Colorado native trees for the Front Range
Quick answer
28 plants make our list of colorado native trees for the Front Range. Examples include 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine, Bigtooth Maple (species), Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Bristlecone (foxtail) Pine, and Colorado Blue Spruce. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Native trees are adapted to Front Range soils, cold snaps, and low rainfall, and they support local wildlife. These species are Colorado natives suited to landscapes from the foothills to the plains.
All Colorado natives in one place, with top picks by type: Native plants of Colorado →
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Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine | 25 to 30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 7 |
| Bigtooth Maple (species) | 20 to 30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30 to 40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 9 |
| Bristlecone (foxtail) Pine | 15 to 30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 7 |
| Colorado Blue Spruce | 15 to 50 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
| Colorado Spruce | 50 to 75 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
| Engelmann Spruce | 40 to 60 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 6 |
| Gambel Oak | 15 to 30 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Highland Poplar (cottonwood) | 50 to 70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 40 to 60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Limber Pine | 30 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 7 |
| Lodgepole Pine | 30 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 7 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 28 plants
'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' PinePinus flexilis25 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Bigtooth Maple (species)Acer grandidentatum20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Boxelder 'Sensation' MapleAcer negundo30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 9
Bristlecone (foxtail) PinePinus aristata15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungens glauca15 to 50 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Colorado SprucePicea pungens50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7- Engelmann SprucePicea engelmannii40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 6
Gambel OakQuercus gambelii15 to 30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Highland Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata x sargentii50 to 70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata40 to 60 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8- Limber PinePinus flexilis30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus angustifolia30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
One-seed JuniperJuniperus monosperma10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Pinyon PinePinus edulis15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood)Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera50 to 70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa60 to 100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Quaking Aspen Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremuloides20 to 50 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 1 to 6
River/Douglas HawthornCrataegus douglasii20 to 30 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Rocky Mountain Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca40 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 6
Rocky Mountain Juniper (species)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Rocky Mountain MapleAcer glabrum10 to 25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Rocky Mountain/Water BirchBetula occidentalis15 to 25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Southwestern White PinePinus strobiformis50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Thinleaf/Mountain AlderAlnus incana subsp. tenuifolia20 to 30 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Wavyleaf OakQuercus undulata6 to 15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
White FirAbies concolor50 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 6 to 100 ft across the 28 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- All 28 trees on this list are Colorado natives.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 15 of the 28 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 28 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.
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