What are the best trees and shrubs to plant in Colorado? Species selection is a crucial step in creating a thriving landscape. The right pick will flourish in your yard, adding to the exterior aesthetics. If you’re not sure which trees and shrubs to invest in, take a look at the best and worst options for Colorado homes.
Evergreen Tree Options
Do you have space in your yard for a majestic towering evergreen tree? Even though these trees aren’t at their full height when planted, over time they could reach between 30 and 60 feet tall, according to the Colorado State University. The best tall evergreen trees for Colorado yards include the Colorado blue spruce, Austrian pine, Concolor fir, Scots pine, Ponderosa pine, Southwestern white pine, and Limber pine.
If you want to choose an evergreen tree, but a 30-plus foot tall option won’t fit into your outdoor space, small mature evergreens reach shorter heights of 15 to 25 feet. The best picks for Colorado yards include the Bristlecone pine, Hawthorn species, Crabapple species, Amur maple, Tatarian maple, Gambel oak, Callery pear, Redbud, and European mountain-ash.
Ornamental Tree Options
An ornamental tree can add true curb appeal to your property. These trees come in sizes, shapes, and colors that demand attention and upgrade the exterior aesthetics. But this doesn’t mean that you should plant just any pretty flowering tree in your yard. Like evergreens, you need to select species that will thrive in the Colorado landscape and climate.
The Colorado State University notes that the top small (under 25 feet at full mature height) ornamental trees residents may want to consider include the Canada red cherry, Mayday tree, Ussurian pear, Canyon maple, Golden raintree, Ginkgo, American linden, Black walnut, Northern catalpa, Norway maple, Sugar maple, Sycamore, and Horsechestnut.
Shade Tree Options
As the name implies, the shade tree provides an umbrella of shade to your yard. These trees also often have eye-catching colors or leaf patterns. Homes with plenty of property to accommodate a 50-foot or taller large shade tree (and its extensive roots) can handle options such as the English oak, Bur oak, Swamp white oak, Shumard oak, Honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree, or the American elm.
If you don’t have enough space for a 50-foot tree, but your yard can fit a 30- to 45-foot option, the Littleleaf linden is a medium shade tree to consider.
Trees That Aren’t Options
Now that you know more about which trees to choose for your yard, you may also want to know which ones to avoid. The wrong tree may not grow well in your home’s soil, could quickly turn brittle in the area’s climate, or may have a greater susceptibility to disease, rot, and pests that are common in your region.
Species that may not do well in some areas of Colorado include the Aspen, Austree, Silver maple, Russian olive, Tamarisk, White-barked birch, and Siberian elm. Non-native hybrid poplars and cottonwoods are other options that you may want to avoid.
While this list may seem long, it doesn’t include every possible option that might not do well in each area of Colorado. Different growing zones can help or hinder the development of each tree species. To learn more about your zone and which trees to choose, talk to a qualified contractor. A tree and landscaping professional can review the best options for your region and yard’s needs.
Shrub Options
Trees aren’t the only greenery in your yard. Along with planting tall evergreen or ornamental flowering trees, you can add beauty to your home’s outdoor spaces with shrubs. These smaller, shorter plants can line your yard, add texture to a garden patch, or adorn almost any exterior of your home.
While many different species of shrubs can do well in Colorado yards, some homeowners prefer to plant native selections. A native shrub has natural adaptations to the area’s climate and soil content. These adaptations help the plant to flourish and make it hardy in comparison to some non-native picks.
Not only may native shrubs do better in Colorado yards, but these plants also tend to attract wildlife. From birds to butterflies, these shrubs bring colorful creatures and critters into the yard. This adds to the aesthetics and creates a serene sanctuary-like setting on your property.
Large native shrubs that may do well in your yard include the Rocky Mountain maple, Serviceberry, Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany, Red twig dogwood, Cliffrose, New Mexico privet, single-leaf ash, Fremont mahonia, Squaw apple, American plum, Wavyleaf oak, Smith buckhorn, and Silver buffaloberry.
Medium-sized shrubs for Colorado yards include the False indigo, Apache plume, Bog birch, Cliff fendlerbush, Rock-spirea, Antelope bitterbrush, Golden currant, Wax currant, Whitestm currant, Boulder raspberry, Western thimbleberry, and Red-berried elder.
Small shrubs under four feet include the Silvery leadplant, Bearberry, Silver sagebrush, Fourwing sagebrush, Mountain lilac, Rabbitbrush, Common juniper, Twinberry, Littleleaf mock-orange, Mountain ninebark, Woods rose, and Snowberry.
Even though these shrubs are native to Colorado, some may not work in every yard. Consult a qualified tree and landscaping contractor for more details on how your growing zone, soil, available light, moisture level, and available water affect your shrub choices.
Are you ready to add trees or shrubs to your yard? Contact Schulhoff Tree and Lawn Care, Inc., for more information.