Best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
115 plants make our list of best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include Bigtooth Maple (species), Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Peachleaf Willow, River/Douglas Hawthorn, and Rocky Mountain Maple. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Trees are an underrated pollinator resource: a single mature tree can offer more bloom than a whole flower bed. These Front Range trees are strong nectar or pollen sources for bees and other pollinators (wind-pollinated trees like oaks and elms offer little).
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Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness | Pollinator value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigtooth Maple (species) | 20 to 30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 | High |
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30 to 40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 9 | High |
| Peachleaf Willow | 25 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | High |
| River/Douglas Hawthorn | 20 to 30 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 | High |
| Rocky Mountain Maple | 10 to 25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 | High |
| 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry | 15 to 25 ft | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 8 | High |
| 'Glenleven' Linden | 40 to 50 ft | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 7 | High |
| 'Harvest Gold' Linden | 40 to 50 ft | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 7 | High |
| 'Ruby Falls' Redbud | 6 to 8 ft | medium water | No | USDA 4 to 9 | High |
| 'Toba' Hawthorn | 15 to 20 ft | medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 | High |
| Adirondack Crabapple | 15 to 18 ft | low to medium water | No | USDA 4 to 8 | High |
| Allegheny Serviceberry | 15 to 25 ft | medium water | No | USDA 3 to 8 | High |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 115 plants
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
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
River/Douglas HawthornCrataegus douglasii20 to 30 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Rocky Mountain MapleAcer glabrum10 to 25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
'Autumn Brilliance' ServiceberryAmelanchier x grandiflora15 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
'Glenleven' LindenTilia x flavescens40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
'Harvest Gold' LindenTilia cordata x mongolica40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
'Ruby Falls' RedbudCercis canadensis6 to 8 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
'Toba' HawthornCrataegus x mordenensis15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Adirondack CrabappleMalus 'Adirondack'15 to 18 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Allegheny ServiceberryAmelanchier laevis15 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
American LindenTilia americana50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2 to 8
American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Amur ChokecherryPrunus maackii25 to 35 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Amur corktreePhellodendron amurense30 to 45 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Amur/Ginnala MapleAcer tataricum subsp. ginnala15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
AppleMalus varieties15 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Bartlett PearPyrus15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Bechtel 'Plena' CrabappleMalus ioensis15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Bigtooth Maple (ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW®)Acer saccharum subsp. grandidentatum20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Bing CherryPrunus avium 'Bing'15 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Black Locust 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
BRANDYWINE® CrabappleMalus x 'Branzam'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Callery Pear ('Bradford')Pyrus calleryana30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9- Callery Pear (Aristocrat)Pyrus calleryana25 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
- Callery Pear (Capital)Pyrus calleryana25 to 35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Chinese ApricotPrunus armeniaca15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Chinese CatalpaCatalpa ovata20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Cockspur var. inermis HawthornCrataegus crus-galli20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Common ChokecherryPrunus virginiana15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 7
Common HorsechestnutAesculus hippocastanum50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7- CORALBURST® CrabappleMalus x 'Coralcole'8 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Cornelian Cherry DogwoodCornus mas15 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Des Fontaines Flowering CherryPrunus x fontanesiana15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Dolgo CrabappleMalus 'Dolgo'30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Downy HawthornCrataegus mollis25 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Eastern Redbud (Alba)Cercis canadensis20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
- Eastern Redbud (species)Cercis canadensis20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Elberta PeachPrunus persica 'Elberta', 'Polly', 'Red Haven'12 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
English HawthornCrataegus laevigata18 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
European Birdcherry (species)Prunus padus20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6- European Birdcherry (SUMMER GLOW®)Prunus padus20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
European Mountain-ash (CARDINAL ROYAL®)Sorbus aucuparia20 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6- European Mountain-ash (species)Sorbus aucuparia20 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
