Decide how tall and wide you want your tree to be when it reaches maturity.
How to select the right tree for the right space
Evaluate your space.
Consider landscape characteristics.
Look at soil type, irrigation, sunlight exposure, existing trees, and overhead or underground utilities.
Diversify.
Help make Boulder’s tree canopy diverse and resilient. Select a different tree than what is already in your yard and surrounding properties.
Choose your tree.
Before planting your tree, try using this free online tool created by the USDA Forest Service to help you select the most optimal location for your future tree! This program allows you to plot trees (both future and existing) on your property and make estimations of future greenhouse gas mitigation, air quality improvements, storm water mitigation, energy savings, and much more. Give it a try!
Take a look at the tables below for an at-a-glance resource for the best trees for Boulder.
Please Note: The lists below are recommendations for tree planting on private property. Planners and development applicants should use the Approved Tree List for Planning Projects PDF, which is specific for planting on public property.
Large Maturing Trees
Large maturing trees are generally over 55 feet tall and have a crown width of 30 to 60 feet.
| SPECIES | COMMON NAME | WATER NEEDS | FORM | FALL COLOR | FLOWER | FRUIT | CULTIVAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer saccharum | Sugar maple | medium | rounded | orange | samara | Fall Fiesta, Legacy, Caddo | |
| Aesculus hippocastanum | Common horsechestnut | medium | oval | yellow | pink to white cluster | nut | |
| Aesculus flava | Yellow buckeye | medium | rounded | orange, yellow | yellow cluster | nut | |
| Catalpa speciosa | Western catalpa | low to medium | oval, irregular | yellow | white orchid like | bean pod | |
| Celtis occidentalis | Northern hackberry | low to medium | rounded | yellow | drupe, small | ||
| Gleditsia triacanthos Inermis | Thornless honeylocust | low to medium | rounded | yellow | fruitless for all cultivars listed | Imperial, Shademaster, Skyline | |
| Gymnocladus dioicus | Kentucky coffeetree | low to medium | rounded, irregular | yellow | bean pod, Espresso cultivar is fruitless | Espresso | |
| Liquidamber styraciflua | Sweetgum | medium | oval, irregular | orange, purple, red | seed ball | ||
| Platanus x acerifolia | London planetree | medium to high | rounded | bronze | seed ball | Bloodgood, Exclamation | |
| Quercus alba | White oak | low to medium | rounded | red | acorn | ||
| Quereus bicolor | Swamp White oak | medium | rounded | bronze, orange | acorn | ||
| Quercus macrocarpa | Bur oak | low to medium | rounded | bronze | acorn | ||
| Quercus muehlenbergii | Chinkapin oak | low to medium | rounded | bronze | acorn | ||
| Quercus robur | English oak | low to medium | rounded | bronze | acorn | ||
| Ulmus x accolade | Accolade elm | low to medium | vase | yellow | samara | ||
| Ulmus davidiana | David elm | low to medium | vase | yellow | samara | Discovery | |
| Liriodendron tulipifera | Tuliptree | medium | oval | yellow | yellow tulip like | seed capsule | |
| Quercus imbricaria | Shingle oak | medium | oval | bronze, red | acorn |
Medium Maturing Trees
Medium maturing trees are generally 30 - 50 feet tall and have a crown width of 20 to 50 feet.
| SPECIES | COMMON NAME | WATER NEEDS | FORM | FALL COLOR | FLOWER | FRUIT | CULTIVAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer campestre | hedge maple | low to medium | oval | yellow | samara | Queen Elizabeth | |
| Aesculus x carnea | Red horsechestnut | medium | rounded | yellow | red cluster | nut | Briotti, Fort McNair |
| Cladrastis kentukea | Yellowwood | medium | rounded | yellow | white cluster | pod, small | |
| Corylus colurna | Turkish filbert | low to medium | pyramidal | bronze | nut, edible | ||
| Koelreuteria paniculata | Goldern raintree | low | rounded, irregular | yellow | yellow cluster | seed capsule | |
| Pyrus calleryana | Flowering pear | low to medium | oval | purple to red | white | pome, small | Cleveland Select, Chanticleer, Autumn Blaze |
| Styphnolobium japonicum | Japanese pagoda tree | medium | rounded | yellow | white | seed pod, small | |
| Acer miyabe | Miyabe maple | low to medium | rounded, oval | orange to yellow | samara | State Street | |
| Acer negundo | Boxelder | low to medium | rounded | yellow | seedless | Sensation | |
| Aesculus glabra | Ohio Buckeye | medium | rounded | orange to red | white cluster | nut | Autumn Splendor |
| Morus alba | White mulberry | medium | rounded | bronze | fruitless cultivars available | Select frutiless cultivar | |
| Phellodendron amurense | Amur corktree | medium | rounded | yellow | fruitless for cultivars listed | Macho, His Majesty | |
| Sorbus x hybrida | Oak leaf mountain-ash | medium | oval | bronze, red | white | berry cluster |
Small Maturing Trees
Small maturing trees are generally 15 - 30 feet tall and have a crown width of 15 - 30 feet. Small maturing trees are an excellent choice for under powerlines.
| SPECIES | COMMON NAME | WATER NEEDS | FORM | FALL COLOR | FLOWER | FRUIT | CULTIVAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer grandidentatum | Bigtooth maple | medium to low | rounded | orange to yellow | samara | Rocky Mountain Glow | |
| Malus sylvestris | Crabapple | low to medium | rounded | varies on cultivar | varies on cultivar | pome, small | Royal Raindrops, Hopa, Indian Magic, Prairiefire, Spring Snow, Thunderchild |
| Syringa reticulata | Japanese Tree Lilac | low to medium | oval | yellow | white clusters | seed capsule | |
| Acer glabrum | Rocky Mountain maple | medium to high | rounded | yellow to red | samara | ||
| Acer tataricum | Tartarian maple | low to medium | rounded | yellow to red | white cluster | samara | Hot Wings |
| Cercis canadensis | Eastern redbud | high | rounded, spreading | yellow | pink to purple | pod, small | |
| Crataegus crusgallii var. inermis | Thornless cockspur hawthorn | low to medium | rounded | yellow | drupe, small | ||
| Crataegus ambigua | Russian hawthorn | low | rounded | orange | white | berry | |
| Crataegus x laevigata | English hawthorn | medium | rounded | yellow | red | berry | Crimson Cloud, Paul Scarlet |
| Crataegus mollis | Downy hawthorn | low to medium | rounded | red | white | berry | |
| Crataegus x mordenensis | Toba hawthorn | medium | rounded | red | white | berry | |
| Crataegus viridis | Green hawthorn | low to medium | rounded | red | white | berry | Winter King |
| Crataegus lavellei | Lavalle hawthorn | medium | oval | red | white | berry | |
| Maackia amurensis | Amur maakia | low to medium | rounded | yellow | white | seed pod, small | |
| Magnolia x soulangiana | Saucer magnolia | medium | rounded | bronze | white to purple | seed cluster | |
| Magnolia x Galaxy | Galaxy Magnolia | medium | rounded | bronze | pink to purple | seed cluster | |
| Prunus maackii | Amur Chokecherry | medium | rounded | yellow | white | berry | |
| Quercus gambelii | gambel oak | low | rounded, irregular | bronze | acorn |