Recommended Tree List
When selecting a tree, it's important to choose one that will thrive in our environment. This list isn't intended to be a complete list of every tree that could grow in Windsor, Colorado, however, it is an attempt to list the most commonly available trees and their characteristics. When purchasing a tree, it's okay to ask your local nursery professional for more information. If you are interested in planting a tree not on this list, please contact the Windsor Town Forester.
Deciduous Trees
Lose their leaves in the fall/winter
Shade Trees (Typically over 40 feet tall at maturity)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Mature Height / Spread / Growth Rate / Water Requirements (when established) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden | Tilia species | 60-75’ / 30-50’ / medium / Prefers moist fertile soils / but can grow in drier and rocky soils | Recommend the Redmond cultivar of the American Linden as it has a very dense perfect canopy. Susceptible to Japanese beetle. Silver Lindens are smaller at 50’-70’ tall at maturity. Has fragrant yellowish flowers. |
| Western or Northern Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa | 40-60’ / 20-40’ / medium to fast / adaptable to wet to hot and dry | Great spring white blooms, very large heart shaped leaf. Striking fruit, as it is an 8”-20” long seed pod. Very tolerant of different soil conditions. |
| Horsechestnut and Ohio Buckeye | Aesculus species | 50-75’ / 40-70’ / medium / need moisture / Buckeye is smaller at 20-40’/20-40’ usually. | Large spiny fruit capsule. Unique palmately compound leaves. Dense foliage. Best for large open areas. Both trees have showy white and yellow flowers. |
| Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | 50-80’ / 30-40’ / slow to medium, prefers moderately moist soil / but tolerates almost any situation | This tree has a very unique leaf shape. Female fruit has a rank smell so always pick male trees. Can have a wide-spread with large picturesque branches in maturity. |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 40-60’ / 40-60’ / medium to fast / dry soils are okay | A very drought hardy plant, excellent for streetscape. Leaves will get nipple gall bumps, but it is not damaging to the plant. |
| Japanese Pagodatree | Styphnolobium japonica | 50-75’ / 50-75’ / medium to fast / drought tolerant but will produce more blooms if watered | Characteristic persisting pod type fruit, creamy white flowers, excellent specimen tree. |
| Kentucky Coffeetree | Gymnocladus dioicus | 60-75’ / 40-50’ / Slow to medium / adaptable | Tolerates dry urban conditions, only females produce fruit. |
| Elm | Ulmus species | 60-70” / 30-40’ / Medium to fast / adaptable to extremes | Pick a variety resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. The American elm has one of the best shapes for street ways. |
| Turkish Filbert or Hazel | Corylus colurna | 40-50’ / 15-30’ / medium / quite drought tolerant once established | Very stately and handsome. Can grow to 70-80’. Under-appreciated. |
| Tuliptree | Liriodendron tulipifera | 70-90’ / 35-50’ / fast / prefers moist soil that drains well | Suited for open spaces instead of small residences, showy yellowish-green and orange flowers. Needs full sun. |
| Maple (Tatarian, Caddo, Bigtooth, State Street™ Miyabe, Norway, Sensation) | Acer species | Varies from small to large / medium / low to medium water needs | Maples are known best for their excellent fall color. A lot of cultivars exist. Caddo maples may need some protection from cold. |
| Oak (Bur, Chinkapin, English, Texas Red, Shumard, White, Crimson Spire®) | Quercus species | Varies from small to large / slow to medium / low to medium | This is a very hardy species in this area. Tends to grow slower which helps to add strength. Not shade tolerant. Some can develop chlorosis in clay soils e.g. Red Oak, Swamp White Oak, White |