Evans Bali Sour CherryPrunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Freeman MapleAcer x freemanii40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Giant DogwoodCornus controversa30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Gladiator CrabappleMalus 'Gladiator'15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Globe 'Navajo' WillowSalix matsudana15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8- Golden Raindrops® CrabappleMalus x 'Schmidtcutleaf'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Goldenrain treeKoelreuteria paniculata25 to 35 ftlow waterUSDA 5 to 9
Green HawthornCrataegus viridis20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Hedge MapleAcer campestre25 to 35 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Indian Magic CrabappleMalus 'Indian Magic'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Jack™ PearPyrus calleryana12 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Japanese PagodatreeStyphnolobium japonicum40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Littleleaf LindenTilia cordata40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7- Louisa CrabappleMalus 'Louisa'12 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
MapleAcer truncatum x platanoides35 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Miyabe MapleAcer miyabei30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Montmorency CherryPrunus cerasus10 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Moongold ApricotPrunus armeniaca15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Mount Royal PlumPrunus 'Mount Royal'12 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
MT. ST. HELENS® Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Frankthrees'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Newport (Kankakee strain) Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Newport Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Niobe Weeping WillowSalix alba50 to 70 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8
Northern/Western CatalpaCatalpa speciosa40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Norway MapleAcer platanoides40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Oak Leaf Mountain-ashSorbus x hybrida25 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
Ohio BuckeyeAesculus glabra20 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Paperbark MapleAcer griseum20 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
PINK FLAIR® Flowering CherryPrunus sargentii 'Pink Flare'20 to 25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Prairie Cascade WillowSalix x 'Prairie Cascade'35 to 45 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8- Prairie Rose CrabappleMalus 'Prairie Rose'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Prairiefire CrabappleMalus 'Prairiefire'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Princess Kay Flowering PlumPrunus nigra 'Princess Kay'10 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Radiant CrabappleMalus 'Radiant'15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Red Barron CrabappleMalus 'Red Barron'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Red HorsechestnutAesculus x carnea30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Red MapleAcer rubrum40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9- Reliance PeachPrunus persica 'Reliance', 'Veteran', 'Contender'12 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- ROYAL RAINDROPS® CrabappleMalus 'JFS-KW5'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Russian Golden WillowSalix alba40 to 60 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8
Russian HawthornCrataegus ambigua15 to 20 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 8
Santa Rosa PlumPrunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Sargent CrabappleMalus sargentii6 to 10 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Sargent Tina CrabappleMalus sargentii 'Tina'4 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Saskatoon ServiceberryAmelanchier alnifolia10 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 7
Shadblow ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensis15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Silver LindenTilia tomentosa50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Silver MapleAcer saccharinum50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9- Spring Snow CrabappleMalus 'Spring Snow'20 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Stanley PlumPrunus 'Stanley'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Stella Compact CherryPrunus avium 'Stella Compact'10 to 15 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
SUCKER PUNCH® ChokecherryPrunus x 'P002S' (PP25,767)8 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Sugar Maple (Caddo John Pair)Acer saccharum40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Sugar Maple (GREEN MOUNTAIN®)Acer saccharum50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Superior PlumPrunus 'Superior'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Swedish Whitebeam Mountain-ashSorbus intermedia30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
Tatarian HOT WINGS® MapleAcer tataricum15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Tatarian MapleAcer tataricum15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye)Aesculus glabra var. arguta15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 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
- Thunderchild CrabappleMalus 'Thunderchild'15 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
- Toka PlumPrunus 'Toka'15 to 20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Tuliptree (EMERALD CITY®)Liriodendron tulipifera50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9- Tuliptree (species)Liriodendron tulipifera50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Ussurian PearPyrus ussuriensis15 to 25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Washington HawthornCrataegus phaenopyrum25 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Yellow BuckeyeAesculus flava50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 4 to 80 ft across the 115 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 5 of the 115 trees are Colorado natives, including Bigtooth Maple (species), Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Peachleaf Willow, and River/Douglas Hawthorn.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 52 of the 115 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 115 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 and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for Colorado's Front Range
- Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
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