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Grand Valley tree guide

Plant what this valley lets live

The trees that last in the Grand Valley handle dry, alkaline clay and still need irrigation. City-listed choices include bur oak, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree and Tatarian maple. Cottonwood, silver maple, Siberian elm, ash and Russian olive are no longer allowed as Grand Junction street trees. Every fact below links to its source.

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Rows of pruned fruit trees below tall layered cliffs in dry valley light

Trees that thrive

Proven here, sorted by size

Each row comes from the Grand Valley All-Star Tree List, which the city Forestry Board keeps for trees with strong local track records. Power line fit is the shading on the approved street tree list. Chlorosis risk is from CSU Extension. Lifespans are typical ranges from a Wisconsin table, so read them as rough guides.

Trees proven in the Grand Valley with size, water, power line fit, chlorosis risk and lifespan
TreeSize in feetWaterUnder linesChlorosis riskTypical lifespan
Bur oakQuercus macrocarpa. Large shade. Round, tolerant of heat and pollution. Slow growth.60 to 80 tall, 60 to 80 wideXericNoNot listedCSU lists pin and red oak, not bur oak, and says bur oak tolerates alkaline soils.200 to 300 years
Chinkapin oakQuercus muehlenbergii. Large shade. Tolerates most soils and attracts many wildlife species.45 to 60 tall, 50 to 70 wideLow/MediumNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Common hackberryCeltis occidentalis. Large shade. Tolerates most soils and transplants easily.30 to 60 tall, 40 to 60 wideXericNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.100 to 200 years
Thornless honeylocustGleditsia triacanthos inermis. Large shade. Demonstrated local success. The Sunburst cultivar is banned as a street tree.60 to 80 tall, 60 to 80 wideXericNoHighCSU lists honeylocust as highly susceptible, even though the city calls it a proven local performer.100 to 150 years
Kentucky coffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus. Large shade. Hardy, tolerates most soils, few pests, successful locally.60 to 80 tall, 40 to 55 wideXericNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Japanese zelkovaZelkova serrata. Large shade. Tough and drought tolerant. Needs early pruning.50 to 80 tall, 50 to 80 wideXeric/LowNot on the list we readNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Western catalpaCatalpa speciosa. Large shade. Hardy, with long fruit pods. Works with xeriscaping.40 to 70 tall, 20 to 50 wideXeric/LowNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
State Street mapleAcer miyabei 'Morton'. Large shade. Tolerates urban conditions. The street list gives 45 by 35 feet at maturity, larger than the All-Star list.30 to 40 tall, 30 to 40 wideMediumNoMixedThe city list calls it chlorosis resistant. CSU lists maple as highly susceptible as a group.No figure read
Japanese pagoda treeStyphnolobium japonica. Large shade. Tolerates pollution and mild drought. The city notes a storm damage risk.50 to 70 tall, 50 to 70 wideLowNot on the list we readNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Hybrid elmUlmus spp.. Large shade. Tough, with varieties chosen for Dutch elm disease resistance. Not the same tree as Siberian elm.30 to 60 tall, 20 to 40 wideXeric/LowNot on the list we readHighCSU lists elm as highly susceptible.No figure read
Chinese pistachePistacia chinensis. Medium. Drought-tolerant shade tree. Zone 6 on the city list.30 to 35 tall, 20 to 30 wideXeric/LowNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Golden rain treeKoelreuteria paniculata. Medium. Smaller shade tree with showy blossoms and fruits.30 to 40 tall, 30 to 40 wideXericNoNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Amur maackiaMaackia amurensis. Medium. Hardy and pollinator friendly, with fragrant blossoms. Slow growth.20 to 30 tall, 15 to 20 wideXericYes, city listNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Bigtooth mapleAcer grandidentatum. Medium. Native. Takes rocky soil and drought, with strong fall color.20 to 30 tall, 15 to 25 wideXericYes, city listMixedThe city list says it tolerates alkaline soils. CSU lists maple as highly susceptible as a group.No figure read
Russian hawthornCrataegus ambigua. Medium. White blossoms and horizontal branches. Does well locally.18 to 25 tall, 18 to 25 wideXericYes, city listNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Gambel oakQuercus gambelii. Medium. Native. Tolerates rocky, alkaline soils and spreads from its roots.6 to 25 tall, 10 to 12 wideXericYes, city listNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
CrabappleMalus spp.. Medium. Diverse flowering trees with small fruits. Pendulous forms are banned on streets.10 to 30 tall, 10 to 30 wideMedium/HighYes, city listHighCSU lists apple and crabapple as highly susceptible.No figure read
Tatarian mapleAcer tataricum. Small. Sometimes shrub-like, with winged seeds. Hot Wings is the best known selection.15 to 20 tall, 15 to 20 wideXeric/LowYes, city listMixedPlant Select says Hot Wings tolerates alkaline soils. CSU lists maple as highly susceptible as a group.No figure read
American smoketreeCotinus obovatus. Small. Showy ornamental that tolerates a wide range of moisture.15 to 20 tall, 10 to 15 wideLowYes, city listNot listedNot in the CSU high susceptibility table.No figure read
Austrian pinePinus nigra. Conifer. Hardy, good for windbreaks, tolerates most soils.40 to 60 tall, 20 to 40 wideLowNot on the list we readHighCSU lists pine as highly susceptible.No figure read
Pinon pinePinus edulis. Conifer. Native. Attracts wildlife and works as a modest screen.15 to 25 tall, 12 to 25 wideLowNot on the list we readHighCSU lists pine as highly susceptible.No figure read
Utah juniperJuniperus osteosperma. Conifer. Native. Very slow growing, hardy in drought and wind.15 to 20 tall, 8 to 12 wideXericNot on the list we readHighCSU lists juniper as highly susceptible.No figure read

