COMMON TREES IN COLORADO & THE FRONT RANGE

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Superior performance in tough urban conditions as well as windswept, arid plains, the elm forms a strong central trunk with arching branches and dark green leaves.This tree is highly resis-tant to disease, insects, and drought.

Max elevation: 6,000 ft.

Average mature height: 35′

Spread: 25′

Extremely hardy and well adaptedto high elevations, the quaking aspen comes as a single tree or in clumps, both with fibrous root systems. Native to Colorado, the aspen tree is known for its slim, elegant form, white bark, and signature rustling leaves that turn a brilliant yellow in autumn.

Max elevation: 9500 ft.

Average mature height: 35′

A fast-growing cross between the Silver Maple and Red Maple, the Autumn Blaze features green foliage that turns a bright orange-red in fall. Broad, oval shape with more consistent branching than the Silver Maple.

Max elevation: 6500 ft.

Average mature height: 50′

Spread: 40′

Heavy green foliage turns to a lush purple in fall, holding its vibrant color well past the first frost. Vigorous, rapid growth makes this a popular shade tree for yards and parks. This tree is less drought-resistant than other Colorado favorites and is best cared for with consistent irrigation.

Max elevation: 7500 ft.

Average mature height: 50′

Spread: 30′

The most popular native evergreen, the Colorado spruce comes in shades of green, blue, and silver. Blue spruces range from pale blue-grey shades to rich, robins-egg blue. With nearly perfect conical shapes and dense horizontal branching, this evergreen is commonly cultivated as Christmas trees.

Max elevation: 9500 ft.

Mature height: 60′

Spread: 25′

Beautiful white trunks exfoliate to reveal patches of tan, cherry, and cinnamon-colored bark underneath. The elegant, pyramid-shaped crown and large, glossy green leaves add to the visual appeal. Hardy and adaptable to wet or dry conditions.

Max elevation: 8500 ft. depending on variety

Mature height: 50′

Spread: 40′

The black locust (as opposed to the honey locust) features thick, deeply furrowed blackish bark. With bright green, fern-like foliage and dense branching, this tree offers sweet-smelling white or lavender-colored flowers in May and June. Black locusts are both thornless and podless. Symmetrical, rounded or pyramidal crown with straight trunks.

Max elevation: 7500 ft.

Mature height: 50′

Spread: 35′

This adaptable tree features large, heart-shaped leaves and showy white June flowers that turn into long, 9″ to 20″ bean pods in autumn. Fast-growing and hardy, this tree provides dense shade and is attractive to many bird species.

Max elevation: 7000 ft.

Mature height: 50′

Spread: 30′

Many versions of the classic cherry tree can be found in the region, from the smallish purple-leaf sand cherry to the taller, graceful Oriental varieties. Lovely almond-scented flowers bloom in April, and the foliage of many types turns an attractive reddish-purple when mature.

Max elevation: 6000-9000 ft.

Mature height: varies; 10′ – 25′

Spread: 10′ to 25′

These rapid-growing native trees provide quick shade. Commonly found lining lake edges, creek beds and irrigation ditches, the leaves are triangular, shiny green and turn a bright yellow-gold in fall. Seeds form in early summer and are easily airborne through its signature white, cottony fluff.

Max elevation: 8500+ ft.

Mature height: 75-100′

Spread: 30-40′

Crabapple trees often thrive in the Front Range, with fragrant spring blooms appearing in shades of white and pink. Most bear fruit in late summer and into fall, but non-fruiting varieties are also available. Rich foliage turns from green to orange or red-purple in autumn.

Max elevation: 7500 ft.

Mature height: 12′ – 20′

Spread: 20′

Very ornamental. White flowers bloom reliably. birds love the edible berries. Excellent red-orange fall color.

Max. Elev: 8,500 ft

Mature Ht: 15-20′

Spd: 10′

Leaves are golden in spring, turning green in summer, and a copper-orange in fall. Light crimson summer flowers.

