Small trees for Front Range yards
Quick answer
71 plants make our list of small trees for Front Range yards. Examples include Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water, Juniper, One: Seed, Maple, Rocky Mountain, Oak, Wavyleaf, and Apricot, Chinese. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Compact trees under about 25 feet, ideal for smaller Front Range lots, under power lines, or as ornamental accents. All are recommended for Colorado conditions.
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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 | Mature form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water | 15–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 3–7 | Oval |
| Juniper, One: Seed | 10–20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Irregular |
| Maple, Rocky Mountain | 10–25 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Rounded |
| Oak, Wavyleaf | 6–15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–8 | Irregular |
| Apricot, Chinese | 15–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Rounded |
| Apricot, Moongold, Moorpark | 15–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Rounded |
| Bechtel 'Plena' | 15–25 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Rounded |
| Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye) | 15–25 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–7 | Rounded |
| Cherry, Bing | 15–25 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Oval |
| Cherry, Montmorency, North Star | 10–20 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Rounded |
| Cherry, Stella Compact | 10–15 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–8 | Oval |
| Chokecherry, Common: Canada Red, Schubert | 15–25 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 2–7 | Rounded |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 71 plants
Birch, Rocky Mountain/WaterBetula occidentalis15–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Juniper, One: SeedJuniperus monosperma10–20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Maple, Rocky MountainAcer glabrum10–25 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Oak, WavyleafQuercus undulata6–15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Apricot, ChinesePrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Apricot, Moongold, MoorparkPrunus armeniaca15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Bechtel 'Plena'Malus ioensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Buckeye/Horsechestnut, Texas Buckeye (Western Buckeye)Aesculus glabra var. arguta15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Cherry, BingPrunus avium 'Bing'15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Cherry, Montmorency, North StarPrunus cerasus10–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Cherry, Stella CompactPrunus avium 'Stella Compact'10–15 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Chokecherry, Common: Canada Red, SchubertPrunus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Chokecherry, SUCKER PUNCH®Prunus x 'P002S' (PP25,767)8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Crabapple, AdirondackMalus 'Adirondack'15–18 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Crabapple, BRANDYWINE®Malus x 'Branzam'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Crabapple, CORALBURST®Malus x 'Coralcole'8–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, GladiatorMalus 'Gladiator'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Indian MagicMalus 'Indian Magic'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, LouisaMalus 'Louisa'12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Prairie RoseMalus 'Prairie Rose'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, PrairiefireMalus 'Prairiefire'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, RadiantMalus 'Radiant'15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Red BarronMalus 'Red Barron'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, ROYAL RAINDROPS®Malus 'JFS-KW5'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Crabapple, SargentMalus sargentii6–10 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Crabapple, Sargent TinaMalus sargentii 'Tina'4–5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, Spring SnowMalus 'Spring Snow'20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
- Crabapple, ThunderchildMalus 'Thunderchild'15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Dogwood, Cornelian Cherry, 'Golden Glory'Cornus mas15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Cherry, Des FontainesPrunus x fontanesiana15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Cherry, PINK FLAIR®Prunus sargentii 'Pink Flare'20–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–7
Flowering Plum, MT. ST. HELENS®Prunus cerasifera 'Frankthrees'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Flowering Plum, NewportPrunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Flowering Plum, Newport (Kankakee strain)Prunus cerasifera 'Newport'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Flowering Plum, Princess KayPrunus nigra 'Princess Kay'10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Fruit Apple, HoneyCrisp, McIntosh, Red Deliciious, Sweet Sixteen, ZestarMalus varieties15–25 ftmedium 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
Hawthorn, 'Toba'Crataegus x mordenensis15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, English: Crimson CloudCrataegus laevigata18–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Hawthorn, RussianCrataegus ambigua15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 4–8
Juniper, 'Blue Point'Juniperus chinensis8–12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Juniper, Chinese: Spartan, Spearmint, Hetzi ColumnarisJuniperus chinensis15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Hillspire, Idyllwild, Blue ArrowJuniperus virginiana15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: TaylorJuniperus virginiana20–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Juniper, Rocky Mountain: Medora, Skyrocket, WoodwardJuniperus scopulorum15–25 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8- Juniper, Rocky Mountain: Welchii, Gray Gleam, Cologreen, Wichita Blue, MoonglowJuniperus scopulorum15–20 ftlow waterUSDA 3–8
Lilac, Japanese: Ivory SilkSyringa reticulata15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Lilac, Peking: Summer CharmSyringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–7
Maple, Amur/Ginnala: FlameAcer tataricum subsp. ginnala15–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8
Maple, TatarianAcer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8- Maple, Tatarian HOT WINGS®Acer tataricum15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Mulberry, White Mulberry 'Chaparral'Morus alba8–15 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Peach, Elberta, Polly, Red HavenPrunus persica 'Elberta', 'Polly', 'Red Haven'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Peach, Reliance, Veteran, ContenderPrunus persica 'Reliance', 'Veteran', 'Contender'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Pear, Bartlett, Early Gold, Golden Spice, Luscious, Parker, SummercrispPyrus15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Pear, Jack'™Pyrus calleryana12–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
Pear, Ussurian: Prairie Gem, Mt. FrostPyrus ussuriensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Pine, Mugo: TannenbaumPinus mugo10–15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Plum, Mount RoyalPrunus 'Mount Royal'12–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Plum, Santa RosaPrunus salicina 'Santa Rosa'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8- Plum, StanleyPrunus 'Stanley'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Plum, SuperiorPrunus 'Superior'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
- Plum, TokaPrunus 'Toka'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Redbud, 'Ruby Falls'Cercis canadensis6–8 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Serviceberry, 'Autumn Brilliance'Amelanchier x grandiflora15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, AlleghenyAmelanchier laevis15–25 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Serviceberry, SaskatoonAmelanchier alnifolia10–20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–7
Serviceberry, ShadblowAmelanchier canadensis15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–8- Sour Cherry, Evans BaliPrunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'15–20 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
Yellowhorn, Yellowhorn- CLEAR CREEK™Xanthoceras sorbifolium15–25 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–7
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 4 to 25 ft across the 71 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 4 of the 71 trees are Colorado natives, including Birch, Rocky Mountain/Water, Juniper, One: Seed, Maple, Rocky Mountain, and Oak, Wavyleaf.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 43 of the 71 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 71 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
- 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