Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
107 plants make our list of best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water, Hawthorn, River/Douglas, Maple, Bigtooth, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', and Maple, Rocky Mountain. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Trees that put on a real autumn show on the Front Range: reds, oranges, golds, and purples. Fall color intensity varies with the season, water, and site (and our alkaline soils can mute some species), but each tree below reliably colors up.
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Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness | Fall color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water | 15–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Gold, Yellow |
| Hawthorn, River/Douglas | 20–30 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Orange, Red |
| Maple, Bigtooth | 20–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Orange, Red |
| Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation' | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | Yellow |
| Maple, Rocky Mountain | 10–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Orange, Red, Yellow |
| Oak, Gambel | 15–30 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Bronze, Red |
| Oak, Wavyleaf | 6–15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Bronze, Red |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Highland | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Gold, Yellow |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf | 40–60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Gold, Yellow |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Gold, Yellow |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus' | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Gold, Yellow |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Quaking Aspen | 20–50 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 1–6 | Gold, Yellow |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 107 plants
Birch, Rocky Mountain/WaterBetula occidentalis15–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Hawthorn, River/DouglasCrataegus douglasii20–30 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Maple, BigtoothAcer grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'Acer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Maple, Rocky MountainAcer glabrum10–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Oak, GambelQuercus gambelii15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Oak, WavyleafQuercus undulata6–15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Poplar (cottonwood), HighlandPopulus x acuminata x sargentii50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), LanceleafPopulus x acuminata40–60 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), NarrowleafPopulus angustifolia30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus'Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), Quaking AspenPopulus tremuloides20–50 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 1–6
'Emerald Sunshine'Ulmus propinqua35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
'Green Vase', 'Village Green'Zelkova serrata50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–8
Ash speciesFraxinus40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Baldcypress, SHAWNEE BRAVE™Taxodium distichum 'Mickelson'50–75 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–10
Birch, Asian White: Whitespire, DAKOTA PINNACLE®, PARKLAND PILLAR®Betula platyphylla30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Birch, European White: GracilisBetula pendula30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Birch, River: HERITAGE®Betula nigra40–70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9
Coffeetree, ESPRESSO®, DECAF®, SKINNY LATTE™, PRAIRIE TITAN™Gymnocladus dioicus50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Coffeetree, Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Dawn Redwood, Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides60–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Dogwood, Cornelian Cherry, 'Golden Glory'Cornus mas15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Dogwood, Giant: June SnowCornus controversa30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Elm, 'Frontier'Ulmus minor x U. parvifolia40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, 'New Horizon'Ulmus japonica x U. pumila 'New Horizon'40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, 'Prospector'Ulmus davidiana var. japonica40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Elm, ACCOLADE® ('Morton')Ulmus davidiana var. japonica50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, all cultivarsUlmus parvifolia40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, American: Valley Forge, New Harmony, PrincetonUlmus americana50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–9
Elm, David, GREENSTONE®, CHOICECITY®Ulmus davidiana40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Elm, NORTHERN EMPRESS®Ulmus davidiana var. japonica25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, TRIUMPH® ElmUlmus x 'Morton Glossy'50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Freeman - 'Armstrong', AUTUMN BLAZE®, AUTUMN FANTASY®, SIENNA GLENN®Acer x freemanii40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold'Ginkgo biloba40–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Hackberry, Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL®Celtis occidentalis40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Hawthorn, 'Toba'Crataegus x mordenensis15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, Cockspur var. inermisCrataegus crus-galli20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Hawthorn, DownyCrataegus mollis25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, English: Crimson CloudCrataegus laevigata18–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, Green: Winter KingCrataegus viridis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, RussianCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, WashingtonCrataegus phaenopyrum25–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hickory, PecanCarya illinoinensis50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Honeylocust, Thornless Common: IMPERIAL®, SHADEMASTER®, SKYLINE®Gleditsia triacanthos40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9- Honeylocust, Thornless Common: NORTHERN ACCLAIM®Gleditsia triacanthos30–45 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
- Honeylocust, Thornless Common: SUNBURST®Gleditsia triacanthos30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Katsura, Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Larch, European LarchLarix decidua40–70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–6
