Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
45 plants make our list of fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', Poplar (cottonwood), Highland, Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf, Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf, and Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus'. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Want summer shade sooner? These large-canopy trees put on height quickly for the Front Range. Each is a fast grower that matures to roughly 40 feet or taller. Growth rate depends on water and site, so deep-water young trees to get them established.
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Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation' | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | Fast |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Highland | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf | 40–60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus' | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Quaking Aspen | 20–50 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 1–6 | Fast |
| Willow, Peachleaf | 25–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| 'Emerald Sunshine' | 35–45 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
| Alder, European | 40–60 ft | medium to high water | — | USDA 3–7 | Fast |
| Ash species | 40–60 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–9 | Fast |
| Birch, Asian White: Whitespire, DAKOTA PINNACLE®, PARKLAND PILLAR® | 30–40 ft | medium to high water | — | USDA 3–7 | Fast |
| Birch, European White: Gracilis | 30–40 ft | medium to high water | — | USDA 3–7 | Fast |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 45 plants
Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'Acer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
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
Willow, PeachleafSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
'Emerald Sunshine'Ulmus propinqua35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Alder, EuropeanAlnus glutinosa40–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Ash speciesFraxinus40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
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
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9
Catalpa, Northern/Western, HEARTLAND®Catalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium 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, 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
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
Linden, American- American Sentry™, 'Redmond'Tilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
Maple, Red: Autumn Flame, REDPOINTE®, RED SUNSET®Acer rubrum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Maple, Silver - all cultivarsAcer saccharinum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Pear, Callery: Aristocrat, CHANTICLEER® (aka Cleveland Select), Autumn Blaze, RedspirePyrus calleryana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Planetree, American sycamorePlatanus occidentalis70–100 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Planetree, London Planetree 'EXCLAMATION!®'Platanus x acerifolia60–90 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
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
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
Willow, Niobe Weeping: TristisSalix alba50–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Willow, Prairie Cascade, WeepingSalix x 'Prairie Cascade'35–45 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8- Willow, Russian Golden: VitellinaSalix alba40–60 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 20 to 100 ft across the 45 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 7 of the 45 trees are Colorado natives, including Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', Poplar (cottonwood), Highland, Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf, and Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 16 of the 45 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 45 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
- Best fall color 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