Researchers at the University of Minnesota in Duluth introduced a fast-growing tree that can grow up to 8 feet a year, MPR News reported.
The tree, dubbed InnovaTree, is a hybrid of cottonwood and poplar and was originally developed as a way to address a pulp shortage in Minnesota. However, today it’s being viewed as a quick way of providing shade in residential areas and removing toxins from soil, and it has recently hit the market for sale (although it’s already sold out through 2023).
Researchers believe the tree can live up to 75 years.
“This isn't a tree that you'll want to plant right next to your house or right next to a septic system,” Jeff Jackson, an extension educator from the University of Minnesota, told MPR. “But for homeowners that are looking for, say, a privacy screen, quick shade, wildlife plantings, the rapid growth and disease resistance makes it perfect for those types of applications.”
