The question is quite challenging to answer as the word “tree growth” contains different meanings. We see a tree growing in width and height over the years and sometimes forgot about the underground growth. All trees have different growth rates and growth cycles. Some trees grow their roots all year, while only their trunks and branches may grow in select seasons.

We can’t know the exact life span of a tree. However, we can approximate how long it takes for a tree to grow by keeping a few things in mind that affect trees’ growth rate. Below you will find a breakdown of a tree’s growth to better understand how long it takes for a tree to grow.

•Seed Germination Stage: 1-3 Weeks – This is the initial step in the growth of a tree. Most often, trees grow from seeds.

•Seedling and Sapling Stage: 6 Months to Several Years – Now that the seedling has formed, we can begin to watch it grow and develop out of the ground.

•Mature or Fruit Bearing Tree: 4 Years and Onwards – When your tree has grown more than 10 feet, it can be considered a full-grown tree. After a tree becomes mature, it can produce fruit, and this can take between 2 to 10 years for trees with shorter life spans. 

•Ancient Trees: Over 100 Years – Older than most humans and certainly taller. Tree species can take over 100 years to become mature trees. Some of these may even continue to grow after the hundred-year mark.