Colorado can be a tricky place to grow a healthy, thriving garden. The hot summers, snowy winters, and unpredictable droughts are enough to kill off a lot of plants.
But with some careful planning and research, you can grow a beautiful xeriscape that thrives in the Colorado climate.
We’ve rounded up some expert regional landscaping advice for Coloradans and have selected 12 of the best xeriscape plants for Colorado to help you create a stunning yard.
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At a Glance: Best Xeriscape Plants Colorado
Some of the best xeriscape plants for Colorado include native grasses such as blue grama and buffalo grass, flowering perennials like blanketflower and penstemon, and succulents like sedum and hens and chicks. Shrubs such as mountain mahogany and chokecherry are also great choices. When selecting xeriscape plants for Colorado, it’s important to consider their water needs, sun tolerance, and soil preference for the best results.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Xeriscape Plants in Colorado
So, how do you choose the best plants for your Colorado garden? Here are a few tips.
Climate and weather patterns
The climate in Colorado is pretty varied depending on whether you live on the plains or near the mountains. But overall, you’ll get hot, dry summers, cold, snowy winters, and some unpredictable weather in between.
The western and eastern plains of Colorado are the driest and hottest, while nearer the mountains tends to get a lot of snowfall. Not to mention the higher elevation in the mountains, which can impact plant growth.
Before you head to the garden center, think about the general weather patterns in your neighborhood so you can look for plants that will thrive.
Soil type and condition
Soil type varies across Colorado, so a quick soil test is always best when you’re planting anything new.
Clay soil is denser and holds water, but it doesn’t drain well. Sandy soil isn’t great at retaining moisture, but it’s incredibly well-draining. If you do find you have sandy soil, mixing in some compost and peat moss can give your new plants the nutrient boost they need.
Sun and shade exposure
Is your garden shady, or do you get blazing sun for most of the afternoon? Some xeriscape plants like plenty of shade, while others thrive in direct sun.
If you’re unsure, start by using the Compass app on your phone. South-facing gardens get the most sunlight, meaning you’ll likely do better with sun-worshipping plants. Contrastingly, North-facing gardens only get a few hours of weaker sunlight, so you’ll be better off with shade-lovers.
Water availability and restrictions
If you’ve got any water restrictions in your neighborhood, xeriscape plants are perfect. They require minimal water once established, which means you won’t need to water your garden nearly as often.
Having said that, even drought-tolerant plants need water to thrive, so check on the water use of each variety to ensure you can provide adequate water for growth.
Maintenance needs
If you’ve got a green thumb, you might like plants that need frequent pruning and weeding. But if you’re someone who wants a low-maintenance garden, look for plants that don’t get too large and or too bushy.
There are plenty of low-maintenance xeriscape plants that thrive in the Colorado climate, so let’s take a look at a few of the most popular ones.
Top Xeriscape Plants for Colorado
Research is always key when xeriscaping because you need a variety of plants that fit within a more minimal landscape design.
Go for a range of colors and shapes to add interest, and try to include some native plants that attract wildlife to help insect populations thrive in your area.
Perennials
Most perennials have deep root systems which allow them to access groundwater and drag nutrients up closer to the surface for nearby plants to use. Here are a few perennials that do well in Colorado.
Purple Coneflower
Native to the eastern States, the purple coneflower is a vibrant perennial that attracts birds and bees. It grows tall rows of daisy flowers, making it perfect for borders or a backdrop, and requires little maintenance to thrive.
Coneflowers do best in dry, sandy soil. Anything too enriched will lead to bushy foliage and few flowers, so these are perfect for the dry Colorado landscape.
Blanket Flower
With vibrant daisy-like flowers and a tendency to slowly grow into a blanket of ground cover, the blanket flower is perfect for filling out rock gardens. They love full sun and well-draining soil, and they’re extremely drought-tolerant once established.
Penstemon
Also known as Beardtongue, the penstemon is a long-flowering, low-maintenance perennial that is a favourite for hummingbirds. It requires minimal water to thrive, and a few species even remain evergreen in milder mountain climates.
Russian Sage
With lavender-colored flowers and an earthy, aromatic scent, Russian sage is perfect for any Colorado garden. It’s a known pollinator that attracts bees and beneficial insects and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
Shrubs
Shrubs are perfect for xeriscapes because they are incredibly low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and thrive in hot climates. There are countless varieties to choose from, but a few of our favorites include:
- Rabbitbrush: multi-branched deciduous shrub that has bright yellow flowers.
- Sumac: dense spikes of deep-red flowers with a milky sap.
- Yucca: large, sword-shaped leaves that add architectural interest to a rock garden.
- Butterfly Bush: fast-growing perennial shrub with vibrant purple spiked trusses that attract–you guessed it–butterflies!
Trees
If you have the space for trees, they are great xeriscape plants for Colorado. Although they need more water when they’re saplings, mature trees require almost zero water since they can soak up groundwater from deep beneath the soil.
The main consideration to think about when planting trees in a xeriscape is their mature size. You don’t want a sapling that quickly outgrows your garden.
Here are a few xeriscaping trees and their maximum mature heights:
- Pinyon Pine: Up to 20 feet
- Rocky Mountain Juniper: Up to 40 feet
- Colorado Blue Spruce: Up to 75 feet
- Aspen: Up to 130 feet
Planting and Maintenance Tips for Xeriscapes in Colorado
Once you’ve got a range of plants picked out, it’s time to create your new landscape. Here are some expert xeriscaping tips to give you that professional look.
Soil preparation and amendment
Although you might need to dig and turn over your soil ready to plant, most drought-tolerant plants in Colorado don’t need additives or fertilizers to thrive.
In fact, fertilizers usually promote weed growth, which means you’ll have more garden maintenance work than necessary.
Start by doing a quick soil test to see if your soil is overly acidic or alkaline. You might also want to add some compost if your soil is incredibly poor and sandy. Other than that, just a quick turnover is all you need to prepare.
Proper planting techniques
If you’re planning on starting your native plant from seeds, you’ll need to let them mature in small pots before planting them in the soil. This gives them the best chance of surviving.
However, if you’ve bought some established plants from a local nursery, these can go straight into the soil.
- Dig a hole large enough to fit the potted plant.
- Loosen the root system if it’s tightly packed in its nursery pot.
- Cover it over with a thin layer of soil once in the ground.
- Press firmly to ensure it doesn’t fall over in the wind.
- Water thoroughly to help the roots take hold.
Efficient irrigation strategies
If you can, place plants in clusters to make it easier and more efficient to water. Here are a couple of key water conservation tips to help you save as much water as possible during droughts:
- Get a rainwater butt to catch runoff water to use in your garden.
- Save all greywater from cooking and other indoor chores to use in your garden (bonus: plants tend to love vegetable water for the added nutrients).
- Install a drip irrigation system to save yourself the chore of watering by hand.
Are You Xeriscaping in Colorado?
Colorado can be a tough area to grow a thriving garden. With hot summers and cold winters, it takes some careful research and planning to find plants that will thrive.
By choosing some of the xeriscape plants for Colorado we’ve talked about in this guide, you’ll have a vibrant, low-maintenance garden that doesn’t wither in droughts.