5 Best Trees for Residential Landscaping in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs possesses a unique climate, and that can make for a challenge when looking for trees that will thrive in your landscape. Periodic droughts, cold and mostly dry winters punctuated with heavy snows, and pests and diseases create a lot of pressure on trees that aren’t well suited to the Front Range. But not to worry, there are a handful of proven winners that are sure to do well in your landscape. Read on to find the perfect tree for your needs.

Shade Tree: Shademaster Honeylocust

A Shademaster Honeylocust makes for an excellent shade tree. It is a large tree, with a mature height of 45-50 feet and a spread of 35-45 feet. The Shademaster is a thornless and seedless variety of Honeylocust. It has small fern like leaves that are small enough that they don’t need to be raked, as they aren’t big enough to hurt the grass, so this tree is about as low maintenance as it gets. The small leaves also create a dappled shade that is enough to keep you cool, but still allows grass and plants to grow underneath. It isn’t the fastest of growers, but that creates a harder wooded tree that is less prone to losing limbs in heavy snow.

Fall Color: Autumn Blaze Maple

The Autumn Blaze Maple is a great tree if you’re looking for fall color. It’s hardy and a fast grower, reaching a mature height of 40-50 feet and a spread of 30-40 feet. During the fall, the leaves turn a brilliant red to orange color that is sure to turn heads.

Evergreen: Colorado Blue Spruce

This Colorado native is a real winner as well. An extremely large tree, people often plant this tree not realizing just how big it will get, it can reach heights if anywhere from 50-80 feet and a spread of 25-35 feet. So long as you have the space for it, this tree is always a welcome fixture come wintertime, and is an excellent choice if you’re in need of screening.

Ornamental: Spring Snow Crabapple

Don’t let the crabapple name fool you; the Spring Snow Crabapple is the one and only truly fruitless crabapple, so you get all the benefits of a crabapple without the mess. The Spring Snow Crabapple is a truly beautiful ornamental tree. One of the first spring bloomers, it welcomes the growing season with a profusion of beautiful white flowers.

Multi seasonal interest: Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

The Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is another tree that’s sure to do well in your yard. It’s an ornamental tree that has something to offer year-round. It blooms with white flowers in the spring that turn to dark blue berries in the summer that are sure to attract birds. In fall, as its name suggests, it displays brilliant red fall foliage. Any berries that manage to survive the birds provide some nice winter interest as well.

Accent Landscapes Can Help

The unique climate of Colorado Springs can certainly provide a challenge when it comes to planning your landscape and selecting trees that are going to thrive.