Take a virtual tour of the Alter Arboretum.
Arboretum Kiosk
Alter Arboretum Kiosk
Horsechestnut
Species Aesculus hippocastanum
Common European or Common Horsechestnut
Native Range Europe
One of the most distinguished trees in the Arboretum.
Yellow Buckeye
Species Aesculus flava
Common Yellow Buckeye
Native Range Appalachian Mountains and Ohio Valley
The oldest and largest Yellow Buckeye in our collection.
English Oak
Species Quercus robur
Common English Oak
Native Range Europe, northern Africa, western Asia
Deformed while young this tree has matured into a truly unique specimen.
Bur Oak
Species Quercus macrocarpa
Common Bur or Mossycup Oak
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Oldest Bur Oak on Campus.
Honeylocust
Species Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
Common Thornless Common Honeylocust
Native Range Eastern to Mid- west U.S. south to Texas
Hardy Rubber Tree
Species Eucommia ulmoides
Common Hardy Rubber Tree
Native Range Central China
European Beech
Species Fagus sylvatica
Common European or Common Beech, Green Beech
Native Range Europe
Water Gardens
Water gardens featuring waterlilies, lotus as well as a mix of other hardy aquatic plants.
Catalpa
Species Catalpa speciosa
Common Northern or Western Catalpa
Native Range Central and Mid-Western U.S.
Colorado Blue Spruce
Species Picea pungens 'Glaca'
Common Colorado Spruce or Blue Spruce
Native Range Rocky Mountains and Southwestern U.S.
Colorado Native and the State Tree of Colorado
Hackberry
Species Celtis occidentalis
Common Common Hackberry
Native Range U.S. and Canada
This is the largest Hackberry in our collection.
Fernleaf Beech
Species Fagus sylvatica 'Aspleniifolia'
Common Fernleaf Beech, European Beech
Native Range Europe
Cultivar of European Beech with cut leaves giving a fern like appearance.
Manchurian Maple
Species Acer mandshuricum
Common Manchurian Maple
Native Range Manchuria, Siberia, Central China and Korea
Ginkgo
Species Ginkgo biloba
Common Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree
Native Range Eastern China
The dried leaves are used to make the herbal supplement of the same name.
Cedar of Lebanon
Species Cedrus libani
Common Cedar of Lebanon
Native Range Asia Minor, widely known for historic stands in Lebanon
Yellowwood
Species Cladrastis kentukea
Common American Yellowwood
Native Range Central, Mid-western and Southern U.S.
Russian Olive
Species Elaeagnus angustifolia
Common Russian-olive, Oleaster, Wild Olive
Native Range Southern Europe, western and central Asia, Altai and Himalaya
This species is now listed as a noxious weed in Colorado due to it's invasiveness and ability to out compete native plants.
White Fringetree
Species Chionanthus virginicus
Common White Fringetree
Native Range Southern New Jersey to Florida and Texas
Green Ash
Species Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Common Green Ash
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Chinese Fringetree
Species Chionanthus retusus
Common Chinese Fringetree
Native Range China, Japan, Korea
Sycamore Maple
Species Acer pseudoplatanus
Common Sycamore or Planetree Maple
Native Range Europe, western Asia
Hot Wings Maple
Species Acer tataricum 'Garann'
Common Hot Wings Tatarian Maple
Native Range Southeastern Europe, western Asia
Cultivar selected for it's brilliant red sumaras.
Valley Forge Americam Elm
Species Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge'
Common Valley Forge American Elm
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Cultivar selected for it's resistance to Dutch Elm Disease
Plains Cottonwood
Species Populus deltoides
Common Eastern or Plains Cottonwood
Native Range U.S. and Canada, Colorado Native
This is the largest Cottonwood left in our collection.
Chinkapin Oak
Species Quercus muehlenbergii
Common Chinkapin Oak
Native Range U.S.
Texas Red Oak
Species Quercus buckleyi
Common Texas Red or Buckley's Oak
Native Range Southern Great Plains of the U.S., notably Oklahoma and Texas
Kentucky Coffeetree
Species Gymnocladus dioicus
Common Kentucky Coffeetree
Native Range U.S.
Giant Sequoia
Species Sequoiadendron giganteum
Common Giant Sequoia, Sierra Redwood
Native Range Sierra Nevada Mountains of California
Pioneer Elm
Species Ulmus 'Pioneer'
Common Pioneer Elm
Native Range hybrid developed in the U.S. from parents native to Europe, Asia and Africa
Cultivar of U. glabra x U. minor cross
Bristlecone Pine
Species Pinus aristata
Common Bristlecone or Foxtail Pine
Native Range Southwestern and Western U.S., Rocky Mountains
Colorado Native and one of the oldest living plants on Earth.
Cockspur Hawthorn
Species Cataegus crus-galli
Common Cockspur Hawthorn
Native Range U.S.and Canada
White Ash
Species Fraxanus americana
Common White Ash
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Black Tupelo
Species Nyssa sylvatica
Common Black Tupelo or Black Gum
Native Range U.s. and Canada
Pin Oak
Species Quercus palustris
Common Pin Oak
Native Range Eastern and central U.S.
Pin Oak planted by First Lady Ladybird Johnson along with Chester Alter and Heber Harper.
White Oak
Species Quercus alba
Common White Oak
Native Range U.S.
Redmond American Linden
Species Tilia americana 'Redmond'
Common Redmond Linden
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Baldcypress
Species Taxodium distichum
Common Baldcypress
Native Range Southeastern, southern and central U.S.
Deciduous conifer noted for growing in swamps and wet areas, a surprise success for the Denver area.
Goldenrain Tree
Species Koelreuteria paniculata
Common Goldenrain Tree
Native Range China, Japan, Korea
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Species Juniperus scopulorum
Common Rocky Mountain Juniper, Colorado Redcedar
Native Range Western U.S. and Canada
Colorado native
Weeping Mulberry
Species Morus alba 'Chaparral'
Common Weeping Fruitless Mulberry
Native Range China
Grafted cultivar
Ginnala Maple
Species Acer ginnala
Common Ginnala or Amur Maple
Native Range Central and northern China, Manchuria and Japan
Considered by some to be a subspecies of Acer tataricum
Downy Hawthorn
Species Crataegus mollis
Common Downy Hawthorn
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Persimmon
Species Diospyros virginiana
Common Common Persimmon
Native Range U.S.
Tricolor Beech
Species Fagus sylvatica 'Roseomarginata'
Common Tricolor European Beech
Native Range Europe
Cultivar noted for it's variegated leaves.
Persian Parrotia
Species Parrotia persica
Common Persian Parrotia, Persian Ironwood
Native Range Iran
Southwestern White Pine
Species Pinus strobiformis
Common Southwestern White Pine
Native Range Southwestern U.S. and Mexico
Fat Albert Spruce
Species Picea pungens glauca 'Fat Albert'
Common Fat Albert Blue Spruce
Native range Southwestern U.S. and Rocky Mountains
Cultivar, much shorter than standard P. pungens
Red Oak
Species Quercus rubra
Common Red Oak, Northern red Oak
Native Range U.S. and Canada
Stonehill Pear
Species Pyrus calleryana 'Stonehill'
Common Stonehill Callery Pear
Native Range China and Korea
Cultivar that appears to be another name for Chanticleer and Cleveland Select pear
Katsuratree
Species Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Common Katsuratree
Native Range China and Japan
Korean Fir
Species Abies koreana
Common Korean Fir
Native Range Korea