Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
Quick answer
45 plants make our list of fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range. Examples include Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Highland Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood), Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood), and Peachleaf Willow. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Want summer shade sooner? These large-canopy trees put on height quickly for the Front Range. Each is a fast grower that matures to roughly 40 feet or taller. Growth rate depends on water and site, so deep-water young trees to get them established.
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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 | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple | 30–40 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2–9 | Fast |
| Highland Poplar (cottonwood) | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 40–60 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood) | 30–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Peachleaf Willow | 25–50 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood) | 50–70 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 3–8 | Fast |
| Quaking Aspen Poplar (cottonwood) | 20–50 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 1–6 | Fast |
| 'Emerald Sunshine' | 35–45 ft | medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
| 'Frontier' Elm | 40–50 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
| 'New Horizon' Elm | 40–50 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
| 'Prospector' Elm | 40–50 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
| ACCOLADE® ('Morton') Elm | 50–60 ft | low to medium water | — | USDA 4–9 | Fast |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 45 plants
Boxelder 'Sensation' MapleAcer negundo30–40 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–9
Highland Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata x sargentii50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus x acuminata40–60 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood)Populus angustifolia30–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Peachleaf WillowSalix amygdaloides25–50 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Plains 'Jeronimus' Poplar (cottonwood)Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera50–70 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Quaking Aspen Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremuloides20–50 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 1–6
'Emerald Sunshine'Ulmus propinqua35–45 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
'Frontier' ElmUlmus minor x U. parvifolia40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
'New Horizon' ElmUlmus japonica x U. pumila 'New Horizon'40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
'Prospector' ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9- ACCOLADE® ('Morton') ElmUlmus davidiana var. japonica50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
all cultivars ElmUlmus parvifolia40–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
American ElmUlmus americana50–70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2–9
American sycamore PlanetreePlatanus occidentalis70–100 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Ash speciesFraxinus40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Asian White BirchBetula platyphylla30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Black Locust - 'Purple Robe'Robinia pseudoacacia30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
Callery - 'Bradford'Pyrus calleryana30–50 ftmedium waterUSDA 5–9- Callery Pear (Aristocrat)Pyrus calleryana25–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5–9
David ElmUlmus davidiana40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Eastern Poplar (cottonwood)Populus deltoides50–80 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2–9
European AlderAlnus glutinosa40–60 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
European White BirchBetula pendula30–40 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–7
Freeman - 'Armstrong'Acer x freemanii40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–8
LindenTilia americana50–75 ftmedium waterUSDA 2–8
London Planetree 'EXCLAMATION!®'Platanus x acerifolia60–90 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9
Niobe Weeping WillowSalix alba50–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Northern/Western CatalpaCatalpa speciosa40–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–8
Osage Orange 'White Shield'Maclura pomifera30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Prairie Cascade WillowSalix x 'Prairie Cascade'35–45 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8- PRAIRIE GOLD® Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremuloides30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 1–6
Red MapleAcer rubrum40–60 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
River BirchBetula nigra40–70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4–9- Russian Golden WillowSalix alba40–60 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Silver - all cultivars MapleAcer saccharinum50–70 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–9
Thornless Common Honeylocust (IMPERIAL®)Gleditsia triacanthos40–50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9- Thornless Common Honeylocust (NORTHERN ACCLAIM®)Gleditsia triacanthos30–45 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
- Thornless Common Honeylocust (SUNBURST®)Gleditsia triacanthos30–40 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3–9
TowerPopulus x canescens 'Tower'40–50 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 3–8
TRIUMPH® ElmUlmus x 'Morton Glossy'50–60 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4–9
Tuliptree (EMERALD CITY®)Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9- Tuliptree (species)Liriodendron tulipifera50–80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4–9
Upright European Poplar (cottonwood)Populus tremula 'Erecta'30–40 ftmedium waterUSDA 3–8
White poplarPopulus alba40–70 fthigh waterUSDA 3–8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these trees get?
- Mature heights range from about 20 to 100 ft across the 45 trees on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 7 of the 45 trees are Colorado natives, including Boxelder 'Sensation' Maple, Highland Poplar (cottonwood), Lanceleaf Poplar (cottonwood), and Narrowleaf Poplar (cottonwood).
- How much water do these plants need?
- 16 of the 45 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 45 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
- 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
- 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