Spring Tree Program

spring lilac tree in the spring

Celebrate Arbor Day with the City of Littleton!

The City of Littleton is celebrating Arbor Day by continuing its annual tree-planting program with 20 species of trees available this year. Trees provide many benefits, including clean air, access to clear water, shade, summer cooling, wildlife habitat, beauty, and more. The goal of this program is to increase the canopy density and diversity of the urban forest. 

The order form will be open while supplies last, or until March 20, 2023.

Pick- up: April 15 at the Belleview Service Center: 1800 W Belleview Ave. Littleton CO 80120
Contact: Littleton City Arborist, 303-795-3827 or pwmb@littletongov.org.

In 2023 the city is introducing a secure, online order form to choose and pay for the trees. Trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

2023 Spring Tree Program Order Form

Map showing the Littleton city boundaries

All trees must be planted in the Littleton city limits. Use the Address Wizard to confirm the address is in the Littleton city limits.

City staff will distribute trees purchased by residents on Saturday, April 15. Residents should arrange to pick up trees between 8 a.m. and 12 noon. If unable to pick up, select delivery help when placing the order. All deliveries will be made on Friday, April 14. All trees are $70 each, regardless of size or variety. If physically unable to plant you tree, contact the Littleton City Arborist at 303-795-3827 no later than March 20 to arrange volunteer groups accordingly. 

Unless otherwise noted, all trees come in #6 containers. The container is about the size of 10 gallon bucket and the trees are estimated to be about 6 feet tall. Trees can fit in most vehicles.

2023 Tree Descriptions

# Name Descriptions Photo
1 Maple, Hot Wings Tatarian
(Acer tataricum 'GarAnn')
Small ornamental; low maintenance; great fall color; distinct, bright red samaras in spring; semi- drought tolerant; 15'h x 15'w Maple, Hot Wings Tatarian in the spring
2 Serviceberry, Autumn Brilliance
(Amelanchier x grand. 'Autumn Brilliance')
Small, flowering ornamental; white blooms in the spring; attracts birds and pollinators; prefers moist soil (irrigation); "brilliant" fall color; 15'h x 15'w Serviceberry, Autumn Brilliance in the fall
3 Oak, Gambel, Multi-stem
(Quercus gambelii)
Native, drought-tolerant oak; small, multi-stemmed/ shrubby form; hardy; reproduces by roots and acorns; good for wildlife; fall color; this tree spreads; good for privacy "green fence" or natural areas; not recommended for a manicured lawn; 15'h x 15'w gambel oak in the spring
4

Crabapple, Spring Snow
(Malus 'Spring Snow' )

bareroot

Small, flowering ornamental; fruitless; fragrant, white blooms in the spring; attracts pollinators/ butterflies; tolerant of variety of soil types; must be pruned in the winter due to disease susceptibility; 20'h x 15'w spring snow crab tree in the spring
5

Plum, Newport
(Prunus cerasifera 'Newport')

bareroot

Small, flowering ornamental; fragrant, white to pinkish blooms in the spring; attracts birds and pollinators; colorful, purple leaves year-round; showy tree; susceptible to pest and disease; 20'h x 15'w newport plum in the fall  
6 Tree lilac, Ivory Silk
(Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk')
Small, flowering ornamental; fragrant and showy white flower clusters in the early summer; attracts butterflies/pollinators/ hummingbirds; resistant variety; prefers full sun; 20'h x 15'w spring lilac tree in the spring
7 Hawthorne, Thornless Cockspur
(Crataegus crus-galli 'Inermis')
Small, flowering ornamental; pungent, white flowers in the spring that attract unique pollinators; small, deep red berries that persist into early winter; attracts birds/ butterflies/ unique pollinators; thornless variety; dense, nest-like canopy; prefers full sun; 20'h x 20'w hawthorne tree in the spring
8 Redbud
(Cercis canadensis)
Small, flowering ornamental; showy neon pink flowers in the spring; attracts butterflies/ pollinators; heart shaped leaves; tolerant of many conditions; prefers partial shade; 20'h x 25'w redbud tree in the fall
9 Maackia, Amur
(Maackia Amurensis)
Small, flowering ornamental; unique, creamy white clusters of flowers- unique in blooming in the middle of the summer; attracts variety of pollinators; hardy tree; drought tolerant; 20'h x 30'w amur maackia tree in the summer
10 Maple, Rocky Mountain Glow
(Acer grandidentatum 'Schmidt')
Medium to small tree; attractive fall color; more tolerant than other maple varieties; 25'h x 15'w rocky mt glow maple in the summer
11 Musclewood Hornbeam, American
(Carpinus caroliniana)
Medium sized tree; inconspicuous flowers; good fall color; attracts birds; distinctive bark and branches described as "muscle-like"; hard wood; strong and tolerant (different than hop hornbeam); 25'h x 20'w musclewood tree in the fall
12 Hop Hornbeam, American
(Ostrya virginiana)
Medium sized tree; fruiting bodies look like hops; good fall color; attracts wildlife; hardwood; strong and tolerant; (different that Musclewood/ hornbeam); 30'h x 25'w hop hornbeam tree in the fall
13 Osage Orange,White Shield or Wichita
(Maclura pomifera'White Shield' or 'Wichita'), #15 container
Medium sized tree; thornless, fruitless variety; yellow fall color; drought and heat tolerant, hardiest tree offered; 35'h x 35'w
Trees are larger, #15 containers, ~10ft tall. Using a pick-up truck, trailer, or requesting delivery help is recommended.
osage tree in the spring
14 Yellowwood, American
(Cladrastis kentukea)
Medium tree; white, showy, fragrant flower clusters in the spring; yellow fall color; prefers to be planted in a wind-protected area; 40'h x 45'w yellowwood tree in the spring
15 Elm, Lacebark Allee
(Ulmus parvifolia 'Emer II')
Medium to large shade tree; distinct multi-colored, mottled bark; adaptive and tolerant; fast growing; drought tolerant; 45'h x 35'w lacebark elm tree in the fall
16 Oak, Chinkapin
(Quercus muehlenburgii)
Large shade tree; good fall color; attracts wildlife; tolerant of clay and rocky soil; prefers moisture but is a drought tolerant oak option; 45'h x 55'w chinkapin oak tree in the spring
17 Catalpa, Northern
(Catalpa speciosa)
Large shade tree; showy white flowers; long "green bean" style fruit; large, heart shaped leaves; tolerant of many soil conditions- both standing water and drought tolerant; attracts variety of pollinators; tolerant against pests and disease; 50'h x 30'w catlapa tree in the spring
18 Rubbertree, Hardy
(Eucommia ulmoides)
Large shade tree; hardy tree- resistant and tolerant; prefers full sun; often has low, spreading branching- very unique, but be careful not to plant close to structures; drought tolerant; 50'h x 40'w rubbertree in the spring
19 Hackberry
(Celtis occidentalis)
Large shade tree; very tolerant to a variety of pollutants, soils, and harsh weather conditions; strong wood; distinctive, bumpy bark; attracts birds and pollinators; drought tolerant; 50'h x 50'w hackbery tree in the spring
20 Oak, Bur
(Quercus macrocarpa)
Large shade tree; often has low, spreading branches- do not plant too close to structures; attracts wildlife; largest acorn of all oaks; prefers moisture, but is a drought tolerant oak option; 75'h x 80'w bur oak in the summer