Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
Quick answer
38 plants make our list of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range. Examples include Fourwing saltbush, New Mexico privet, Rocky Mountain Juniper (species), Roundleaf buffaloberry, and Rubber rabbitbrush. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Trees and shrubs that shrug off de-icing salt and roadside spray, good choices for Front Range hellstrips, parkways, driveways, and street-side beds where winter salt builds up. Each is rated highly salt-tolerant.
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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.
All 38 plants
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Rocky Mountain Juniper (species)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8- Roundleaf buffaloberryShepherdia rotundifolia3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
Rubber rabbitbrushEricameria nauseosa3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Sand sagebrushArtemisia filifolia2 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8 to 18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
WinterfatKrascheninnikovia lanata1 to 3 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Adam's needle yuccaYucca filamentosa2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 10
American LindenTilia americana50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Black Locust 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Bur OakQuercus macrocarpa60 to 80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 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
Cockspur var. inermis HawthornCrataegus crus-galli20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Common HackberryCeltis occidentalis40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Creeping juniperJuniperus horizontalis1 to 2 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Hansa roseRosa rugosa 'Hansa'4 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9- Jack™ PearPyrus calleryana12 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Littleleaf LindenTilia cordata40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Red yuccaHesperaloe parviflora2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 5 to 11- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Medora)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 25 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 8
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Welchii)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 20 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 8
- Rugosa / beach roseRosa rugosa4 to 6 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifolia15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 7
Saltcedar / tamariskTamarix ramosissima12 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Savin juniperJuniperus sabina1 to 3 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 7
Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoides10 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Siberian pea shrubCaragana arborescens10 to 18 ftlow waterUSDA 2 to 7
Swamp White OakQuercus bicolor50 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
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
Washington HawthornCrataegus phaenopyrum25 to 30 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 10 of the 38 plants are Colorado natives, including Fourwing saltbush, New Mexico privet, Rocky Mountain Juniper (species), and Roundleaf buffaloberry.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 32 of the 38 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 38 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
- Drought-tolerant shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
- Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
- 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
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
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- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
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- Evergreen privacy trees for Colorado's Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range