Best shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
123 plants make our list of best shade trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Colorado Blue Spruce, Colorado Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, and Highland Poplar (cottonwood). Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Large-canopy trees that deliver real summer shade on the Front Range. Each matures to roughly 40 feet or taller and is rated for Colorado's climate, soils, and wind.
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Compare these trees at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness | Mature form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30 to 40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 9 | Irregular |
| Colorado Blue Spruce | 15 to 50 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 | Pyramidal |
| Colorado Spruce | 50 to 75 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 | Pyramidal |
| Engelmann Spruce | 40 to 60 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 6 | Pyramidal |
| Highland Poplar (cottonwood) | 50 to 70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | Oval |
| Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 40 to 60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | Oval |
| Limber Pine | 30 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 7 | Pyramidal |
| Lodgepole Pine | 30 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 7 | Pyramidal |
| Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 30 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | Pyramidal |
| Peachleaf Willow | 25 to 50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | Rounded |
| Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood) | 50 to 70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 | Spreading |
| Ponderosa Pine | 60 to 100 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 7 | Pyramidal |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 123 plants
Boxelder 'Sensation' MapleAcer negundo30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 9
Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungens glauca15 to 50 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Colorado SprucePicea pungens50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7- Engelmann SprucePicea engelmannii40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 6
Highland Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata x sargentii50 to 70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata40 to 60 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Limber PinePinus flexilis30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Lodgepole PinePinus contorta30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus angustifolia30 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25 to 50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood)Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera50 to 70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa60 to 100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Quaking Aspen Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremuloides20 to 50 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 1 to 6
Rocky Mountain Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca40 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 6
Southwestern White PinePinus strobiformis50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
White FirAbies concolor50 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
'Emerald Sunshine' ElmUlmus propinqua35 to 45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
'Fastigiata' HornbeamCarpinus betulus35 to 45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
'Frontier' ElmUlmus minor x U. parvifolia40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
'Glenleven' LindenTilia x flavescens40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
'Harvest Gold' LindenTilia cordata x mongolica40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
'New Horizon' ElmUlmus japonica x U. pumila 'New Horizon'40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
'Prospector' ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
'Urban Pinnacle' OakQuercus macrocarpa 'Urban Pinnacle'45 to 55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8- ACCOLADE® ('Morton') ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica50 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
American ElmUlmus americana50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 9
American HophornbeamOstrya virginiana25 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
American LindenTilia americana50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2 to 8
American SweetgumLiquidambar styraciflua50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
American SycamorePlatanus occidentalis70 to 100 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 9
American YellowwoodCladrastis kentukea30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Amur corktreePhellodendron amurense30 to 45 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica30 to 50 ftlow waterUSDA 7 to 10
Ash speciesFraxinus40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Asian White BirchBetula platyphylla30 to 40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 7
Austrian 'Oregan Green' PinePinus nigra40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Black Hills 'Densata' SprucePicea glauca25 to 40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 6
Black Locust 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Black WalnutJuglans nigra50 to 75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Bosnian Pine (species)Pinus heldreichii30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7- 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
Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 6 to 9- Chinese ElmUlmus parvifolia40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Chinkapin OakQuercus muehlenbergii40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 7
CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Common HackberryCeltis occidentalis40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Common HorsechestnutAesculus hippocastanum50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Cucumbertree MagnoliaMagnolia acuminata40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
David ElmUlmus davidiana40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides60 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Dolgo CrabappleMalus 'Dolgo'30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Eastern Poplar (cottonwood)Populus deltoides50 to 80 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 9
Eastern White PinePinus strobus50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
English 'Columnaris' OakQuercus robur45 to 55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8- English OakQuercus robur40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
European AlderAlnus glutinosa40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 7
European BeechFagus sylvatica40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
European LarchLarix decidua40 to 70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 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
European White BirchBetula pendula30 to 40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 7
Freeman MapleAcer x freemanii40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Giant DogwoodCornus controversa30 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Ginkgo/Maidenhair TreeGinkgo biloba40 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Green Giant ArborvitaeThuja standishii x Thuja plicata40 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 8
Hazel Smith Giant SequoiaSequoiadendron giganteum30 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 6 to 8
HERITAGE® OakQuercus robur x macrocarpa50 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Japanese PagodatreeStyphnolobium japonicum40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino'Zelkova serrata35 to 45 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 8
Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicum40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8- Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60 to 75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Lacebark PinePinus bungeana30 to 50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 7
Littleleaf LindenTilia cordata40 to 50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
London Planetree 'EXCLAMATION!®'Platanus x acerifolia60 to 90 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 9
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
Niobe Weeping WillowSalix alba50 to 70 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8
Northern Pin OakQuercus ellipsoidalis40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 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 (CRIMSON SPIRE®)Quercus alba x robur40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Oak (REGAL PRINCE®)Quercus robur x bicolor40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Oak Leaf Mountain-ashSorbus x hybrida25 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
Ohio BuckeyeAesculus glabra20 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Pecan HickoryCarya illinoinensis50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Pin OakQuercus palustris50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Prairie Cascade WillowSalix x 'Prairie Cascade'35 to 45 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremuloides30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 1 to 6
Red HorsechestnutAesculus x carnea30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Red MapleAcer rubrum40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Red OakQuercus rubra60 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
River BirchBetula nigra40 to 70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 9- Russian Golden WillowSalix alba40 to 60 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8
Sawtooth OakQuercus acutissima40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Scotch PinePinus sylvestris40 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Serbian SprucePicea omorika50 to 60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 7
SHAWNEE BRAVE™ BaldcypressTaxodium distichum 'Mickelson'50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 10
Shingle OakQuercus imbricaria50 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Shumard OakQuercus shumardii40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Silver LindenTilia tomentosa50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Silver MapleAcer saccharinum50 to 70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
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
Swamp White OakQuercus bicolor50 to 60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Swedish Whitebeam Mountain-ashSorbus intermedia30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 6
Swiss Stone PinePinus cembra30 to 40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Texas Red OakQuercus buckleyi35 to 50 ftlow 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
Tower PoplarPopulus x canescens 'Tower'40 to 50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3 to 8
TRIUMPH® ElmUlmus x 'Morton Glossy'50 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Tuliptree (EMERALD CITY®)Liriodendron tulipifera50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9- Tuliptree (species)Liriodendron tulipifera50 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Turkish Filbert/HazelnutCorylus colurna40 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Upright European Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremula 'Erecta'30 to 40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
White OakQuercus alba50 to 80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
White poplarPopulus alba40 to 70 fthigh waterUSDA 3 to 8
Yellow BuckeyeAesculus flava50 to 75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7- Zelkova serrataZelkova serrata50 to 60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 15 to 100 ft across the 123 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 16 of the 123 trees are Colorado natives, including Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Colorado Blue Spruce, Colorado Spruce, and Engelmann Spruce.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 46 of the 123 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 123 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
- 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
- Best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado
- Evergreen privacy trees for Colorado's Front Range
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range