Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
Last updated 2026-06-05
Quick answer
33 plants make our list of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range. Examples include Fourwing saltbush, Juniper — Rocky Mountain, New Mexico privet, Sand sagebrush, and Silver buffaloberry. 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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All 33 plants
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3–8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Juniper — Rocky MountainJuniperus scopulorum15–30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6–12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Sand sagebrushArtemisia filifolia2–5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8–18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
WinterfatKrascheninnikovia lanata1–3 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Adam's needle yuccaYucca filamentosa2–4 ftlow waterUSDA 4–10
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium 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 — 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
- Juniper — Rocky Mountain – 'Medora', 'Skyrocket', 'Woodward'Juniperus scopulorum15–25 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
- Juniper — Rocky Mountain – 'Welchii', 'Gray Gleam', 'Cologreen', 'Wichita Blue', 'Moonglow'Juniperus scopulorum15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
Linden — American- American Sentry™, 'Redmond'Tilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
Linden — Littleleaf – GREENSPIRE®Tilia cordata40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Oak — BurQuercus macrocarpa60–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Oak — Swamp WhiteQuercus bicolor50–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Pear — Callery – 'Aristocrat', CHANTICLEER® (aka 'Cleveland Select'), 'Autumn Blaze', 'Redspire'Pyrus 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
Red yuccaHesperaloe parviflora2–4 ftlow waterUSDA 5–11
Rugosa / beach roseRosa rugosa4–6 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifolia15–30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Saltcedar / tamariskTamarix ramosissima12–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–8
Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoides10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Siberian pea shrubCaragana arborescens10–18 ftlow waterUSDA 2–7
Frequently asked questions
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 8 of the 33 plants are Colorado natives, including Fourwing saltbush, Juniper — Rocky Mountain, New Mexico privet, and Sand sagebrush.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 27 of the 33 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 33 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
- Low-water shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
- Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Deer-resistant plants for the Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
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- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range