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 Juniper, One: Seed, Juniper, Rocky Mountain, Maple, Bigtooth, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', and Oak, Gambel. 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.
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Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper, One: Seed | 10–20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Juniper, Rocky Mountain | 15–30 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Maple, Bigtooth | 20–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation' | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 |
| Oak, Gambel | 15–30 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Oak, Wavyleaf | 6–15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Pine, 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' | 25–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Pine, Bristlecone(foxtail) | 15–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Pine, Limber | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 |
| Pine, Lodgepole | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 |
| Pine, Pinyon | 15–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Pine, Ponderosa | 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
Juniper, One: SeedJuniperus monosperma10–20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Juniper, Rocky MountainJuniperus scopulorum15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Maple, BigtoothAcer grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'Acer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Oak, GambelQuercus gambelii15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Oak, WavyleafQuercus undulata6–15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Pine, 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'Pinus flexilis25–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Pine, Bristlecone(foxtail)Pinus aristata15–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7- Pine, LimberPinus flexilis30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Pine, LodgepolePinus contorta30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Pine, PinyonPinus edulis15–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Pine, PonderosaPinus ponderosa60–100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Pine, Southwestern WhitePinus strobiformis50–70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Poplar (cottonwood), NarrowleafPopulus angustifolia30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Willow, PeachleafSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
'Green Vase', 'Village Green'Zelkova serrata50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–8
Bechtel 'Plena'Malus ioensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Black WalnutJuglans nigra50–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye)Aesculus glabra var. arguta15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Catalpa, ChineseCatalpa ovata20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Catalpa, Northern/Western, HEARTLAND®Catalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Chokecherry, Common: Canada Red, SchubertPrunus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Chokecherry, SUCKER PUNCH®Prunus x 'P002S' (PP25,767)8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
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
Crabapple, AdirondackMalus 'Adirondack'15–18 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Crabapple, BRANDYWINE®Malus x 'Branzam'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Crabapple, CORALBURST®Malus x 'Coralcole'8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, DolgoMalus 'Dolgo'30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, GladiatorMalus 'Gladiator'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Indian MagicMalus 'Indian Magic'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, LouisaMalus 'Louisa'12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Prairie RoseMalus 'Prairie Rose'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, PrairiefireMalus 'Prairiefire'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, RadiantMalus 'Radiant'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Red BarronMalus 'Red Barron'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, ROYAL RAINDROPS®Malus 'JFS-KW5'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Crabapple, SargentMalus sargentii6–10 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Crabapple, Sargent TinaMalus sargentii 'Tina'4–5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Spring SnowMalus 'Spring Snow'20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, ThunderchildMalus 'Thunderchild'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cypress, Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica30–50 ftlow waterUSDA 7–10- Cypress, Arizona Cypress 'Blue Ice', CRYSTAL FROST™Hesperocyparis arizonica20–30 ftlow waterUSDA 7–10
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, 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
Flowering Plum, Princess KayPrunus nigra 'Princess Kay'10–15 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
Hackberry, Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL®Celtis occidentalis40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Hawthorn, Cockspur var. inermisCrataegus crus-galli20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Hawthorn, DownyCrataegus mollis25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, Green: Winter KingCrataegus viridis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, RussianCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Hazelnut, Turkish Filbert/HazelnutCorylus colurna40–60 ftlow to medium 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
Hophornbeam, American HophornbeamOstrya virginiana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Juniper, 'Blue Point'Juniperus chinensis8–12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Juniper, Chinese: Spartan, Spearmint, Hetzi ColumnarisJuniperus chinensis15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Hillspire, Idyllwild, Blue ArrowJuniperus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: TaylorJuniperus virginiana20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
- Juniper, Rocky Mountain: Medora, Skyrocket, WoodwardJuniperus scopulorum15–25 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
- Juniper, Rocky Mountain: Welchii, Gray Gleam, Cologreen, Wichita Blue, MoonglowJuniperus scopulorum15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
Lilac, Japanese: Ivory SilkSyringa reticulata15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Lilac, Peking: Summer CharmSyringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Maackia, Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20–30 ftlow to medium 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, NORWEGIAN SUNSET®, CRIMSON SUNSET®, PACIFIC SUNSET®Acer truncatum x platanoides35–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE®Acer saccharum40–50 ftlow to medium 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
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, 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, Texas RedQuercus buckleyi35–50 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, WhiteQuercus alba50–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
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
Pine, Mugo: TannenbaumPinus mugo10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Pine, Singleleaf PinyonPinus monophylla15–30 ftlow waterUSDA 3–7
Pine, Swiss Stone PinePinus cembra30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Serviceberry, SaskatoonAmelanchier alnifolia10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Serviceberry, ShadblowAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Yellowhorn, Yellowhorn- CLEAR CREEK™Xanthoceras sorbifolium15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
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 Juniper, One: Seed, Juniper, Rocky Mountain, Maple, Bigtooth, and Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'.
- 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.
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- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
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