With around 10.5 million acres of forest land, Wyoming is home to millions of evergreen trees adorn its landscape. This amount covers about 17% of the area of the state. No wonder trees in Wyoming are one of the adventure-seeker attractions to visit, especially in various National Parks in this state. Among those trees in Wyoming, some of them are native trees that are adaptable to the harsh Wyoming climate.
Moreover, this state covers US hardiness zone 2a to 5b with characteristics of severe cold winters. Therefore, native trees in Wyoming are preferable to plant because they are much easier to care for. They are even likely to grow effortlessly as long as you provide their growing conditions. Suppose you are interested in planting those Wyoming trees. In that case, you better check out our awesome list of native trees in Wyoming below!
Table of Contents
- 1. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
- 2. Colorado Spruce(Picea pungens)
- 3. Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
- 4. Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
- 5. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- 6. Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
- 7. Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia)
- 8. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
- 9. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
- 10. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Quercus macrocarpa or Bur Oak Tree is one of the hardwood trees with a large and wide crown whose height can reach up to 100 feet. Thanks to its strong trunks, it can support the horizontal, massive bark. The leaves are yellowish-green and about 9 inches long.
Moreover, this tough tree also produces giant acorns, which are wood ducks’ favorite snacks.
Regarding its growing requirements, it is not picky about the lighting levels as it favors full sun but copes well with partial shade and shade locations. They are also moderately disease-resistant trees that tolerate various soil types and conditions as long as they have a pH of around 6.8. Moreover, it withstands drought and limey soils better than other oak trees in Wyoming.
2. Colorado Spruce(Picea pungens)
Even though its name is after Colorado, it is a native conifer you can easily find in Wyoming. Colorado Spruce is conical-shaped, with horizontal branches covered with short, stiff needles that the snow loves to rest on. It also belongs to the Wyoming evergreen trees that will stand out in the winter months as it grows up to 75 feet tall.
Furthermore, the best time to plant trees in Wyoming is in spring. So, you can start growing this tree in early spring. Another option is late winter to ensure it thrives in the harsh cold temperatures of the season. But first, provide a site with full sun exposure and acidic or neutral soil. As for the soil types, this tree is not fussy about it. Besides Wyoming, it can grow anywhere within the US hardiness zone 2-7.
3. Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Covering its branches with exquisite fluffy white flowers, the Hackberry tree is one of the fastest-growing Wyoming trees for adorning your landscape. This hardy tree grows medium to fast, from 13 to 24 inches annually. At its maximum growth, the height can reach up to 60 feet tall. Besides, it produces berries that are winter birds’ favorite.
Regarding the growing conditions, it favors moist, well-drained soil yet tolerates medium drought. This tree thrives well in various soil types as long as they have a pH of around 6.0 to 8.0, making it easy to care for. Nonetheless, it requires full sun to partial shade to ensure their flowering and fruiting go perfectly.
4. Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Like the previous tree, Douglas Fir or Pseudotsuga menziesii is an evergreen tree you can easily find in Wyoming. Despite having a ‘Fir’ name, it is actually not a fir. It is likely a hemlock that can grow up to 85 meters and live for about 500 years! The unique characteristic of this tree is that it can self-prune the lower branches when it grows lush in the forest, forming many stories above the ground.
In their natural habitat, it prefers to grow under the sun even though they can withstand the partial shade. If you want to grow them in your yard, you must also provide acidic, moist soil but be well-drained to ensure they thrive. Additionally, Douglas Fir is relatively pests-tolerant. Thus, it will not get you troubled with complex maintenance.
5. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Green Ash is an ideal choice for fast-growing trees because of its upright, wide-spreading growth at maturity and capability of reaching 50-75 feet tall. The leaves unsightly grow thickly round. In addition, they will provide a fantastic seasonal transition from green to yellow-reddish leaves in fall. Moreover, this fast-growing tree attracts birds and butterflies and becomes larval hosts.
Like some other shade trees, Green Ash stands well in dry, wet, and moist soil with a circumneutral pH. It favors full sun yet can grow in partial shade and shade lighting conditions. If you want to propagate the seeds, pretreatment is necessary. Perform moist warm stratification on the seeds for 60 days and then continue for 120 days at a temperature range of 34-40’C. They are usually commercially available at the nearest local nursery.
6. Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
As its name bears, the leaves of Honey Locust or Gleditsia triacanthos are golden like honey in the autumn. This feature makes this large and lush tree a popular Wyoming native tree for landscaping, reaching approximately 100 feet tall in the wild. Besides being native to Wyoming, its native habitat spread in the eastern areas of the US as far as Kentucky.
Luckily, growing Honey Locust is relatively easy. Choose an area with sun exposure that also offers some shades. It also favors rich and moist soil, so make sure your backyard has such a soil type. Avoid drought soil with high salt concentration since it harms the tree. In addition, provide a large and deep hole to plant this tree as it will grow a robust and coarse root ball.
7. Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia)
No wonder, Narrowleaf Cottonwood is a favorite ornamental tree for landscaping as it bears golden yellow, lance-shaped leaves captivating in the fall. The story is leaner than other native trees, but it does not make it less beautiful. Moreover, it produces gummy buds that Native Americans enjoy as chewing gum.