Reading the table. Mixed chlorosis risk means the sources disagree, or a selection does better than its group. "Not on the list we read" means the city list copy we could open ends at Quercus or leaves out conifers, so ask the City Forester before planting near a line. Nothing here replaces advice for your own site.

Trees that struggle

Five trees to think twice about

All five are on the city list of trees no longer permitted as new street trees, along with willows, aspen, Autumn Blaze maple, Sunburst honeylocust and tree of heaven. That rule covers street plantings. On your own lot the list is a guide, so an existing tree can stay if it is sound and safe.

Trees that often fail in the Grand Valley, with reasons, status, lifespan and water
TreeWhy it strugglesStatusTypical lifespanWater
Cottonwood and other poplarsPopulus spp.CSU names cottonwood among fast growers that are often soft wooded and break during storms.Banned as a Grand Junction street tree.60 to 75 years (poplar and aspen, Wisconsin DOT table)High, per CSU Extension
Silver mapleAcer saccharinumSoft wooded fast grower per CSU, and PlantTalk names it among trees that often develop iron chlorosis.Banned as a Grand Junction street tree.50 to 75 years (Wisconsin DOT table)No figure in the sources we read
Siberian elmUlmus pumilaCSU names it among fast growers that are often soft wooded and break during storms.Banned as a Grand Junction street tree. Colorado List C noxious weed.150 to 200 years in the Wisconsin DOT table, which looks long for valley yards, so treat it as a ceilingNo figure in the sources we read
AshFraxinus spp.Emerald ash borer kills stressed and healthy ash, typically within two to four years of infestation.Banned as a Grand Junction street tree. Not found in Mesa County so far.100 to 150 years for green ash (Wisconsin DOT table), without emerald ash borer in the pictureLawn irrigation in season, plus winter water every 4 to 6 weeks without snow cover
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifoliaInvasive. The state lists it as a noxious weed, and the city bans new street plantings.Banned as a Grand Junction street tree. Colorado List B noxious weed.No figure in the sources we readNo figure in the sources we read

Sources: CSU PlantTalk 1715, CSU PlantTalk 2121, Colorado Noxious Weed List, Wisconsin DOT lifespan table, CSU Selecting Large Deciduous Trees, CSU PlantTalk 1769. If one of these is over your roof, ask a crew to look at it.

Soil and iron

Why leaves turn yellow here

Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean iron chlorosis. Colorado soils hold plenty of iron, but above pH 7.5 it stays locked in a form roots cannot take up. CSU Extension says the best control in those soils is choosing trees that do not suffer from it, since no treatment is cheap and lasting.

