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Best plants for the Colorado Front Range

Compiled by · Reviewed against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension & Plant Select® · Updated 2026-07-04

Quick answer

Looking for the best plants for the Colorado Front Range? These curated guides group our recommended trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and perennials by what you actually need here, low water, native, privacy screening, deer resistance, shade, fall color, and pet safety, all judged against our alkaline clay, low precipitation, hail, and zone 4–6 winters.

New: Data Studies. Original research on what the Front Range plants vs what survives, with the city tree inventories mapped and compared. See the data studies →

Water-wise & xeriscape

Our driest-adapted picks for Colorado's 12–17" of annual precipitation, low-water once established, no thirsty lawn required.

Low-water trees for the Colorado Front Range
These trees thrive on the Front Range with little supplemental irrigation once established, a smart choice for Colorado's semi-arid climate, water….
Low-water shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
Drought-tolerant shrubs that hold up to Front Range heat and water limits once established.
Xeric groundcover for the Colorado Front Range
Water-thrifty groundcovers that carpet hot, dry Front Range ground, including hellstrips, slopes, and rock gardens.
Lawn-alternative groundcovers for the Front Range
Low- and no-mow groundcovers that replace a thirsty Kentucky bluegrass lawn on the Colorado Front Range.

Native & pollinator

Colorado natives and pollinator magnets that are adapted to our soils and feed local bees, butterflies, and birds.

Colorado native trees for the Front Range
Native trees are adapted to Front Range soils, cold snaps, and low rainfall, and they support local wildlife.
Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
Native shrubs adapted to Front Range conditions: tough, water-wise, and valuable for pollinators and birds.
Colorado native perennials for the Front Range
Native perennials adapted to Front Range soils and rainfall, low-maintenance color that supports local ecosystems.
Best pollinator trees for the Colorado Front Range
Trees are an underrated pollinator resource: a single mature tree can offer more bloom than a whole flower bed.
Pollinator perennials for the Front Range
High-value perennials for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators on the Colorado Front Range.

Privacy, screening & windbreaks

Dense, fast, and evergreen choices for blocking views and buffering the wind on exposed Front Range lots.

Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
Larger and hedge-forming shrubs that screen views and define space on the Front Range.
Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
Need privacy or a windbreak fast? These shrubs grow quickly and reach at least 6 feet, making them good choices for screening on the Front Range.
Evergreen trees for the Colorado Front Range
Evergreen trees that hold their needles or leaves year-round for privacy, windbreaks, and winter structure on the Front Range.

Shade, size & seasonal

Shade trees sized to your yard, plus the best fall color and ground-level cover for tough dry shade under existing trees.

Best shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
Large-canopy trees that deliver real summer shade on the Front Range.
Fast-growing shade trees for the Colorado Front Range
Want summer shade sooner? These large-canopy trees put on height quickly for the Front Range.
Small trees for Front Range yards
Compact trees under about 25 feet, ideal for smaller Front Range lots, under power lines, or as ornamental accents.
Best fall color trees for the Colorado Front Range
Trees that put on a real autumn show on the Front Range: reds, oranges, golds, and purples.
Groundcovers for under trees on the Front Range
Groundcovers that thrive in the dry shade and root competition under established trees on the Front Range, where lawn thins out and bare soil takes….

Tough sites & problem-solving

For the hard spots, deer pressure, de-icing salt, the Palmer Divide hail corridor, and gaps between flagstones.

Deer-resistant plants for the Front Range
Trees, shrubs, groundcover, and perennials that deer tend to leave alone, useful where browsing pressure is high along the Front Range foothills.
Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
Trees and shrubs that shrug off de-icing salt and roadside spray, good choices for Front Range hellstrips, parkways, driveways, and street-side beds….
Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
The Front Range sits in "hail alley," and a single summer storm can shred soft foliage.
Steppable groundcovers for between pavers on the Front Range
Steppable groundcovers tough enough to plant between flagstones and pavers on the Colorado Front Range.

Pet safety

Know what to keep out of a dog's reach before you plant.

Plants toxic to dogs, what to avoid
These Front Range trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and perennials are known to be toxic to dogs, so consider avoiding them or siting them away from pets….

What to avoid

The trees that struggle here, iron chlorosis, emerald ash borer, weak wood, and invasive suckering, so you can skip them and plant something proven instead.

Trees to avoid, and why
These trees are rated Not Recommended for the Colorado Front Range on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, and each one tells you why: iron….

Solve a problem: decision & how-to guides

Not a plant list, a fix: diagnose a struggling tree, decide whether to treat or remove an ash, replace a thirsty lawn, or pick a tree that fits a tight spot.

Why is my tree dying?
Match the symptom to the likely Front Range cause, from iron chlorosis to emerald ash borer.
Emerald ash borer: treat or remove?
Whether to treat or remove your ash, and the best non-ash replacement trees.
Replacing your lawn
Turf-removal rebates by city and the water-wise plants to grow instead of grass.
Right tree, right spot
What fits a tight spot, narrow strips, near the foundation, or under power lines.
Getting rid of bindweed
Why bindweed keeps coming back, and what CSU research and Denver gardeners agree actually works.

More Front Range guides

Beyond the plant lists: pick by your city, compare two trees head to head, or see when to plant.

Guides by city
Best plants, frost dates, and water rules for your Front Range town.
Tree comparisons
Head-to-head "A vs B" guides for choosing between Front Range trees.
Planting calendar
When to plant on the Front Range, with average frost dates by city.
Explore the interactive plant finder →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best low-water plants for the Colorado Front Range?
Our water-wise and xeriscape guides collect the most drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and perennials for the Front Range, plants rated low or low-to-medium water that thrive on our 12 to 17 inches of annual precipitation once established.
What can I plant under a tree on the Front Range?
See the groundcovers-for-under-trees guide: shade-tolerant, low-water groundcovers that handle dry shade and root competition, which is the toughest planting spot in most Colorado yards.
Which of these plants are safe for dogs?
Start with the plants-toxic-to-dogs guide, which lists species to avoid. Anything not on that list is a safer starting point, but always confirm a specific plant with your veterinarian before planting.
What should I not plant on the Colorado Front Range?
Several popular trees struggle here, pin oak and silver maple yellow with iron chlorosis in our alkaline clay, and all ash are off the table because of emerald ash borer. Choosing from these regionally vetted guides steers you to plants proven to do well instead.

Plan your garden

Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.

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