Expert guidance on selecting water-wise plants that thrive in Colorado’s unique conditions

Written by Colorado Green NOW

Colorado homeowners are constantly looking to spruce up their yards, perusing and wandering through garden centers filled with endless rows of colorful plants. But faced with so many options, how do you know what will actually thrive in Colorado’s challenging climate? Nicole Stone, with LMI Colorado, Landscaping and Irrigation Services, helps walk us through the best strategies for selecting plant material that will flourish in our unique high-altitude environment.

Understanding Colorado’s Native Reality

While Colorado boasts miles of beautiful landscapes filled with diverse plant life, this abundance can be misleading. “Don’t let that fool you—Colorado is not home to most of these plants,” Stone explains. “Our actual native species list is pretty small.”

Colorado’s true native plants include practical grasses like Blue Grama and Buffalo Grass, stunning wildflowers such as Rocky Mountain Columbine and Penstemons, iconic trees like Ponderosa Pine and Quaking Aspen, and hardy shrubs including Gambel Oak and Mountain Mahogany. While these natives are perfectly adapted to local conditions, Stone acknowledges that “most of our native plant material is not what most of us would want to plant in our yards—it’s truly native looking at best.”

The Water-Wise Imperative

Colorado’s arid climate makes water-wise plant selection more than just a preference—it’s a necessity. “Waterwise plant material is becoming so important because Colorado is such a dry state,” Stone emphasizes. “Planting material that uses minimal water but yet looks amazing is becoming more important to create a more sustainable landscape.”

This approach aligns with broader sustainable landscaping principles that focus on reducing yard waste, conserving water, and selecting appropriately sized plants. The goal is choosing plants that require only the amount of water needed while creating the aesthetic appeal homeowners and commercial property owners desire.

Expert Recommendations for Colorado Gardens

Stone’s recommendations bridge the gap between native adaptation and visual appeal, offering options that work for both residential and commercial landscapes:

Trees That Deliver

• Hot Wings Maple: Provides stunning fall color while maintaining drought tolerance
• Catalpa: Offers broad shade coverage with distinctive heart-shaped leaves and showy flowers

Shrubs for Structure and Interest

• Fernbush: Delivers delicate texture with exceptional drought tolerance
• Pawnee Buttes Sandcherry: Combines attractive foliage with edible fruit and low water needs
• Goldfinger Potentilla: Provides bright yellow blooms throughout the growing season
• False Yucca (Hesperaloe): Offers architectural form with striking red flower spikes
• Cistena Plum: Features purple foliage that adds dramatic color contrast

Perennials for Continuous Color

• Ice Plant (various species): Creates carpet-like coverage with succulent leaves and bright flowers
• Rocky Mountain Penstemon: Delivers native reliability with attractive tubular flowers
• Coronado Hyssop: Provides aromatic foliage and long-blooming purple spikes
• Autumn Joy Sedum: Offers season-long interest with succulent foliage and fall flowers
• Orange Carpet Hummingbird Mint: Attracts pollinators while providing vibrant orange blooms

Grasses for Movement and Texture

• Blonde Ambition: Creates stunning ornamental appeal with feathery seed heads
• Blue Avena: Provides cool-season color with distinctive blue-gray foliage
• Prairie Dropseed: Offers fine texture and excellent drought tolerance

Making Smart Selection Decisions

The key to successful plant selection lies in understanding your specific site conditions and choosing plants accordingly. “Choosing the right plants for the correct spots will help minimize replanting in the future,” Stone advises. This means considering factors like sun exposure, soil drainage, wind protection, and microclimates within your landscape.

For homeowners wondering where to start, Stone recommends consulting with local landscape professionals who understand Colorado’s unique growing conditions. They can assess your specific site and recommend plants that will thrive in your particular microclimate while meeting your aesthetic goals.

Building Sustainable Landscapes

Sustainable landscaping extends beyond plant selection to include techniques that reduce environmental impact. This includes selecting building materials from local sources, recycling project waste, and designing landscapes that work with Colorado’s natural conditions rather than against them.

The result is a landscape that not only looks beautiful but also conserves water, supports local ecosystems, and reduces long-term maintenance requirements. In Colorado’s challenging climate, this approach creates gardens that are both environmentally responsible and visually stunning.

The Path Forward

As Colorado continues to face water challenges and climate variability, selecting the right plant material becomes increasingly important. By choosing water-wise plants that are adapted to local conditions, homeowners and commercial property owners can create landscapes that thrive with minimal inputs while providing the beauty and functionality they desire.

The expertise of professionals like Nicole Stone and companies like LMI Colorado proves invaluable in navigating these choices, ensuring that Colorado’s gardens remain both beautiful and sustainable for years to come.

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For more information about water-wise landscaping and plant selection for Colorado conditions, consult with qualified landscape professionals who understand local growing conditions and sustainable design principles.