Overwatering makes it worse. CSU calls chlorosis a common symptom of too much water, especially in spring, and suggests replacing grass under the canopy with mulch. Iron chelates only work above pH 7.5 if they are the high pH types, EDDHA or EDDHMA, and applications after May 1 are less likely to show results. Foliar sprays work fast but are spotty and temporary. Trunk injections leave wounds, so CSU leaves those to certified arborists.

7.5
Soil pH above which CSU says effective iron treatments are limited
9.4 in
Average yearly precipitation in the city figures, so trees need irrigation
18 in
Depth where the city says most tree roots find water
7a
USDA zone for most valley ZIPs. 81505 and 81524 read 6b, Whitewater 6a, via a public mirror

Water

Deep and less often, on the city schedule

Xeric on a list means after establishment, not from day one. The street tree list says every tree needs extra water to establish, and the city says a 1 inch tree can take two years to fully establish while a 3 inch tree takes five or more.

  1. 01

    Weeks 1 to 2

    Check daily and water as needed so the rootball and backfill stay moist.

  2. 02

    Weeks 3 to 12

    Water every 2 to 3 days. Keep it moist, not saturated, because roots need oxygen.

  3. 03

    After week 12

    Water weekly until the roots are established.

  4. 04

    Established trees

    Water every two to four weeks, deep enough to reach about 18 inches.

Pests to watch

One beetle is here, one is not yet

Japanese beetle is established in a Grand Junction treatment zone and under active eradication. Emerald ash borer has not been confirmed in Mesa County. As of our check, Carbondale is the only confirmed spot in western Colorado.

Japanese beetle

Adults feed on leaves and fruit of over 300 plants, and grubs feed on irrigated turf roots. Mesa County says the infestation sits generally between 24 Road and 27 1/2 Road, from Patterson Road to H 1/2 Road. Use the county map to confirm an address.

  • In the zone: free grub treatment of irrigated lawns. Call 970-902-3886 if you have not been contacted.
  • Outside it: the county asks you to treat regularly irrigated lawns with a grub control such as GrubEx, which it says can be applied through August.
  • Do not hang traps. The county says they can draw in more beetles and spoil its monitoring.
  • Found one? Take it in a hard container to CSU Extension at the Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2775 US 50, 970-244-1834.

Emerald ash borer

The Colorado State Forest Service lists the 2023 Carbondale find as the only confirmed detection in western Colorado. Its latest named detections are all on the Front Range: Colorado Springs, Firestone, Ken Caryl and Parker. About 15 percent of Colorado urban trees are ash.

  • Is it ash? Compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets, buds and branches directly opposite, and diamond bark ridges on older trees.
  • Signs: thin upper canopy, 1/8 inch D-shaped holes, vertical bark splits with S-shaped tunnels under them.
  • Help stop it: do not move ash or other hardwood firewood. CSFS says firewood likely carried it to Carbondale.
Mesa County Japanese beetle trap counts and treatment figures with sources
MeasureFigureSource
Beetles trapped, 20235,716, reported elsewhere as about 5,700CDA via Mesa County
Beetles trapped after the second full treatment year830 in or near the treatment area, an 85 percent dropCDA via Mesa County
Beetles trapped, 2025Roughly 1,500, reported in 2026 as last yearKJCT News 8
Treatment area, 2024Up to 260 acresMesa County
Treatment area, 2026Up to 325 acres, from the Chamber only. We did not find it on a county pagePalisade Chamber of Commerce
Properties, 2026 seasonMore than 900 treated at the time of the release, 2,000 to 2,500 expectedMesa County

These counts come from separate reports and may not count the same traps, so they show direction more than a precise trend.

Have an ash?

Treat it or replace it

CSFS asks every ash owner to decide now whether the tree's health and benefits merit treatment or replacement with a different species, because infested trees typically die within two to four years. With no confirmed borer in Mesa County, this is a plan to have ready, not an emergency.

Lean toward keeping and treating later

Lean toward replacing

  • Already declining, with dead limbs or thin upper canopy
  • Weak structure or too close to the house
  • Hard to water, since drought stressed ash attract native borers and suffer winter kill
  • A good chance to plant something from the list above and add diversity

Measure first. Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet up and divide by 3 for rough diameter, as CSU suggests. Not sure it is ash, or how sound it is? Ask Tri River Extension or a certified arborist, or send us the details.