| Thornless Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis | Usually 30-70’ / 30-70’ / fast / drought tolerant | Tends to be over-planted, many insect problems exist. Small leaflets do not provide an abundance of shade. |
| American Yellowwood | Cladrastis kentukea | 30-50' / 40-55' / medium / medium | Fragrant white flowers, soft yellow fall color, beautiful bark |
| Baldcypress | Taxodium distichum | 50-70' / 20-30' / medium / low | A deciduous conifer. Stately and picturesque. Adapts to a variety of soil types. Hardy. Russet to orangish brown in fall. |
Ornamental Trees (typically under 40 feet at maturity)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Mature Height / Spread / Growth Rate / Water requirements (when established) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amur Corktree | Phellodendron amurense | 30-45’ / 30-60’ / medium / low to medium | Beautiful unusual gray furrowed bark with a corky feel in old age. Needs room. Generally free of pests. |
| Crabapple (there are many cultivars to choose from such as Coralburst™, Indian Magic, Indian Summer, Radiant, Sargent, Spring Snow, and Thunderchild) | Malus species | Varies in size depending on cultivar / moderate / low to medium | Most commonly known for their spring blossoms that can be white, pink, red, or rose and have a delicate scent. The small apples can be made into a jam with leftover fruit providing a fall and winter food source for birds, but you can also choose a cultivar that has persisting fruit, or a fruitless variety. Always pick a fireblight-resistant variety. |
| Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis | 20-30’ / 25-35’ / medium / moderate | Excellent unique rosy-pink spring flowers, prefers a protected site. |
| Flowering Pear (Aristocrat, Chanticleer, Cleveland Select, Redspire, Autumn Blaze) | Pyrus species | Varies by cultivar / medium to fast / low to moderate | Great for the spring white flower color and often vibrant fall colors. Important to pick a fireblight-resistant variety. |
| Goldenraintree | Koelreuteria paniculata | 20-30’ / 25-35’ / medium to fast / low | Very showy yellow flower becoming a unique lantern-shaped papery capsule. Leaves yellow or orange-yellow in fall. Great specimen tree. |
| Hawthorn (Russian, Cockspur, English, Washington) | Crataegus species | 20-30’ / 20-30’ / medium to slow / low to moderate | Generally great fall color, beautiful white flowers. Often unique characteristic bark. Use a thornless variety. |
Japanese Tree Lilac (Ivory Silk) | Syringa reticulata | 20-30’ / 15-25’ / medium / tolerates some drought | Creamy fragrant white flowers early- to mid-June. Cherry-like reddish-brown to brown bark. |
| Plum, Cherry, Peach, Apricot | Prunus species | 20-25’ / 20-30’ / moderate | Often sucker. Provide great wildlife habitat. Susceptible to freeze damage. |
| Common Hoptree | Ptelea trifoliata | 15-20’ / 15-20’ / slow to medium / low to moderate | Fruit is a unique round samara. Can tolerate everything from full sun to heavy shade and do well. Can also be grown as a large shrub. |
| American Hophornbeam, Ironwood | Ostrya virginiana | 25-40’ / 25-30’ / slow / tolerates dry soil | Very graceful tree. Can be single- or multi-stemmed with pretty bark. Showy fruit reminiscent of hops. |
| American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Ironwood | Carpinus caroliniana | 20-30’ / 20-30’ / slow / moderate | Handsome tree; does well in moist soils and heavy shade. |
| Serviceberry (Shadblow, Autumn Brilliance) | Amelanchier species | 15-25’ / variable spread / medium / moderate | Fragrant but short-lived white (usually) flowers. Edible fruits popular with wildlife. Nice fall color, ranging from yellow to red. Choose tree form over shrub form. |
Evergreen Trees
Retain their leaves year-round. All evergreen trees listed below should be planted a minimum of 15' from streets, sidewalks, and permanent structures.
