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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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigtooth Maple (species) | 20–30 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | High |
| Peachleaf Willow | 25–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | High |
| River/Douglas Hawthorn | 20–30 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Rocky Mountain Maple | 10–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | High |
| 'Autumn Brilliance' Serviceberry | 15–25 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 | High |
| 'Glenleven' Linden | 40–50 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–7 | High |
| 'Harvest Gold' Linden | 40–50 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–7 | High |
| 'Ruby Falls' Redbud | 6–8 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | High |
| 'Toba' Hawthorn | 15–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Adirondack Crabapple | 15–18 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | High |
| Allegheny Serviceberry | 15–25 ft | medium water | — | USDA 3–8 | High |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 115 plants
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
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
River/Douglas HawthornCrataegus douglasii20–30 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Rocky Mountain MapleAcer glabrum10–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
'Autumn Brilliance' ServiceberryAmelanchier x grandiflora15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
'Glenleven' LindenTilia x flavescens40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
'Harvest Gold' LindenTilia cordata x mongolica40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
'Ruby Falls' RedbudCercis canadensis6–8 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
'Toba' HawthornCrataegus x mordenensis15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Adirondack CrabappleMalus 'Adirondack'15–18 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Allegheny ServiceberryAmelanchier laevis15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Amur ChokecherryPrunus maackii25–35 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Amur corktreePhellodendron amurense30–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Amur/Ginnala MapleAcer tataricum subsp. ginnala15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
AppleMalus varieties15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
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
Bing CherryPrunus avium 'Bing'15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
BRANDYWINE® CrabappleMalus x 'Branzam'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9- 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 ApricotPrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Chinese CatalpaCatalpa ovata20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cockspur var. inermis HawthornCrataegus crus-galli20–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Common ChokecherryPrunus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Common HorsechestnutAesculus hippocastanum50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7- CORALBURST® CrabappleMalus x 'Coralcole'8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cornelian Cherry DogwoodCornus mas15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Des Fontaines Flowering CherryPrunus x fontanesiana15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Dolgo CrabappleMalus 'Dolgo'30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Downy HawthornCrataegus mollis25–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Eastern Redbud (Alba)Cercis canadensis20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
- Eastern Redbud (species)Cercis canadensis20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Elberta PeachPrunus persica 'Elberta', 'Polly', 'Red Haven'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
English HawthornCrataegus laevigata18–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
European Birdcherry (species)Prunus padus20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6- European Birdcherry (SUMMER GLOW®)Prunus padus20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
European Mountain-ash (CARDINAL ROYAL®)Sorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6- European Mountain-ash (species)Sorbus aucuparia20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Evans Bali Sour CherryPrunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Freeman - 'Armstrong'Acer x freemanii40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Giant DogwoodCornus controversa30–50 ftmedium 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- Indian Magic CrabappleMalus 'Indian Magic'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Jack'™ PearPyrus calleryana12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Japanese PagodatreeStyphnolobium japonicum40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
LindenTilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
Littleleaf LindenTilia cordata40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7- 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- Montmorency CherryPrunus cerasus10–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Moongold ApricotPrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Mount Royal PlumPrunus 'Mount Royal'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
MT. ST. HELENS® Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Frankthrees'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Newport (Kankakee strain) Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Newport Flowering PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Niobe Weeping WillowSalix alba50–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Northern/Western CatalpaCatalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Norway MapleAcer platanoides40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Oak Leaf Mountain-ashSorbus x hybrida25–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
Ohio BuckeyeAesculus glabra20–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Paperbark MapleAcer griseum20–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
PINK FLAIR® Flowering CherryPrunus sargentii 'Pink Flare'20–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Prairie Cascade WillowSalix x 'Prairie Cascade'35–45 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8- 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
Red HorsechestnutAesculus x carnea30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Red MapleAcer rubrum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9- Reliance PeachPrunus persica 'Reliance', 'Veteran', 'Contender'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- ROYAL RAINDROPS® CrabappleMalus 'JFS-KW5'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Russian Golden WillowSalix alba40–60 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Russian HawthornCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Santa Rosa PlumPrunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'15–20 ftmedium 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
Shadblow ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Silver - all cultivars MapleAcer saccharinum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Silver LindenTilia tomentosa50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7- Spring Snow CrabappleMalus 'Spring Snow'20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Stanley PlumPrunus 'Stanley'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Stella Compact CherryPrunus avium 'Stella Compact'10–15 ftmedium 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- Sugar Maple (GREEN MOUNTAIN®)Acer saccharum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Superior PlumPrunus 'Superior'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Swedish Whitebeam Mountain-ashSorbus intermedia30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–6
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
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
- Toka PlumPrunus 'Toka'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Tuliptree (EMERALD CITY®)Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Tuliptree (species)Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Ussurian PearPyrus ussuriensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Washington HawthornCrataegus phaenopyrum25–30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Yellow BuckeyeAesculus flava50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
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 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