Max. Elev. 8,500 ft

Mature Ht: 3′

Spd:2′

GFS: 12-15″ 18-24″

While commonly found on top of “Buffalo Bill’s” grave, these junipers have soft, feathery branches creating a unique, wide-spreading form. Very hardy. Foliage is bright green. One of the best for high elevations.

Max. Elev: 9500 ft

Mature Ht: 12″

Spd: 6′

Tall, pyramidal with brilliant, rich green foliage. Rapid grower.

Max. Elev: 8,000ft.

Mature Ht: 15′ & Spd: 5′

Spa/SPE 3′ 4′ 5′ 8′

Faster growing, pyramidal form of boxwood. More conical is left unsheared.

Max. Elev.: 6,000 ft.

Mature Ht: 5′ & Spd: 3′

From Canada and truly a Zone 4. Rounded, full-bodied shrub with dark green foliage. Holds color through winter.

Max. Elev: 6,500 ft.

Mature ht: 4′ & Spd:2″

Best used on north sides, protected from winter winds. Little-leaf, slow-growing, loose, upright spreading habit with glossy, bright green, oval foliage.

Max. Elev: 6,000 ft.

Mature Ht: 4′ & Spd:4′

Small, erect evergreen. Dense branching with white margin on rich green, rounded leaves.

Max. Elev: 6,000 ft

Mature Ht: 2′ & Spd: 4′

Narrow pyramidal with dense branching. Holds emerald green color throughout winter. Excellent hedge or screen.

Max. Elev: 5,500 ft

Mature Ht: 15′ & Spd:4′

Darkest green pine. Heavy, long needles, 2 per bundle. Vigorous, dense grower. Will tolerate heat and cold. Withstands over watering, transplanting, and planting in newly sodded areas much better than Ponderosa Pine.

Max. Elev: 7,500 ft

Mature Ht: 50′ & Spd: 20′

True Dwarf. Dense, mushroom-shaped, dark green pine. Very hardy. Again, this mugo stays dwarf!

Max. Elev: 7,500ft

Mature Ht: 3′ and Spd:4′

Compact, rounded dwarf spruce of good blue color. Slow grower, densely branched.

Max. Elev: 8,000 ft

Mature ht: 3′ & Sd: 4′

A beautiful, narrow, fast-growing spruce with short, dark green needles. Known to withstand heavy snow loads better than most fastigiate spruce.

Max. Elev: 6,500 ft

Mature Ht: 15′ & Spd: 4′

These single stem aspen are nursery grown in containers and B & B sizes. In general, B&B trees have a larger caliper than container grown trees. Extremely hardy, with fibrous root systems.

Max. Elev: 9,500 ft.

Mature Ht: 35′ and Spd:15′

These multi-stem clump aspen are nursery grown in containers and B&B sizes. In general, B&B clumps have a larger caliper than container grown trees. Extremely harder, with fibrous root systems.

Max. Elev: 9,500 ft

Mature Ht: 35′ & Spd: 15′

Cinnamon, exfoliating bark makes an excellent specimen. Borer resistant. Ragged bark at maturity. Likes sandy soil.

Max. Elev: 8,500 ft

Mature Ht: 50′ & Spd:40′

ardy tree with rich, bright green foliage. Blossoms are white. Tree does not bear fruit!

Max. Elev: 7,500 ft

Mature Ht: 20′ & Spd: 15′

Informal, small tree with excellent red color in fall. Single-stem specimen tends to grow slower than clump form.

Max. Elev: 9,500 ft

Mature Ht: 20′ & Spd:10′

If you have found the perfect micro climate, we now have many kinds of Japanese maples. Needs protection!

Max. Elev: 5,500 ft.

These evenly branched trees grow more cone-shaped than other flowering pears. Young trees bloom better than the Bradford. White flowers followed by glossy green foliage turning brilliant orange-red in the fall.

Max. Elev: 7,500 ft

Mature Ht: 35′ & Spd: 15′