pea Shrub, is an excellent choice for growing in colder climates. It’s low-maintenance, produces small, manageable pieces of wood, and works well as kindling. While not the most popular firewood crop, it reacts well to coppicing and will frequently grow back even after aggressive pruning.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 7.
• Tree Height: 10 to 20 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. About 1 to 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 16 to 19 million
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

Also known as the Siberian pea shrub, caragana is most famous for its drought tolerance, nitrogen-fixing abilities, and edible pea-like pods that can supplement a homesteader’s food supply.

Read More – Best Wood For Backyard Fires And Campfires! Hickory Vs. Cedar Vs. Oak & More!

13. Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is an excellent choice for homestead firewood. It grows fast and produces a good yield of wood that burns reasonably hot and efficiently. While it doesn’t make the densest firewood compared to hardwoods, it is still a reliable fuel source, especially if you need speedy growth.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 7.
• Tree Height: 40 to 60 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. Around 1 to 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 15 to 18 million BTUs.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate to easy, depending on the tree’s age.

Another lovely benefit of Norway Spruce is the auditory ambiance as it burns! Its resinous nature can provide a pleasant, crackling fire. It’s also perfect for heating your home in the colder months.

14. Black Cherry

Black Cherry is a superb compromise between moderate heat output, a cozy atmosphere, and ease of growth. It burns with a lovely aroma, making it ideal for indoor stoves. It’s also a beautiful tree that attracts wildlife, adding aesthetic and ecological value to your land.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
• Tree Height: 50 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Moderate. About 1 to 2 feet per year.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 21 to 22 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 18 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

While the black cherry tree’s wood is excellent for fuel, its real draw is its edible fruits. These lovely delights are marvelously helpful in making jellies, jams, pies, muffins, breads, scones, tarts, cobblers, and other tasty homestead goodies.

15. Hazel

Hazel is fast-growing and produces dense wood, perfect for a steady, hot burn. The branches are also easy to coppice, allowing homesteaders to harvest wood sustainably year after year. Hazel adds extra value with its edible nuts.

• USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
• Tree Height: 10 to 20 feet.
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast. 1 to 2 feet per year, can be managed for coppicing.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 19 to 20 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

Hazelnut trees provide flavorful nuts that your backyard birds will love! You can use the hazelnuts to make flour, smoothies, various baked goods, chocolate spread, and chocolate bars. The flexible branches are also perfect for weaving baskets and other crafts on the homestead.

Read More – How To Roast Yummy Chestnuts Over An Open Fire!

16. Catalpa

Catalpa trees grow fast and look divine. However, the wood is softer and produces less heat than other options. It’s relatively easy to split and season, so it’s a decent backup wood for mild winters or outdoor use. The large leaves are great for composting, adding another benefit to your homestead.

• USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
• Tree Height: 40 to 60 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. Around 2 or 3 feet yearly; tolerates different soil types well.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 16 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy to moderate.

The large, tropical-looking leaves and showy white flowers of the catalpa tree make it a visually striking addition to any homestead. Its proper softwood firewood complements this tree’s endearing charm.

17. Silver Maple

Silver Maple is quick-growing and provides moderate heat for shoulder season burners. It’s ideal for those who want reliable firewood quickly and easily. Though not the densest wood, it’s painless to split, season, and handle, making it a practical choice for first-time firewood harvesters.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 9.
• Tree Height: 50 to 80 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. Around 2 to 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 18 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

Silver maples are beloved for their rapid growth, stunning fall foliage, and sap that transforms into rich, flavorful maple syrup.

18. Eastern White Pine

Eastern White Pine grows fast and is easy to split, but it has a low heat output and produces more creosote. For these reasons, I recommend it for outdoor fires. It’s also great for kindling or mixing with denser woods. Many homesteaders grow it as a windbreak for added landscape benefits.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 8.
• Tree Height: 50 to 150 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. When young, 2 to 3 feet per year, then slows slightly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 15 to 16 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

While not the hottest burning wood, Eastern White Pine’s lightweight, easy-to-work nature makes it useful for all DIY homestead projects beyond firewood. It’s perfect for shed and barnyard construction, framing, barns, cabinets, furniture, and mulch.

Read More – 14 Cinderblock Fire Pit Design Ideas For Epic Backyard Bonfires!

19. Boxelder

Boxelder, a type of maple, is fast-growing and provides wood that burns cleanly. Its easy growth habits across various conditions, rapid growth, and easy splitting make it appealing as a renewable firewood source. However, boxelder trees also have a lower heat output. It’s a good option for milder winters or as a supplement.

• USDA Zones: 2 to 9.
• Tree Height: 30 to 50 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. Around 2 to 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: Around 15 to 16 million
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy.

The sap of boxelder trees can be tapped and boiled into a sweet syrup, providing a unique homegrown sweetener for the self-sufficient homesteader.

20. Russian Olive

Russian olive is a fast-growing, hardy choice for homesteads with poor soils. It burns quickly and hot but doesn’t last as long as other woods. It’s excellent for kindling or warmer climates. Russian Olive trees also have deep and robust root systems that can help stabilize soil on challenging land.

• USDA Zones: 3 to 7.
• Tree Height: 15 to 30 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. 2 to 3 feet yearly, hardy, and tolerates poor soils.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 17 to 18 million.
• Seasoning Time: 6 to 12 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Moderate.

Russian olive trees may not have the hottest BTU firewood, and they’re not the easiest to split. But they’re incredibly tolerant and can grow in places where other trees struggle. They also attract pollinators like bees, moths, and butterflies, making them a boon to your homestead.

One of our readers pointed out that the Russian olive is considered an invasive species in several states, including Ohio, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Before growing this fast-growing crop, please check your local regulations. Your local authorities may not appreciate your new firewood crop! (Thanks to Druid Jo for the heads up!)

21. Pin Oak

Pin Oak is a fast-growing oak variety that can be an excellent choice for homesteaders looking for a quicker firewood crop. Growing at a rate of about 2 to 3 feet per year, it provides a solid and warm source of firewood in a shorter time frame compared to slower-growing oaks. While its wood isn’t as dense as some other oaks, it still offers a decent amount of heat, with BTU values ranging from 20 to 25 million per cord.

• USDA Zones: 4 to 8.
• Tree Height: 60 to 70 feet.
• Growth Rate: Fast. 2 to 3 feet yearly.
• Wood Cord BTUs: 20 to 25 million.
• Seasoning Time: 12 to 18 months.
• Ease of Splitting: Easy to moderate (more effortless than denser oaks like Red Oak).

Pin Oak can be a great addition to your homestead woodlot! Its wood burns faster than denser oaks like Shumard, so it’s better for shorter, more frequent fires.

Read More – Our All-In-One Guide To Starting A Fire In A Backyard Pit The Easy Way!

Conclusion

Growing firewood is a long-term investment that pays independence and satisfaction dividends. Proper planning and species selection allows you to create a sustainable cycle of harvest-ready wood while enjoying the beauty these trees bring to your landscape. Start small, plan smart, and watch as your personal firewood forest takes shape!

What about you?

• What fast-growing trees already thrive in your area that make good firewood candidates?
• Have you experimented with coppicing any trees for firewood production? If so, what’s been your experience?
• Do you know any good fast-growing firewood crops that we neglected to mention?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!

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