Linden, 'Glenleven'Tilia x flavescens40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, 'Harvest Gold'Tilia cordata x mongolica40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, American- American Sentry™, 'Redmond'Tilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
Linden, Littleleaf: GREENSPIRE®Tilia cordata40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, Silver: Sterling SilverTilia tomentosa50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Maple, Amur/Ginnala: FlameAcer tataricum subsp. ginnala15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Maple, Bigtooth: ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW®, HIGHLAND PARK®Acer saccharum subsp. grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, HedgeAcer campestre25–35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, MiyabeAcer miyabei30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, Norway: Columnare, Crimson King, Crimson Sentry, Deborah, EMERALD LUSTER®, Emerald Queen, Fairview, Royal RedAcer platanoides40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Maple, NORWEGIAN SUNSET®, CRIMSON SUNSET®, PACIFIC SUNSET®Acer truncatum x platanoides35–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, PaperbarkAcer griseum20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, Red: Autumn Flame, REDPOINTE®, RED SUNSET®Acer rubrum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Maple, Silver - all cultivarsAcer saccharinum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE®Acer saccharum40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Maple, Sugar: GREEN MOUNTAIN®, LEGACY®, FALL FIESTA®Acer saccharum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, TatarianAcer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Maple, Tatarian HOT WINGS®Acer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Mountain-ash, EuropeanSorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6- Mountain-ash, European: CARDINAL ROYAL®Sorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Mountain-ash, Oak LeafSorbus x hybrida25–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Mountain-ash, Swedish WhitebeamSorbus intermedia30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Northern PinQuercus ellipsoidalis40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, 'Urban Pinnacle'Quercus macrocarpa 'Urban Pinnacle'45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Oak, BurQuercus macrocarpa60–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Oak, ChinkapinQuercus muehlenbergii40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–7
Oak, CRIMSON SPIRE®, STREETSPIRE®Quercus alba x robur40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, EnglishQuercus robur40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Oak, English 'Columnaris'Quercus robur45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, HERITAGE®Quercus robur x macrocarpa50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, RedQuercus rubra60–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, REGAL PRINCE®, KINDRED SPIRIT®Quercus robur x bicolor40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, SawtoothQuercus acutissima40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, ShingleQuercus imbricaria50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, ShumardQuercus shumardii40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Oak, Swamp WhiteQuercus bicolor50–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, Texas RedQuercus buckleyi35–50 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, WhiteQuercus alba50–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Pear, Bartlett, Early Gold, Golden Spice, Luscious, Parker, SummercrispPyrus15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Pear, Callery: Aristocrat, CHANTICLEER® (aka Cleveland Select), Autumn Blaze, RedspirePyrus calleryana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
- Pear, Callery: Capital, JAVELIN®Pyrus calleryana25–35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
- Pear, Jack'™Pyrus calleryana12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Pear, Ussurian: Prairie Gem, Mt. FrostPyrus ussuriensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Pin OakQuercus palustris50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Poplar (cottonwood), EasternPopulus deltoides50–80 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–9- Poplar (cottonwood), PRAIRIE GOLD®Populus tremuloides30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 1–6
Poplar (cottonwood), Upright European, AspenPopulus tremula 'Erecta'30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, 'Autumn Brilliance'Amelanchier x grandiflora15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, AlleghenyAmelanchier laevis15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, SaskatoonAmelanchier alnifolia10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Serviceberry, ShadblowAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
TowerPopulus x canescens 'Tower'40–50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–8
Tuliptree, TuliptreeLiriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Tuliptree, Tuliptree, EMERALD CITY®Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
White poplarPopulus alba40–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Yellowwood, American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Zelkova, Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino'Zelkova serrata35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 6 to 80 ft across the 107 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 12 of the 107 trees are Colorado natives, including Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water, Hawthorn, River/Douglas, Maple, Bigtooth, and Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 52 of the 107 are rated low or low-to-medium water; the rest need moderate water. Each plant's page lists its water rating.
- How were these plants selected?
- Each of the 107 plants meets this page's criteria and is cross-referenced against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and USDA PLANTS. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.
Related guides
- Low-water trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Colorado native trees for the Front Range
- Best shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Small trees for Front Range yards
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Trees to avoid on the Colorado Front Range
- Deer-resistant plants for the Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Evergreen trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range