Generally, this poplar tree grows in the basin or along the stream. But you can try planting it in your garden. It thrives in sandy or loamy soil yet does not tolerate clay. And for the light intensity, Narrowleaf Cottonwood prefers full sun. If you want to keep it in shape, prune the tree while it is still young because it can grow fast, up to 12 feet per year.
8. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
True to its name, Betula papyrifera or Paper Birch features white bark that peels off like paper. Initially, the branches covered with leaves form a pyramid but turn into a rounded crown as the tree matures. Additionally, its green leaves will turn yellow when autumn welcomes. Unfortunately, it has a short lifespan of only about 80 years. However, it does not make people less interested in growing Paper Birch.
It favors cool, fertile, and moist soils to thrive because the conditions resemble its natural habitats. Nonetheless, the perennial tree tolerates sun, shade, and partial shade lighting levels, thus, allowing you to consider a wider optional area to plant. Moreover, you must pay attention to the planting requirements since it is susceptible to some insects and diseases under unfavorable growing conditions.
9. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Ponderosa Pine is one of the evergreen pine trees in Wyoming. It is well-known for its emerging robust trunk, reaching 100 feet in cultivation and 230 feet in nature. Meanwhile, the horizontal branches’ width reaches between 25-30 feet. Thanks to these qualities, this tree is often grown in the garden to add charming greenery through the seasons.
To grow this coniferous tree, prepare well-drained sandy to loamy soil with acidic pH. It also requires a full sun spot to thrive. Considering its size, set aside a large area to allow them to grow properly. You may also need to prune this tree in the late fall or winter when its growth slows down. In addition to Wyoming, you can plant Ponderosa Pine in the US hardiness zone 3 to 7.
10. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Populus tremuloides or Quaking Aspen is the best tree to plant in Wisconsin, considering its fast growth. The medium-sized tree has a pyramidal growing habit with a rounded crown full of dazzling dark green leaves that will later turn golden yellow in the fall. Furthermore, this tree benefits deer, moose, and elk as they eat buds, leaves, bark, and twigs of this tree.
Considering its size and beauty, Quaking Aspen is widely planted as ornamental trees. This sun-loving tree best performs in fertile, humusy, moist but well-drained soils. Since it has a robust root system and can grow up to 20-50 feet tall, it is not recommended to plant this tree near the building because it can damage the building structure and polluter the roof tiles with fallen leaves.
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What part of Wyoming has the most trees?
Bridger-Teton National Forest has 3.4 million acres of forest land, of which 3,000 miles of it has not been explored yet. It holds the most intact ecosystem in the state, called the Greater Yellow State Ecosystem, as this forest is surrounded by the Grand Teton and Yellow National Park. And as for the greenest neighborhood you can choose to live in are Jackson and Pinedale. Both sit in areas where you can experience greenery and nature at its finest.
What trees grow best in Cheyenne WY?
If you live in Cheyenne, you may easily find the following common trees in Wyoming: American Elm, Honey Locust, Hackberry, and Buckeye. In addition, you can also grow oak trees in Wyoming, for example, Bur Oak. These trees offer shade to your landscape as they grow lush in the summer. And, of course, they adapt well to the climate, making them easier to care for. Besides Cheyenne, you can see them growing well in other parts of Northeastern Wyoming.
What trees grow in Laramie Wyoming?
Laramie Wyoming lies in the US hardiness zone 4. This area is perfect for growing hardwood trees like Maples (Amur Maple, Norway Maple, and Bigtooth Maple) and Oak Trees (Bur Oak).
In addition, some broadleaf, deciduous trees, like Birch Trees (Western River Birch and Cutleaf Weeping Birch), Crabapple Trees (Radiant Crabapple and Adams Crabapple), and Hawthorn (Russian Hawthorn and Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn) will be a great addition to your landscape.
But if you prefer Wyoming evergreen trees, Upright Juniper, Black Hills Spruce, and Colorado Blue Spruce may be the best choice. You can also try planting pine trees in Wyoming, such as Pinon Pine, Limber Pine, Austrian Pine, and Ponderosa Pine, as they are evergreen too!
What growing zone is Wyoming?
Wyoming belongs to the 2a and 5b US hardiness zone. The temperature in this zone is freezing and even tends to be harsh for the plants and trees. Therefore, you need to understand the planting conditions and the type of trees that grow in Wyoming. We recommend choosing native plants as they are used to dealing with such a climate. In addition, the best time to plant trees in Wyoming is in spring, as the temperatures slowly shift from cold to warm.
How long is the growing season in Wyoming?
Generally, the average growing season in Wyoming is around 125 days. However, it varies between areas since Wyoming covers 2a to 5b of the US hardiness zone. For example, the growing season of Cheyenne is more prolonged, approximately 137 days. Knowing this freeze-free period is crucial for the agricultural sector as it determines when the farmers must plant their crops. It also helps you decide which common trees that grow in Wyoming you can plant.
