Low-water trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
107 plants make our list of low-water trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine, Bigtooth Maple (species), Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Bristlecone(foxtail) Pine, and Gambel Oak. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
These trees thrive on the Front Range with little supplemental irrigation once established, a smart choice for Colorado's semi-arid climate, water restrictions, and unpredictable summers. Every tree below is rated low or low-to-medium water on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
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.
Get the printable Low-Water Tree Field Guide
The 12 we would actually plant, with mature size, the honest watering plan, and where each fits. Free, to your inbox.
Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine | 25–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Bigtooth Maple (species) | 20–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 |
| Bristlecone(foxtail) Pine | 15–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Gambel Oak | 15–30 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Limber Pine | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Lodgepole Pine | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 |
| Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| One Juniper | 10–20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Peachleaf Willow | 25–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Pinyon Pine | 15–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Ponderosa Pine | 60–100 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 107 plants
'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' PinePinus flexilis25–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Bigtooth Maple (species)Acer grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Boxelder 'Sensation' MapleAcer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Bristlecone(foxtail) PinePinus aristata15–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Gambel OakQuercus gambelii15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8- Limber PinePinus flexilis30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus angustifolia30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
One JuniperJuniperus monosperma10–20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Pinyon PinePinus edulis15–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa60–100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Rocky Mountain Juniper (species)Juniperus scopulorum15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Southwestern White PinePinus strobiformis50–70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Wavyleaf OakQuercus undulata6–15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
'Blue Point' JuniperJuniperus chinensis8–12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
'Frontier' ElmUlmus minor x U. parvifolia40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
'New Horizon' ElmUlmus japonica x U. pumila 'New Horizon'40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
'Prospector' ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
'Urban Pinnacle' OakQuercus macrocarpa 'Urban Pinnacle'45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- ACCOLADE® ('Morton') ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Adirondack CrabappleMalus 'Adirondack'15–18 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
American ElmUlmus americana50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–9
American HophornbeamOstrya virginiana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Amur/Ginnala MapleAcer tataricum subsp. ginnala15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica30–50 ftlow waterUSDA 7–10- Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice'Hesperocyparis arizonica20–30 ftlow waterUSDA 7–10
Bartlett PearPyrus15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Bechtel 'Plena'Malus ioensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Bigtooth Maple (ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW®)Acer saccharum subsp. grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Black WalnutJuglans nigra50–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
BRANDYWINE® CrabappleMalus x 'Branzam'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Bur OakQuercus macrocarpa60–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Callery Pear (Aristocrat)Pyrus calleryana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9- Callery Pear (Capital)Pyrus calleryana25–35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Chinese CatalpaCatalpa ovata20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Chinese JuniperJuniperus chinensis15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Chinkapin OakQuercus muehlenbergii40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–7
Cockspur var. inermis HawthornCrataegus crus-galli20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Common ChokecherryPrunus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Common HackberryCeltis occidentalis40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9- CORALBURST® CrabappleMalus x 'Coralcole'8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
David ElmUlmus davidiana40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Dolgo CrabappleMalus 'Dolgo'30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Downy HawthornCrataegus mollis25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Eastern Red Cedar Juniper (Hillspire)Juniperus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Eastern Red Cedar Juniper (Taylor)Juniperus virginiana20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
English 'Columnaris' OakQuercus robur45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- English OakQuercus robur40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Gladiator CrabappleMalus 'Gladiator'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Globe - 'Navajo'Salix matsudana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Golden Raindrops®Malus x 'Schmidtcutleaf'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Goldenrain treeKoelreuteria paniculata25–35 ftlow waterUSDA 5–9
Green HawthornCrataegus viridis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hedge MapleAcer campestre25–35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
HERITAGE® OakQuercus robur x macrocarpa50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Indian Magic CrabappleMalus 'Indian Magic'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Jack'™ PearPyrus calleryana12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Japanese LilacSyringa reticulata15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7- Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
- Louisa CrabappleMalus 'Louisa'12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
MapleAcer truncatum x platanoides35–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Miyabe MapleAcer miyabei30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Mugo PinePinus mugo10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7- NORTHERN EMPRESS® ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Northern/Western CatalpaCatalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak (CRIMSON SPIRE®)Quercus alba x robur40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak (REGAL PRINCE®)Quercus robur x bicolor40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Peking LilacSyringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7- Prairie Rose CrabappleMalus 'Prairie Rose'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Prairiefire CrabappleMalus 'Prairiefire'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Princess Kay Flowering PlumPrunus nigra 'Princess Kay'10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Radiant CrabappleMalus 'Radiant'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Red Barron CrabappleMalus 'Red Barron'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Medora)Juniperus scopulorum15–25 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Welchii)Juniperus scopulorum15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
- ROYAL RAINDROPS® CrabappleMalus 'JFS-KW5'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Russian HawthornCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Sargent CrabappleMalus sargentii6–10 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Sargent Tina CrabappleMalus sargentii 'Tina'4–5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Saskatoon ServiceberryAmelanchier alnifolia10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Sawtooth OakQuercus acutissima40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Shadblow ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Shingle OakQuercus imbricaria50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Shumard OakQuercus shumardii40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Singleleaf Pinyon PinePinus monophylla15–30 ftlow waterUSDA 3–7- Spring Snow CrabappleMalus 'Spring Snow'20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
SUCKER PUNCH® ChokecherryPrunus x 'P002S' (PP25,767)8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Sugar Maple (Caddo John Pair)Acer saccharum40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Swiss Stone PinePinus cembra30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Tatarian HOT WINGS® MapleAcer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Tatarian MapleAcer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye)Aesculus glabra var. arguta15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Texas Red OakQuercus buckleyi35–50 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Thornless Common Honeylocust (IMPERIAL®)Gleditsia triacanthos40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9- Thornless Common Honeylocust (NORTHERN ACCLAIM®)Gleditsia triacanthos30–45 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
- Thornless Common Honeylocust (SUNBURST®)Gleditsia triacanthos30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
- Thunderchild CrabappleMalus 'Thunderchild'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
TRIUMPH® ElmUlmus x 'Morton Glossy'50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Turkish Filbert/HazelnutCorylus colurna40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Ussurian PearPyrus ussuriensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
White OakQuercus alba50–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Yellowhorn- CLEAR CREEK™Xanthoceras sorbifolium15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Zelkova serrataZelkova serrata50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 4 to 100 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?
- 15 of the 107 trees are Colorado natives, including 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' Pine, Bigtooth Maple (species), Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, and Bristlecone(foxtail) Pine.
- How much water do these plants need?
- Every plant here is rated low or low-to-medium water on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List once established, water-wise choices for Colorado's semi-arid climate.
- 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
- 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 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