By Amalie Fellini
Colorado Master Gardener
Selecting trees for the environment in Colorado Springs can be challenging.
Recommended Stories
▶
Elevation has a strong impact on temperature, soil and precipitation. All of the trees included in this article are suited for 6,000 feet. Water availability and drought tolerance are also important factors. All trees require irrigation during establishment so if you are planting on a steep slope, make sure water is available.
Full sun, defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight, is ideal for most trees. One of the biggest pitfalls in planting is not planning enough space for tree growth. Mature trees can be quite large, often spanning 20-30 feet in width and twice as high. If you are unsure if the space is adequate, lay out the diameter at maturity using rope or hoses before planting.
Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata): This evergreen conifer has low water needs and is great for an elevation of 6,000 feet and higher, making it ideal for dry slopes. Though they grow slowly, these trees can reach up to 35 feet high and 20 feet wide.
Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa): For those in the 4,000 feet to 8,000 feet elevation range, the Ponderosa is a versatile evergreen conifer that grows at a moderate pace without much water. It takes up significantly more space than the Bristlecone Pine, at maturity about 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide.
Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum): This Maple is a small, deciduous tree that grows to about 15 feet high and less than 10 feet wide. It has moderate water needs and prefers elevations of 5,000 feet to 9,000 feet. Surprisingly shade-tolerant, the Rocky Mountain Maple thrives in partial sun rather than full sun.
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis): Deciduous hackberry trees are very drought- and wind-tolerant. They can grow to 45 feet high and 25 feet wide in elevations up to 7,000 feet, as long as they have full sun. Note that this species is prone to develop hackberry nipple galls, which impacts aesthetics but typically does not harm trees.
Schubert chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’): With green leaves and clusters of white flowers that shift into deep red-purple fruits, these trees attract birds. At a mature size of 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, the Shubert chokecherry is considered a moderate-sized tree. They prefer full sun or partial sun, have low-moderate water needs, and thrive in elevations up to 8,500 feet.
Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata): This smaller tree only grows to about 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide and is best in elevations of 4,000 feet to 6,500 feet. Though it does have moderate-high water needs, the Hoptree is relatively drought-tolerant and great for partial sun spaces. It has fragrant flowers that form into hop-like fruit.
With good selection, trees can last a long time, providing shade and visual interest. They are a long-term investment so choose wisely.
The in-person help desk is closed for the season. Submit gardening questions online at ask.extension.org or call 719-520-7684. Questions will be routed to El Paso County Master Gardeners and answered remotely and by phone.
Comments are closed.