Maple trees are a beautiful addition to any landscape, and they can be a great choice for homeowners in Colorado. There are many different types of maple trees, and some of them are better suited for our climate than others. In this blog post, we will take a look at 10 different maple trees that will grow well in the Colorado climate!
Why Plant a Maple Tree in Colorado?
Maple trees are known for their stunning red, orange, and yellow leaves that change color in fall. Maple tree trunks have a distinctive pattern of vertical furrows with horizontal ridges running through them like stripes on an American flag, making them easy to identify from afar.
Maple trees also produce maple syrup which is used widely across North America in everything from breakfast foods such as pancakes and French toast, to desserts like ice cream or candy.
Tatarian Maple (Acer Tataricum)
Tatarian Maple is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 40 feet in height and 25-35 feet wide. This fast growing maple has an upright, pyramidal form with dark green leaves turning yellow or red in autumn before dropping off for winter dormancy.
The Tatarian Maple’s bark is smooth when young but becomes scaly and deeply furrowed with age. This Maple tree is a great choice for homeowners in Colorado because it is tolerant of drought, heat, and cold weather conditions.
Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum)
Silver Maple is another fast-growing maple tree that can reach heights of 50-70 feet tall. It has a broadly oval form with a rounded crown and deeply furrowed silver-gray bark. The leaves are broad, five-lobed, and turn yellow in the autumn.
Silver Maple is a good choice for homeowners in Colorado because it is tolerant of drought, heat, and cold weather conditions. It also provides excellent shade coverage.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Red Maple is a medium-sized tree with an open, rounded crown that can grow up to 50 feet tall. Its bark ranges from grayish brown to reddish brown and peels off in long strips or shreds as the tree matures over time.
The Red Maple’s leaves are red in the spring, green in summer, and turn a brilliant red, orange, or yellow in the autumn.
Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)
The Sugar Maple is one of the most popular types of Maple trees. It is a large tree that can grow up to 70-80 feet tall and has a broad, rounded crown. When young, the bark is smooth and gray but becomes deeply furrowed with age.
The Sugar Maple’s leaves are green in the summer, turn yellow in the autumn, and produce sap that is used to make Maple Syrup.
Painted Maple (Acer Pictum)
The Painted Maple is a small deciduous tree that typically reaches heights of 20-30 feet. It has a broadly oval form with a rounded crown, and its bark is smooth and greenish-gray when young but becomes deeply furrowed with age.
The leaves are three- to five-lobed and turn a brilliant red, orange, or yellow in the autumn.
Green Mountain Maple (Acer Spicatum)
The Green Mountain Maple has an open, rounded crown with a thick trunk that can grow up to 40-50 feet tall. Its bark is smooth and greenish-gray when young but becomes deeply furrowed with age.
Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum)
The Bigtooth Maple is a large deciduous tree that can reach heights of 50-70 feet tall. It has a broadly oval form with a rounded crown, and its bark is smooth and greenish-gray when young but becomes deeply furrowed with age.
This Maple tree does well in wetter climates and is tolerant of cold temperatures down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer Freemanii)
The Autumn Blaze Maple is a fast-growing Maple tree that can reach heights of 50-70 feet tall. It has an upright, oval form with a rounded crown and deeply furrowed silver-gray bark. The leaves are broad, five-lobed, and turn yellow in the autumn.
Maple Trees that Will Grow Well in the Colorado Climate: Conclusion
Maple trees are an excellent choice for a landscaping project because of their beautiful fall foliage and sweet-tasting sap. Maple tree trunks have a distinctive pattern of vertical furrows with horizontal ridges running through them like stripes on American flag stripes making them easy to identify from afar.
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