Small Evergreen Trees (typically under 30 feet tall at maturity)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Mature Height / Spread / Growth Rate / Water requirements (when established) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristlecone Pine | Pinus aristata | 8-20’ / irregular spread / very slow / very drought hardy | Long-lived. Susceptible to pine tip moth and pine needle scale. Needs full sun. |
| Pinyon Pine | Pinus edulis | 20-30’ / 20-25’ / very slow / drought hardy | Pine nuts (edible nuts) |
Large Evergreen Trees (typically over 30 feet tall at maturity)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Mature Height / Spread / Growth Rate / Water requirements (when established) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian Pine | Pinus nigra | 50-60’ / 20-40’ / medium / drought tolerant | Very hardy and tolerant of city conditions compared to other pines. |
| Colorado Blue Spruce | Picea pungens | 50-75’ / 10-20’ / slow-medium / prefer moist soil but has tolerance to drought | Unique silvery blue-green color. Long-lived. |
| Rocky Mountain Juniper | Juniperus scopulorum | 30-40' / 3-15' / slow / low | For an especially tidy columnar tree 'Skyrocket" is very narrow bluish-green cultivar at only 2' wide at the base |
| Eastern Redcedar | Juniperus virginiana | 40-50' / 8-20' / medium / low to medium | Blue-green berry-like cones that attract birds. Grayish to reddish brown exfoliating bark. |
| White Fir | Abies concolor | 30-50’ / 15-30’ / slow to medium / extremely drought tolerant | Grows best in well-drained sandy-loam soils; dislikes heavy clay. Very hardy and tolerant of city conditions compared to other fir species. |
| White Spruce | Picea glauca | 40-60' / 10-20' / medium / medium | A broad pyramid in youth becoming a tall narrow dense spire. Tolerant of a variety of conditions including drought and some shade. |
| Lacebark Pine | Pinus bungeana | 30-50' / 20-35' / slow / moderately drought tolerant | One of the most beautiful of introduced pines. Striking showy exfoliating bark. Likes sun. |
| Limber Pine: Vanderwolf’s Pyramid | Pinus flexilis | 20-40’ / 10-30’ / medium / low-medium | Upright form with good vigor. |
| Ponderosa Pine | Pinus ponderosa | 60-100’ / 25-30’ / medium / prefers moist soil but can adapt to dry conditions | Highly drought tolerant once established. Requires full sun. |
Species Not Recommended
| Name | Reasoning |
|---|---|
| Ash (Fraxinus species) | Susceptible to Emerald Ash Borer and potential for devastating loss, similarly to Dutch Elm Disease of Elm trees. |
| Aspen (Populus tremuloides) | Has many insect and disease problems at this lower elevation that are generally not present in mountainous areas where it grows naturally. |
| Austree (Salix alba x matsudana) | Cross between white willow and Chinese willow. Extremely weak wooded, often sold through mail order as a miracle tree, which it is not. |
| Birch (Betula species) | This tree does not do as well in arid climates. |
| Cottonwood (Populus species) | Cotton is considered a nuisance, so female cotton-bearing trees are not allowed within the town limits except along waterways. Cottonwoods also tend to be very weak wooded. Is a good tree for large open spaces. |
| Hopa Crabapple (Malus species ‘Hopa’) | This tree has very high susceptibility to the bacterial disease fire blight. Pick a Crabapple species that has low susceptibility. |
| Maple (Acer species). Silver, Red, and Freeman (Autumn blaze) | Very weak wooded and prone to chlorosis. |
| Mountain-Ash (Sorbus species) | Very susceptible to fire blight disease. |
| Russian Olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) | Invasive nuisance tree, on Colorado Department of Agriculture list of state noxious weeds. |
| Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) | Extremely weedy and invasive, seeds profusely. Very rapid growth creates extremely weak wood. |
| Tamarisk (Tamarix species) | State Department of Agriculture noxious weed list, extremely invasive. |
| Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) | Very rapid growth creates a weak wooded tree, and it can be very invasive. Is also the preferred host for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest which is a threat to fruit trees, pine trees, and some shade trees, as well as crops such as grapes. |
| Willow (Salix species) | A weak-wooded species which can be hazardous if placed in the wrong location. Rain- and wind-storms can cause branches to break off. |