Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
Quick answer
97 plants make our list of hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range. Examples include 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine, Apache plume, Big sagebrush, Bristlecone (foxtail) Pine, and Cliff fendlerbush. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
The Front Range sits in "hail alley," and a single summer storm can shred soft foliage. These trees and shrubs stand up best to hail thanks to tough or flexible growth, a more resilient choice for exposed Colorado yards. No plant is completely hail-proof.
Plan your garden
Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
All 97 plants
'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' PinePinus flexilis25 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Apache plumeFallugia paradoxa4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Bristlecone (foxtail) PinePinus aristata15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Cliff fendlerbushFendlera rupicola3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
CliffrosePurshia mexicana4 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
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
Common juniperJuniperus communis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Curlleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus ledifolius10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Dwarf wild indigoAmorpha nana1 to 2 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9- Engelmann SprucePicea engelmannii40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 6
FernbushChamaebatiaria millefolium4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Fragrant sumacRhus aromatica2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
LeadplantAmorpha canescens2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9- Limber PinePinus flexilis30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Littleleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus intricatus3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Mountain mahoganyCercocarpus montanus6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
One-seed JuniperJuniperus monosperma10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Pinyon PinePinus edulis15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa60 to 100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Rockspirea / mountain sprayHolodiscus dumosus3 to 5 ftlow 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- Roundleaf buffaloberryShepherdia rotundifolia3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
Rubber rabbitbrushEricameria nauseosa3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Sand sagebrushArtemisia filifolia2 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8 to 18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Southwestern White PinePinus strobiformis50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Western snowberrySymphoricarpos occidentalis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
White FirAbies concolor50 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
WinterfatKrascheninnikovia lanata1 to 3 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
'Blue Point' JuniperJuniperus chinensis8 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Adam's needle yuccaYucca filamentosa2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 10
American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica30 to 50 ftlow waterUSDA 7 to 10- Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice'Hesperocyparis arizonica20 to 30 ftlow waterUSDA 7 to 10
Austrian 'Oregan Green' PinePinus nigra40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Austrian PinePinus nigra25 to 35 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Black Hills 'Densata' SprucePicea glauca25 to 40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 6
Black Locust 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Blue Star juniperJuniperus squamata 'Blue Star'1 to 3 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
BLUE VELVET® honeysuckleLonicera korolkowii 'Floribunda'8 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Bosnian Pine (Emerald Arrow)Pinus heldreichii20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7- Bosnian Pine (species)Pinus heldreichii30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 6 to 9- Chinese JuniperJuniperus chinensis15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Compact Oregon grapeMahonia aquifolium 'Compactum'2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Creeping juniperJuniperus horizontalis1 to 2 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides60 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Eastern ArborvitaeThuja occidentalis12 to 30 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 8
Eastern Red Cedar Juniper (Hillspire)Juniperus virginiana15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8- Eastern Red Cedar Juniper (Taylor)Juniperus virginiana20 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Eastern White PinePinus strobus50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
European LarchLarix decidua40 to 70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 6
Green Giant ArborvitaeThuja standishii x Thuja plicata40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 8
Hansa roseRosa rugosa 'Hansa'4 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Hazel Smith Giant SequoiaSequoiadendron giganteum30 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 6 to 8
Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii2 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Japanese garden juniperJuniperus procumbens 'Nana'1 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9- Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60 to 75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Lacebark PinePinus bungeana30 to 50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 7
Mugo PinePinus mugo10 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 7
Norway SprucePicea abies25 to 30 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 7- Platinum sageSalvia daghestanica1 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 9
Red Jacket gooseberryRibes uva-crispa 'Red Jacket'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Red yuccaHesperaloe parviflora2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 5 to 11
Redleaf roseRosa glauca4 to 7 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 9- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Medora)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 25 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 8
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Welchii)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 20 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 8
- Ruby Voodoo roseRosa 'Ruby Voodoo'4 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
- Rugosa / beach roseRosa rugosa4 to 6 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Russian sageSalvia yangii2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 9
Saltcedar / tamariskTamarix ramosissima12 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Savin juniperJuniperus sabina1 to 3 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 7
Scarlet firethornPyracantha coccinea6 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Scotch PinePinus sylvestris40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoides10 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Sea Foam sageArtemisia versicolor 'Sea Foam'1 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Serbian SprucePicea omorika50 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 7
SHAWNEE BRAVE™ BaldcypressTaxodium distichum 'Mickelson'50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 10
Siberian pea shrubCaragana arborescens10 to 18 ftlow waterUSDA 2 to 7
Singleleaf Pinyon PinePinus monophylla15 to 30 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 7
SPANISH GOLD® broomCytisus purgans2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 5 to 8
Sungari redbead cotoneasterCotoneaster racemiflorus var. soongoricus6 to 10 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 7
Swiss Stone PinePinus cembra30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Thornless Common Honeylocust (IMPERIAL®)Gleditsia triacanthos40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9- Thornless Common Honeylocust (NORTHERN ACCLAIM®)Gleditsia triacanthos30 to 45 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
- Thornless Common Honeylocust (SUNBURST®)Gleditsia triacanthos30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
TIDY Littleleaf peashrubCaragana microphylla 'Tidy'3 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 2 to 7
Frequently asked questions
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 37 of the 97 plants are Colorado natives, including 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine, Apache plume, Big sagebrush, and Bristlecone (foxtail) Pine.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 72 of the 97 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 97 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
- Drought-tolerant shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
- Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Trees to avoid on the Colorado Front Range
- Deer-resistant plants and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for Colorado's Front Range
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado
- Evergreen privacy trees for Colorado's Front Range
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range