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 Hawthorn, River/Douglas, Maple, Bigtooth, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', Maple, Rocky Mountain, and Willow, Peachleaf. 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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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 | Pollinator value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn, River/Douglas | 20–30 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Maple, Bigtooth | 20–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation' | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | High |
| Maple, Rocky Mountain | 10–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Willow, Peachleaf | 25–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | High |
| Apricot, Chinese | 15–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Apricot, Moongold, Moorpark | 15–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Bechtel 'Plena' | 15–25 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Birdcherry, European | 20–30 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–6 | High |
| Birdcherry, European: SUMMER GLOW®, Merlot | 20–30 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–6 | High |
| Black Locust - 'Purple Robe' | 30–50 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 | High |
| Buckeye/Horsechestnut, 'Briotti', 'Fort McNair' | 30–40 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–7 | High |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 115 plants
Hawthorn, River/DouglasCrataegus douglasii20–30 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Maple, BigtoothAcer grandidentatum20–30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'Acer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Maple, Rocky MountainAcer glabrum10–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Willow, PeachleafSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Apricot, ChinesePrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Apricot, Moongold, MoorparkPrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Bechtel 'Plena'Malus ioensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Birdcherry, EuropeanPrunus padus20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6- Birdcherry, European: SUMMER GLOW®, MerlotPrunus padus20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, 'Briotti', 'Fort McNair'Aesculus x carnea30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Common HorsechestnutAesculus hippocastanum50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Ohio BuckeyeAesculus glabra20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye)Aesculus glabra var. arguta15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Yellow BuckeyeAesculus flava50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9
Catalpa, ChineseCatalpa ovata20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Catalpa, Northern/Western, HEARTLAND®Catalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cherry, BingPrunus avium 'Bing'15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Cherry, Montmorency, North StarPrunus cerasus10–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Cherry, Stella CompactPrunus avium 'Stella Compact'10–15 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Chokecherry, AmurPrunus maackii25–35 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
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
Corktree, Amur corktreePhellodendron amurense30–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
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
Dogwood, Cornelian Cherry, 'Golden Glory'Cornus mas15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Dogwood, Giant: June SnowCornus controversa30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Cherry, Des FontainesPrunus x fontanesiana15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Cherry, PINK FLAIR®Prunus sargentii 'Pink Flare'20–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Flowering Plum, MT. ST. HELENS®Prunus cerasifera 'Frankthrees'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Flowering Plum, NewportPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Flowering Plum, Newport (Kankakee strain)Prunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Plum, Princess KayPrunus nigra 'Princess Kay'10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Freeman - 'Armstrong', AUTUMN BLAZE®, AUTUMN FANTASY®, SIENNA GLENN®Acer x freemanii40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Fruit Apple, HoneyCrisp, McIntosh, Red Deliciious, Sweet Sixteen, ZestarMalus varieties15–25 ftmedium 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
Hawthorn, 'Toba'Crataegus x mordenensis15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, Cockspur var. inermisCrataegus crus-galli20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Hawthorn, DownyCrataegus mollis25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, English: Crimson CloudCrataegus laevigata18–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, Green: Winter KingCrataegus viridis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, RussianCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, WashingtonCrataegus phaenopyrum25–30 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, 'Glenleven'Tilia x flavescens40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, 'Harvest Gold'Tilia cordata x mongolica40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, American- American Sentry™, 'Redmond'Tilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
Linden, Littleleaf: GREENSPIRE®Tilia cordata40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Linden, Silver: Sterling SilverTilia tomentosa50–70 ftmedium 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, Norway: Columnare, Crimson King, Crimson Sentry, Deborah, EMERALD LUSTER®, Emerald Queen, Fairview, Royal RedAcer platanoides40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Maple, NORWEGIAN SUNSET®, CRIMSON SUNSET®, PACIFIC SUNSET®Acer truncatum x platanoides35–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, PaperbarkAcer griseum20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Maple, Red: Autumn Flame, REDPOINTE®, RED SUNSET®Acer rubrum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Maple, Silver - all cultivarsAcer saccharinum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE®Acer saccharum40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Maple, Sugar: GREEN MOUNTAIN®, LEGACY®, FALL FIESTA®Acer saccharum50–70 ftmedium 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
Mountain-ash, EuropeanSorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6- Mountain-ash, European: CARDINAL ROYAL®Sorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Mountain-ash, Oak LeafSorbus x hybrida25–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Mountain-ash, Swedish WhitebeamSorbus intermedia30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Pagodatree, Japanese Pagodatree, Millstone™Styphnolobium japonicum40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Peach, Elberta, Polly, Red HavenPrunus persica 'Elberta', 'Polly', 'Red Haven'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Peach, Reliance, Veteran, ContenderPrunus persica 'Reliance', 'Veteran', 'Contender'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
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
Plum, Mount RoyalPrunus 'Mount Royal'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Plum, Santa RosaPrunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Plum, StanleyPrunus 'Stanley'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Plum, SuperiorPrunus 'Superior'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Plum, TokaPrunus 'Toka'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Redbud, 'Ruby Falls'Cercis canadensis6–8 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Redbud, EasternCercis canadensis20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
- Redbud, Eastern: Alba, Forest PansyCercis canadensis20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Serviceberry, 'Autumn Brilliance'Amelanchier x grandiflora15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, AlleghenyAmelanchier laevis15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, SaskatoonAmelanchier alnifolia10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Serviceberry, ShadblowAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Sour Cherry, Evans BaliPrunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Tuliptree, TuliptreeLiriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Tuliptree, Tuliptree, EMERALD CITY®Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
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
Yellowwood, American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
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 Hawthorn, River/Douglas, Maple, Bigtooth, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', and Maple, Rocky Mountain.
- 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 for the Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Best fall color 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