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 Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, Fir, White, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', Pine, Limber, and Pine, Lodgepole. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas fir | 40–80 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4–6 | Pyramidal |
| Fir, White | 50–80 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Pyramidal |
| Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation' | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | Irregular |
| Pine, Limber | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–7 | Pyramidal |
| Pine, Lodgepole | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Pyramidal |
| Pine, Ponderosa | 60–100 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Pyramidal |
| Pine, Southwestern White | 50–70 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Pyramidal |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Highland | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Oval |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf | 40–60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Oval |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Pyramidal |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus' | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Spreading |
| Poplar (cottonwood), Quaking Aspen | 20–50 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 1–6 | Oval |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 123 plants
Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca40–80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–6
Fir, WhiteAbies concolor50–80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation'Acer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Pine, LimberPinus flexilis30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–7
Pine, LodgepolePinus contorta30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Pine, PonderosaPinus ponderosa60–100 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Pine, Southwestern WhitePinus strobiformis50–70 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Poplar (cottonwood), HighlandPopulus x acuminata x sargentii50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), LanceleafPopulus x acuminata40–60 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), NarrowleafPopulus angustifolia30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), Plains 'Jeronimus'Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Poplar (cottonwood), Quaking AspenPopulus tremuloides20–50 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 1–6
Spruce, ColoradoPicea pungens50–75 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Spruce, Colorado Blue: BABY BLUE®, Baby Blue Eyes, Bakeri, Fastigiata, Fat Albert, Hoopsi, Colorado Weeping, Sester DwarfPicea pungens glauca15–50 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7Spruce, Engleman SprucePicea engelmannii40–60 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–6
Willow, PeachleafSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
'Emerald Sunshine'Ulmus propinqua35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
'Green Vase', 'Village Green'Zelkova serrata50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–8
Alder, EuropeanAlnus glutinosa40–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Ash speciesFraxinus40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Baldcypress, SHAWNEE BRAVE™Taxodium distichum 'Mickelson'50–75 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–10
Beech, European Beech, 'Riversii', 'Dawyck Purple'Fagus sylvatica40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Birch, Asian White: Whitespire, DAKOTA PINNACLE®, PARKLAND PILLAR®Betula platyphylla30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Birch, European White: GracilisBetula pendula30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Birch, River: HERITAGE®Betula nigra40–70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Black WalnutJuglans nigra50–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
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, Yellow BuckeyeAesculus flava50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9
Catalpa, Northern/Western, HEARTLAND®Catalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cedar, Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 6–9
Coffeetree, ESPRESSO®, DECAF®, SKINNY LATTE™, PRAIRIE TITAN™Gymnocladus dioicus50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Coffeetree, Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60–75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Corktree, Amur corktreePhellodendron amurense30–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Crabapple, DolgoMalus 'Dolgo'30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Cypress, Arizona CypressHesperocyparis arizonica30–50 ftlow waterUSDA 7–10
Dawn Redwood, Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides60–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Dogwood, Giant: June SnowCornus controversa30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Elm, 'Frontier'Ulmus minor x U. parvifolia40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, 'New Horizon'Ulmus japonica x U. pumila 'New Horizon'40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, 'Prospector'Ulmus davidiana var. japonica40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- Elm, ACCOLADE® ('Morton')Ulmus davidiana var. japonica50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, all cultivarsUlmus parvifolia40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, American: Valley Forge, New Harmony, PrincetonUlmus americana50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–9
Elm, David, GREENSTONE®, CHOICECITY®Ulmus davidiana40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Elm, TRIUMPH® ElmUlmus x 'Morton Glossy'50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Freeman - 'Armstrong', AUTUMN BLAZE®, AUTUMN FANTASY®, SIENNA GLENN®Acer x freemanii40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Giant Sequoia, Hazel SmithSequoiadendron giganteum30–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 6–8
Ginkgo, Ginkgo/Maidenhair Tree, 'Princeton Sentry', 'Autumn Gold'Ginkgo biloba40–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Green GiantThuja standishii x Thuja plicata40–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–8
Hackberry, Common Hackberry, PRAIRIE SENTINEL®Celtis occidentalis40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Hazelnut, Turkish Filbert/HazelnutCorylus colurna40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Hickory, PecanCarya illinoinensis50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
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
Hophornbeam, American HophornbeamOstrya virginiana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Hornbeam, 'Fastigiata'Carpinus betulus35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Katsura, Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Larch, European LarchLarix decidua40–70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–6
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
Magnolia, CucumbertreeMagnolia acuminata40–60 ftmedium 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, 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
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
Northern PinQuercus ellipsoidalis40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, 'Urban Pinnacle'Quercus macrocarpa 'Urban Pinnacle'45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Oak, BurQuercus macrocarpa60–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Oak, ChinkapinQuercus muehlenbergii40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–7
Oak, CRIMSON SPIRE®, STREETSPIRE®Quercus alba x robur40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, EnglishQuercus robur40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Oak, English 'Columnaris'Quercus robur45–55 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, HERITAGE®Quercus robur x macrocarpa50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, RedQuercus rubra60–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, REGAL PRINCE®, KINDRED SPIRIT®Quercus robur x bicolor40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, SawtoothQuercus acutissima40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, ShingleQuercus imbricaria50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, ShumardQuercus shumardii40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Oak, Swamp WhiteQuercus bicolor50–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, Texas RedQuercus buckleyi35–50 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Oak, WhiteQuercus alba50–80 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Pagodatree, Japanese Pagodatree, Millstone™Styphnolobium japonicum40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Pear, Callery: Aristocrat, CHANTICLEER® (aka Cleveland Select), Autumn Blaze, RedspirePyrus calleryana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Pin OakQuercus palustris50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Pine, Austrian 'Oregan Green'Pinus nigra40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Pine, BosnianPinus heldreichii30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Pine, Eastern WhitePinus strobus50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Pine, LacebarkPinus bungeana30–50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Pine, ScotchPinus sylvestris40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–7
Pine, Swiss Stone PinePinus cembra30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Planetree, American sycamorePlatanus occidentalis70–100 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Planetree, London Planetree 'EXCLAMATION!®'Platanus x acerifolia60–90 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Poplar (cottonwood), EasternPopulus deltoides50–80 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–9- Poplar (cottonwood), PRAIRIE GOLD®Populus tremuloides30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 1–6
Poplar (cottonwood), Upright European, AspenPopulus tremula 'Erecta'30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Spruce, Black Hills 'Densata', 'Wiskey Blue Hills'Picea glauca25–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–6
Spruce, SerbianPicea omorika50–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–7
Sweetgum, American SweetgumLiquidambar styraciflua50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9
TowerPopulus x canescens 'Tower'40–50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–8
Tuliptree, TuliptreeLiriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Tuliptree, Tuliptree, EMERALD CITY®Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
White poplarPopulus alba40–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
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- Zelkova, Japanese Zelkova 'Musashino'Zelkova serrata35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–8
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 Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, Fir, White, Maple, Boxelder 'Sensation', and Pine, Limber.
- 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 for the Front Range
- Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
- Best pollinator 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