Acer glabrum ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAPLE

This handsome many-stemmed maple has smooth gray bark and coarsely toothed leaves that turn a spicy golden color in autumn. It can be found in moist canyon bottoms in middle elevations. Wildlife delight in the foliage and seeds.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 15-20 ft.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 6-10 ft.
FULL TO PART SUN
MEDIUM WATER
RICH, WELL-DRAINED SOIL
ZONE: 3-6

Acer grandidentatum BIG TOOTH MAPLE

This small tree is an excellent choice as an accent tree or for mass plantings. The typical maple leaves of this tree are dark green in spring and summer and turn spectacular colors in autumn, providing most of the fall color in Utah from Logan Canyon in the north to Zion Canyon in the south. It is one of the most common trees of the mountain brush zone in middle elevations.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30-40 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 20-25 FT.
FULL SUN
MEDIUM WATER
WELL-DRAINED SOIL
ZONE: 3-6
Alnus tenuifolia
THINLEAF ALDER

This shrub-like tree grows in thick stands with several trunks emerging from the same rootstock. It is an attractive addition for a small landscape area and it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. The fruit of this unique tree resembles miniature pinecones. The silvery bark is rich in tannin and is used for tanning leather. It is found in riparian habitats near seeps and springs in middle elevations. Beavers, deer, and rabbits eat the bark and birds feed on the seeds.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 10-15 FT.
FULL TO PART SUN
HIGH WATER
WELL-DRAINED SOIL
ZONE: 2-6
Betula occidentalis
WESTERN WATER BIRCH
This charming multi-stemmed tree grows in dense thickets. Shiny red cherry tree-like bark and leaves that turn yellow-orange in the fall distinguish this tree common to mountain streams and meadows. It is more pest and disease resistant than European birches making it a better choice for Western landscapes. In pioneer days, birch rods were used to discipline unruly children and its long, straight branches have often been used for "emergency" fishing rods.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: FAST
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 15-20 FT.
FULL TO PART SUN
MEDIUM WATER
RICH, WELL-DRAINED SOIL
ZONE: 1-6
Celtis reticulata NETLEAF HACKBERRY

This small, ornate tree is easily identified by its bright green, saw-tooth, elm-like leaves and its "warty" bark. It produces small orange-red fruit highly prized by birds. It grows naturally on dry, rocky hillsides and canyon bottoms and is excellent for wildlife and reclamation. The angular, hobbit-like growth habit of this tree adds an interesting flare to the landscape.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 20-30 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 15-20 FT.
FULL TO PART SUN
LOW WATER
WELL-DRAINED SOIL
ZONE: 3-6
Crataegus douglasii DOUGLAS HAWTHORNE

Douglas Hawthorne is a small, thorny tree that grows in thickets. It blooms in early spring with masses of white flowers that mature into small apple-like fruit. It grows in moist areas along cool stream banks in middle elevations. It is a favorite of birds and wildlife and can be used to attract them in a backyard sanctuary.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: MEDIUM
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 20-25 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: THICKETS 15-20 FT.
FULL SUN
MEDIUM WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
FLOWERS: WHITE IN SPRING 
ZONE 3-6 
Populus angustifolia NARROWLEAF COTTONWOOD
This fast growing tree has a tall, slender crown. The leaves of this tree are similar in appearance to willow leaves and it is a robust addition to the landscape. It grows wild along stream banks in the mouths of the canyons. Native Americans used the young shoots to make baskets.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: FAST
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 50-60 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 30-40 FT.
FULL TO PART SUN
MEDIUM TO HIGH WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
ZONE: 3-7
Populus fremontii FREEMONT COTTONWOOD

The largest deciduous tree in Utah in summer, the female trees produce a profusion of white "cotton". The roots grow deep into the desert soil to withstand long periods of drought by tapping underground water sources. The bright green leaves of the Fremont Cottonwood guide desert dwellers to the sparse water sources. Due to its size, it is best suited for wide-open areas such as parks and estates.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: FAST
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 100 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 40-50 FT.
FULL SUN
HIGH WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
ZONE: 6-10
Populus simonii SIMON POPLAR
A very formal species, the dense form of this poplar's crown makes it suitable for privacy screens or windbreaks. It is an excellent choice for landscapes because it provides quick shade without engulfing the rest of the yard and is more resistant to problems common to other poplars. Farmers and ranchers use this non-native extensively for windbreaks and shelterbelts.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: FAST
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 50-70 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 15-20 FT.
FULL SUN
MEDIUM WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
ZONE: 3-6
Quercus gambelii GAMBEL OAK

The interesting form of this gnarled little tree is a natural for home landscapes. It spreads by rhizomes and is usually found in dense thickets along the foothills. This hardy tree re-sprouts after fires and is useful for watershed improvement. The multi-trunked Gambel Oak is also an important food and shelter plant for all species of wildlife.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: SLOW
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 15-20 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: CLUMPS 15-20 FT.
FULL SUN
LOW WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
ZONE: 4-6
Salix amygdaloides PEACHLEAF WILLOW
The most common native willow tree in the region. The leaves resemble those of the traditional peach and are a yellowish-green color. The Peachleaf grows naturally along stream banks in lower elevations. It is a good, fast growing alternative to globe willows for home landscapes and is also used for streambank stabilization.

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE: FAST
MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 50-60 FT.
MAXIMUM WIDTH: 20-30 FT.
FULL TO PART SUN
MEDIUM TO HIGH WATER
AVERAGE SOIL
ZONE: 3-6