Short timeline

How these pests reached the valley

Dates below come from the Mesa County, Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado State Forest Service pages listed on this page.

  1. 1

    2002

    A Master Gardener finds Japanese beetle in Mesa County. It is reduced 99 percent over five years. Emerald ash borer is found in Michigan the same year.

  2. 2

    2013

    Emerald ash borer is first detected in Colorado, in Boulder, in September.

  3. 3

    2022

    Japanese beetle is found again, in Grand Junction.

  4. 4

    2023

    Mesa County declares it a public nuisance in March and treatment starts. In June, emerald ash borer is confirmed in Carbondale and Littleton.

  5. 5

    2026

    Treatment continues under a county contract of up to $300,000, with more than 900 properties treated by the time of the county release.

Short answers

Tree guide questions, answered first

Short answers drawn from the sources on this page.

Freshly pruned young tree in a dry valley yard

What is the best tree to plant in Grand Junction?

There is no single best tree, but the city All-Star list is the place to start. Bur oak, hackberry and Kentucky coffeetree suit big spaces and low water. Tatarian maple and Amur maackia suit small yards. Pick one you rarely see nearby, as the Forestry Board asks, to avoid a monoculture.

Can I plant any tree on my own property?

The Grand Junction street list is a guide for private lots, not a ban on them. Trees in the right-of-way need a free City Forester permit and must come from the approved list. HOAs may have their own rules, so check your covenants first with our permit and HOA checker.

Which trees can go under power lines?

The city list shades smaller trees that suit overhead utilities. From the proven local list those include Amur maackia, bigtooth maple, Russian hawthorn, Gambel oak, crabapple, Tatarian maple and American smoketree. The city says to use them only where overhead limits exist, so taller trees are better elsewhere.

Should I treat my ash tree for emerald ash borer now?

CSFS asks owners to make a plan now, and the pest is not confirmed in Mesa County. Decide whether the tree is healthy and valuable enough to treat once the pest gets closer, or replace it. A certified arborist or Tri River Extension can look at your specific tree and advise on timing.

Am I in the Japanese beetle treatment zone?

Mesa County says the zone runs generally from 24 Road to 27 1/2 Road, between Patterson and H 1/2 Road. Its interactive map shows exact properties, and those inside can get free lawn treatment by calling 970-902-3886. Even outside the zone, the county recommends treating regularly irrigated turf.

How long do Grand Valley trees live?

We found no Grand Valley lifespan table, so our ranges are typical figures from a Wisconsin agency guide. That table gives bur oak 200 to 300 years, honeylocust 100 to 150 and silver maple 50 to 75. Dry soil, wind and pests can shorten that here, so treat them as rough guides only.

Sources

Where every fact came from

We fetched and read each page below on the date shown. Pages change, so check the source before you act on anything here. This guide is general information about Grand Valley trees, not a site assessment.

  1. Grand Valley All-Star Tree List . City of Grand Junction Forestry Board.

    Species picked for the Grand Valley, height, spread and water demand. Last updated April 2024 on the document.

    Accessed
  2. Approved Street Trees for Grand Junction Rights-of-Way . City of Grand Junction.

    Banned street tree species, spacing rules, the free permit rule, contact details and which trees are shaded as suitable under overhead lines. Updated March 2021. The copy we read has 13 pages and ends at Quercus, so later genera could not be checked.

    Accessed
  3. Iron Chlorosis of Woody Plants . CSU Extension.

    Symptoms, pH limits, treatment options and the table of highly susceptible plants.

    Accessed
  4. PlantTalk 2121: Iron Chlorosis in Trees . CSU Extension PlantTalk.

    Locally used trees that often develop chlorosis, including silver maple, and the advice to avoid sensitive trees above pH 7.5.

    Accessed
  5. Selecting Large Deciduous Trees . CSU Extension.

    Water class and soil notes for large trees, and the note on not planting ash along the Front Range.

    Accessed
  6. PlantTalk 1715: Selecting Trees . CSU Extension PlantTalk.

    Fast growers, including silver maple, cottonwood and Siberian elm, are often soft wooded and break during storms.

