Growing Shade Longmont:
Boulder County’s Residential Urban Forestry Program
Eligible residents must fill out the form linked below to register.
The PLAY Boulder Foundation Tree Trust, Boulder County, and the City of Longmont are proud to launch Growing Shade,a program focused on increasing tree canopy in local communities to help reduce extreme heat, improve air quality, and enhance climate resilience and public health.
Who it Serves
All disproportionately impacted areas in Longmont east of Main Street with less than 25% canopy will be eligible to participate in the Fall 2026 Growing Shade program.
To see if you are eligible to participate, please use the map linked below.
Timeline
Launch Party: Saturday, August 15th, from 12pm - 2pm at Lanyon Park
Community Outreach: August 15th - October 3rd
Tree Pick-Up Event: Saturday, October 3rd from 9am - 12pm at Clark Centennial Park
Ongoing Tree Care Support
Up until 2028, residents will receive direct tree care reminders and resources, including:
General watering tips and seasonal reminders
When to install or remove tree wrap
Extra care during droughts or extreme weather
Ability to ask questions to the Tree Trust and chat with other participating residents
Workshops will be offered on general and resident-requested topics related to tree care. Residents may opt out of ongoing support communications at any time.
The Tree Trust team will also perform tree wellness checks twice a year during this 3-year timeframe to get visual confirmation that the tree is doing okay. Our team will not be entering your property, so it will be helpful if your tree is planted in a location visible from the street, if possible.
Available Trees
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Narrow, upright, irregular
Flowers: Showy, fragrant clusters of large white, orchid-like flowers
Fruit: 12” to 18” long, thin seed pods
Fall Color: Yellow, brown
Height: Can be 50 to 60 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast once established
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Upright, oval
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Insignificant
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 50 to 60 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded, broad
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Acorns
Fall Color: Yellow, orange
Height: Can be 55+ feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 50 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Irregular, then rounded at maturity
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Reddish-purple, small cherry-like drupes
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 50+ feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 50 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Fruitless
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 50+ feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 45 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: 5” to 10” long, woody/leathery brown seed pods
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 50 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 45 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Upright, oval
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Acorns
Fall Color: Brown
Height: Can be 40 to 60 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Round to pyramidal, spreading
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Fruitless (does not attract boxelder bugs)
Fall Color: Orange, red
Height: Can be 40 to 50 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Upright, pyramidal, spreading
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Fruitless (and thornless)
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 35 to 50 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Round, spreading
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Fruitless (and thornless)
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 30 to 50 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 20 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Upright, oval
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Insignificant
Fall Color: Reddish-purple
Height: Can be 30 to 40 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 20 to 30 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded, spreading
Flowers: Showy, white to greenish-yellow flowers
Fruit: Prickly seed pod husks
Fall Color: Yellow, orange, red
Height: Can be 25 to 40 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 25 to 35 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded, broad
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Samaras (helicopter seed pods)
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 20 to 40 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 20 to 40 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Fruitless
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 20 to 40 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 30 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Moderate
Growth Rate: Fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded, oval
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Samaras (helicopter seed pods)
Fall Color: Yellow, orange, red
Height: Can be 35 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 15 to 30 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Upright, round, spreading
Flowers: Insignificant
Fruit: Acorns
Fall Color: Yellow, orange, red
Height: Can be 20 to 25 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 20 to 25 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low
Growth Rate: Slow
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Fast Facts:
Structure: irregular, oval to rounded
Flowers: Clusters of small, yellow-white flowers
Fruit: Samaras (helicopter seed pods)
Fall Color: Yellow, orange, red
Height: Can be 20 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 15 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Round, upright, spreading
Flowers: Showy, fragrant white flower clusters
Fruit: Small, blackish-purple fruits, similar to blueberries
Fall Color: Orange, red
Height: Can be 15 to 20 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 10 to 15 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs: Moderate to low
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded
Flowers: Fragrant clusters of white to pink flowers
Fruit: Medium to large sized red apples
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 10 to 20 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 10 to 20 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
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Fast Facts:
Structure: Rounded
Flowers: Fragrant clusters of white to pink flowers
Fruit: Medium to large sized red apples
Fall Color: Yellow
Height: Can be 10 to 15 feet tall at maturity
Width: Crown width can be 10 to 15 feet at maturity
Sun: Full sun
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
Northern Catalpa
Bicolor / Swamp White Oak
“Espresso” Kentucky Coffeetree (fruitless)
Forest Green Oak
Frontier Elm
White Shield Osage Orange (fruitless and thornless)
Hedge Maple
“Gila Monster” Gambel Oak
Hackberry
Kentucky Coffeetree
Boxelder “Sensation” Maple (fruitless)
Northern Acclaim Honeylocust (fruitless and thornless)
Ohio Buckeye
Stribling Mulberry (fruitless)
Rocky Mountain Glow Maple
Tatarian Maple
Pink Lady Apple
Accolade Elm
“Autumn Brilliance” Serviceberry
Honeycrisp Apple
Why This Work is Necessary
Growing Shade was launched to increase tree canopy on private properties, where the majority of planting opportunities exist. By empowering residents to plant and care for trees, the program supports community-driven climate solutions right where people live.
Mature trees provide benefits that are essential to health and climate resilience, including:
Shade and natural cooling
Reduced energy costs
Improved air and water quality
Healthier ecosystems and biodiversity
Carbon sequestration
Reduced stress and greater physical well-being
Urban and suburban areas are especially vulnerable to extreme heat due to the urban heat island effect. Built surfaces such as asphalt and concrete absorb and radiate heat, while areas with greater tree canopy remain significantly cooler. For example, a 2024 study by CAPA Strategies and the City of Boulder found that neighborhoods with major tree loss were up to 6°F hotter than those with dense canopy. Similarly, a 2024 Climate Central study showed that Denver streets with minimal vegetation were up to 9°F hotter than shaded blocks just two miles away.
By prioritizing historically under-resourced neighborhoods and partnering with local organizations, Growing Shade ensures that the benefits of trees are equitably shared across our communities.