Are there Maple trees in Colorado Springs? (Denver, Fort Collins: home, landscaping)

[EricCarterDesigner]

I'm a newbie on this forum as of yesterday. I would like to know what the maple tree population is the area. Do you see many (or any) maple trees around? It sounds crazy, but my daughter is allergic to them in general -- especially when combined with humidity and/or mold. Thank you so much!!

[sunsprit]

While CSprings is rated as a Zone 5 growing area, which allows the possibility of more maple tree varieties to grow than the Zone 4 of Fort Collins ....

For the most part, you'll only find an occasional Norway Maple (typically) used in a private landscape in this area. Maples are not used as a general landscaping tree in parks or public spaces or wild across the countryside ... you'll see far more non-deciduous trees, Elms, Cottonwoods, Russian Thistle, and so forth as the shade or windbreak trees of choice in this area. The range of trees for landscaping was pretty much dictated by the regional climate conditions favoring rapid growing trees that could tolerate dry conditions, along with the wind and severe cold found in the area which is not conducive to maple trees.

The Front Range region of Colorado is a tough area to get trees established, and hardwood varieties are simply a lot of work to get to grow here; they have a high mortality rate which frustrates a lot of landscapers and homeowners. Spruces, conifers, evergreens, aspen, elms, cottonwoods (where they have adequate water) are what you'll find in the area's forests and planted by folk in their yards ....

As far as climate conditions go ... this is not a humid area of the country.

[EricCarterDesigner]

Thank you Sunsprit!

[lalahartma]

Right -- if your daughter is bothered by humidity and mold, this is a good place to be!

[froggin4colorado]

lol...ya stay clear of VA! Maples are pretty but you must plant them in your landscaping to get them.

[Carrera32]

Ditto on Froggin4Colorado. The prevailing wisdom is that if you don't have allergies when you arrive in VA, you will by the time you leave. Having just arrived in Colorado after 27 years in VA, I can finally breathe!!!

[phetaroi]

Well, everyone's body reacts somewhat differently. I'm originally from western New York State and suffered terribly from allergies there. When I moved to Virginia my allergies virtually disappeared. When I would go back up home for a visit, by the time I would get halfway north through Pennsylvania, the allergies would ramp up. As I returned back south to Virginia, right about halfway through Pennsylvania, the allergy symptoms would begin dissipating.

It just depends what you're allergic to, and after all, in the east there are a lot more varieties of plants letting off huge amounts of pollen, which is simply not so true out here.

[Carrera32]

Phetaroi - You're absolutely right, of course. My allergies are primarily to grasses, tree bark, and whatever else is associated with a humid climate. Had acute sinusitis as a kid in New England that virtually disappeared when we moved to California. When I then moved back to the East as an adult, many of the same symptoms returned, this time attributed to allergies. Now that I'm back in a dry climate, the symptoms are largely gone. You sound like you're allergic to other things than I am. On balance, it seems that a dry climate helps most folks with allergies to grasses, pollen, and other outdoor stimuli.

[kristie73]

I have an Amur Maple in my backyard. There are Maple trees here. The dry climate has helped the allergies I had as a kid in Virginia and as a kid for my husband in Northern California. It could be something we grow out of or get used to. When I visit other areas, it's not as intense as it used to be, but I am still bothered with allergies. Even some days here.

[DannoCO]

I think Amur maples are the best choice in CS. They are not a large shade tree though, but more of a patio tree size. They can be multi-trunked and have decent fall color.

Norway maples do ok here, and are not invasive like they are in other parts of the country. I've noticed some varieties of red maples (October Glory, I think) doing well here, but they won't grow as large here as they do back east. If you do have them, they survive much better if you water them during dry spells in the winter.

Don't even bother with a Japanese Maple here. I've seen some grow successfully in the Denver area but not in the Springs, although I'm sure someone will post and tell me differently.