Denver's Celebri-Trees: They're kind of famous!

Learn what makes these trees special, and share your appreciation for a chance to win some prizes! To enter the challenge, submit an image and a note of tree appreciation via the form below.

Terms: No purchase necessary. By submitting an entry either through the online form, you grant Denver’s Office of the City Forester and Denver Parks and Recreation the right to use the image on social media, website, print or digital media. Photographers will not be compensated for the use of the photo outside of this contest.

Send the tree some fan mail!

Kentucky Coffeetree, Washington Park

This Kentucky coffeetree isn’t just a Denver celebrity. It’s also a state champion and one of the largest of its species recorded in Colorado! Coffeetrees average 40 to 50 feet at maturity, and their yellow-hued leaves add a vibrant touch to Wash Park during the autumn months.

Coffeetrees are as adaptable to various soils and urban environments as they are aesthetically pleasing. This tree thrives in full sunlight and is drought-tolerant, making it a perfect choice for low-moisture landscapes. Additionally, its late leafing and early leaf drop can benefit buildings by maximizing solar gain while also providing shade during the hottest parts of the year.

Write the Kentucky coffeetree some fan mail today.

Blue Spruce, Ruby Hill Park

You may have seen this blue beauty around town. Also known as Picea pungens, the blue spruce is native to North America and is the state tree of Colorado.

These trees can grow up to two feet in a year and can live 600 to 800 years. From providing shelter for various wildlife to being used by Indigenous peoples (Keres and Navajo) for medicine and good luck, the blue spruce is as functional as it is fierce.

The blue spruce deserves our appreciation and respect, so take a minute to say thank you.

The Shakespeare Elm, City Park

To tree or not to tree?

Shakespeare’s legacy endures in many unexpected ways, including right here in Colorado. Within City Park sits a Wych elm tree called the Shakespeare elm. Planted on April 23, 1916, exactly 300 years after the playwright’s passing, the tree supposedly grew from a scion taken from Shakespeare’s grave in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. While park historians can’t substantiate this tale, it is almost as remarkable as the playwright’s own sonnets.

Despite facing challenges such as Dutch elm disease, urban development and even vandalism, the Shakespeare elm has survived in Colorado for more than a century. Its continued existence serves as a reminder of Shakespeare’s profound influence on literature, culture and history worldwide.

Test your poetic skills by writing a love letter to this tree in the submission form below.

Bur Oak, Civic Center

I said “Bur,” it’s cold in here! There must be some Bur oaks in the atmosphere!

Bur oaks get their name from the shape of their acorns, which shouldn’t be confused with chestnuts. Sometimes referred to as a “pioneer tree,” the Bur oak is the northernmost New World oak in the West, having bordered and invaded the American prairie.

As wide as they are tall, these trees provide plentiful shade and are nice to look at, too. Write them some fan mail using the template below.

Japanese Pagoda, Smiley Branch Library

Contrary to what its name would have you believe, the Japanese Pagoda originates in China. After being imported to Japan, raised in large numbers, and ultimately brought to the US, the species relies heavily on human intervention to keep it alive and well. The good news is that it’s heat and drought tolerant, so it requires minimum to moderate water use.

Known for its pleasing aesthetic, the Japanese pagoda can be used in dyes for fabric and also holds potential treatments for strokes and blood clots — but stay away from its peas, as they are toxic to humans!

Steeped in Chinese folklore, these glossy green trees are as deeply rooted in history and culture as they are pretty. Write them some fan mail today.

Send the tree some fan mail!