    Accessed
  7. PlantTalk 1769: Ash Care . CSU Extension PlantTalk.

    Ash water needs, how to measure the trunk, and who can apply which treatment by trunk size.

    Accessed
  8. Emerald Ash Borer . CSU Extension.

    Untreated ash will most likely die, and treated ash needs regular treatment for the rest of its life.

    Accessed
  9. Tri River Area Extension . CSU Extension.

    The office that serves Delta, Mesa, Montrose and Ouray counties.

    Accessed
  10. General Tree Care Information . City of Grand Junction.

    Watering schedule, root depth, soil and rainfall, and the rule against damaging public trees.

    Accessed
  11. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone lookup by ZIP . phzmapi.org, a public mirror of USDA map data.

    Zone by ZIP code. The USDA site itself would not serve a readable answer to our fetch, so this is a mirror rather than the USDA page.

    Accessed
  12. Plant Select trees (Colorado Green, March/April 2022) . Plant Select.

    Hot Wings Tatarian maple tolerates alkaline soils.

    Accessed
  13. FDM 27-25 Tree Species Preservation Guide . Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

    Average life span in years. Written for Wisconsin, and the only species-by-species lifespan table we could read from a public agency.

    Accessed
  14. Colorado Noxious Weed List . Colorado Department of Agriculture.

    Russian olive is List B. Siberian elm and tree of heaven are List C.

    Accessed
  15. Emerald Ash Borer: A Green Menace . Colorado State Forest Service.

    Carbondale is the only confirmed detection in western Colorado, the latest Front Range detections, and the share of ash in urban forests.

    Accessed
  16. Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed on the Western Slope . Colorado State Forest Service.

    June 2023 Carbondale and Littleton finds, how to identify ash, signs, the two to four year decline and the plan to treat or replace.

    Accessed
  17. Japanese Beetle Eradication . Mesa County.

    Treatment zone borders, free treatment, the request not to install traps, contacts and what to do if you find one.

    Accessed
  18. Eradication efforts continue as treatment season progresses . Mesa County.

    More than 900 properties treated so far and 2,000 to 2,500 expected this season.

    Accessed
  19. Significant Decline in Mesa County Japanese Beetle Population . Colorado Department of Agriculture, via Mesa County.

    5,716 beetles trapped in 2023 and 830 after the second full treatment year, an 85 percent reduction, plus the early 2000s eradication.

    Accessed
  20. Mesa County continues its efforts to beat the beetle . Mesa County.

    The 2024 hot zone covered up to 260 acres.

    Accessed
  21. Mesa County continues Japanese beetle eradication efforts in 2026 . KJCT News 8.

    About 5,700 beetles in 2023 and roughly 1,500 last year, the contract of up to $300,000 and the treatment schedule.

    Accessed
  22. Japanese Beetles in Palisade: What Residents and Growers Need to Know in 2026 . Palisade Chamber of Commerce.

    Treating up to 325 acres of identified properties. We did not find this acreage on a Mesa County page.

    Accessed

Send the details

Not sure about your tree?

Send a photo and the species if you know it. A tree service professional can tell you what they see and give a written price for any work.

What happens next

970-902-1212
  1. 1 Send the details What the tree is doing, where it is, and a photo or two if you have them.
  2. 2 We follow up You hear back the way you asked, with next steps.
  3. 3 Price in writing You see it before a saw starts, and the yes or no stays with you.

What helps us price it

  • A photo of the whole tree and one of the problem
  • Roughly how tall it is and how thick the trunk is
  • What it could hit: a roof, a fence or power lines
  • How a truck gets there, and how wide your gate is
  • Whether you also want the stump ground and the wood hauled

If a tree is on a power line or anyone is hurt, call 911 or your electric utility first.

Tell us about the tree

We get back to you with next steps and a written price.

A phone number, an email, or both. Up to 3 photos: JPEG, PNG or WebP, 8 MB each, 20 MB total. We remove location data.

    We use your details to get you a quote. Privacy. If a tree is on a power line, call 911 or your utility first.

    Tree services across the valley

    Guides and tools: Grand Valley tree guide, Tree permit and HOA checker, Tree removal cost estimator, Storm alerts and damage help.