Created by FRSR Landscape • Serving Colorado Since 1994
Colorado's Ultimate ColoradoScape Plant Guide
Explore the trees, shrubs, evergreens, ornamental grasses and perennials FRSR recommends for beautiful, durable and water-conscious landscapes throughout Colorado's Front Range.
Choosing the Right Plants for Colorado
Choosing the right plants is one of the most important parts of creating a successful Colorado landscape. Our intense sunlight, changing temperatures, clay soils, dry winters and limited rainfall can make nationally recommended plants a poor fit for properties along the Front Range.
FRSR Landscape created this guide using more than 30 years of experience designing and installing landscapes throughout the Denver Metro and surrounding Colorado communities. The plants featured here were chosen for their beauty, durability and ability to perform in Colorado when placed in the correct location and given appropriate soil preparation and irrigation.
This is not intended to be a generic nursery catalog. It is a growing resource for homeowners planning ColoradoScapes, lawn-replacement projects, new-construction landscapes and complete outdoor living spaces built specifically for Colorado.
ColoradoScape Plant Guide
Shade Trees for Colorado Landscapes
A well-selected shade tree can cool outdoor living areas, add privacy, improve curb appeal and create lasting structure in a landscape. These varieties are commonly considered for Colorado Front Range properties, with final selection based on available space, soil, drainage, exposure and irrigation.
Shade TreeAccolade Elm
Ulmus 'Morton'
A large, arching shade tree with an attractive vase-shaped canopy. Accolade Elm is valued for its broad summer shade, strong form and yellow fall color.
Shade TreeAmerican Linden
Tilia americana
A stately native shade tree with a dense canopy and heart-shaped leaves. Fragrant summer flowers can provide seasonal interest and value for pollinators.
Shade TreeAutumn Blaze Maple
Acer × freemanii 'Jeffersred'
A fast-growing shade tree prized for its dependable branching, attractive summer canopy and brilliant orange-red to scarlet fall color.
Shade TreeBur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
A long-lived, rugged shade tree with a massive mature canopy, deeply lobed leaves and excellent structural presence in large landscapes.
Shade TreeGreenspire Linden
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'
A formal, pyramidal shade tree with a dense canopy, dark green leaves and fragrant early-summer flowers.
Shade TreeHackberry
Celtis occidentalis
A durable, adaptable shade tree known for tolerating wind, heat and a range of soils once it is properly established.
Shade TreeKentucky Coffeetree
Gymnocladus dioicus
A distinctive shade tree with coarse branching, large compound leaves and an airy canopy that creates filtered rather than heavy shade.
Shade TreeNorthern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
A fast-growing shade tree with oversized heart-shaped leaves, showy white flowers and long seed pods.
Shade TreeOhio Buckeye
Aesculus glabra
A medium-sized tree with palmate leaves, spring flowers and a rounded crown that can provide useful shade without the scale of the largest canopy trees.
Shade TreePrinceton Elm
Ulmus americana 'Princeton'
A classic American Elm selection with a high, arching vase shape that can eventually create significant shade over lawns and streetscapes.
Shade TreeRed Sunset Maple
Acer rubrum 'Franksred'
A red maple selection known for its rounded canopy and vivid red to orange-red autumn foliage.
Shade TreeShademaster Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Shademaster'
A durable tree with finely textured foliage and an open canopy that casts filtered shade while still allowing light to reach the landscape below.
Shade TreeSkyline Honeylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Skycole'
A more upright Honeylocust selection with fine foliage, filtered shade and an adaptable growth habit for residential and streetscape settings.
Shade TreeSwamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
A broad-canopied oak with attractive leaves and strong long-term landscape value when provided adequate soil volume and moisture.
Color, Flowers & Four-Season Interest
Ornamental Trees for ColoradoScapes
Ornamental trees bring spring flowers, colorful foliage, interesting bark and manageable scale to front yards, courtyards and planting beds. These trees are especially useful when a full-size shade tree would overwhelm the available space.
Ornamental TreeAmur Maple
Acer ginnala
A compact maple valued for its manageable size, dense branching and orange to red fall foliage.
Ornamental TreeCanada Red Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red'
A popular Colorado ornamental tree that begins the season with green leaves before developing rich burgundy-purple foliage. White spring flowers provide an additional seasonal feature.
Ornamental TreeEastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
A graceful ornamental tree known for pink-purple flowers that appear on bare branches before the heart-shaped leaves emerge.
Ornamental TreeGolden Rain Tree
Koelreuteria paniculata
A distinctive small tree with yellow summer flowers followed by decorative lantern-like seed pods.
Ornamental TreeHawthorn
Crataegus species and cultivars
Hawthorns offer a compact form, spring flowers, colorful fruit and attractive branching, with characteristics varying by cultivar.
Ornamental TreeHot Wings® Tatarian Maple
Acer tataricum 'GarAnn'
A compact ornamental maple known for its vivid red winged seeds, adaptable nature and yellow to orange-red fall foliage.
Ornamental TreeNewport Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Newport'
A small ornamental tree with pale spring flowers and purple-red foliage that provides bold contrast throughout the growing season.
Ornamental TreePrairifire Crabapple
Malus 'Prairifire'
A colorful crabapple with deep pink spring flowers, dark emerging foliage and small persistent fruit.
Ornamental TreePurple Leaf Plum
Prunus cerasifera
A widely used ornamental tree valued for light spring blossoms and dark purple foliage that contrasts strongly with green evergreens and lighter planting beds.
Ornamental TreeRoyal Raindrops® Crabapple
Malus 'JFS-KW5'
An upright ornamental crabapple with bright pink flowers, burgundy-purple foliage and small decorative fruit.
Ornamental TreeServiceberry
Amelanchier species and cultivars
A multi-season ornamental with white spring flowers, summer fruit and attractive fall foliage. Growth form varies by variety and pruning.
Ornamental TreeSnowdrift Crabapple
Malus 'Snowdrift'
A rounded crabapple covered with white flowers in spring, followed by glossy foliage and small orange-red fruit.
Ornamental TreeSpring Snow Crabapple
Malus 'Spring Snow'
A fruitless crabapple selection known for an impressive display of white spring flowers and a dense oval canopy.
Ornamental TreeThunderchild Crabapple
Malus 'Thunderchild'
A compact ornamental crabapple with pink spring flowers and purple-red foliage that retains strong color into summer.
Year-Round Color, Screening & Structure
Evergreen Trees for Colorado Landscapes
Evergreen trees provide year-round color, privacy, wind protection and strong structure in Colorado landscapes. The best choice depends on mature size, available space, soil drainage, exposure and the amount of supplemental irrigation the site can provide.
Evergreen TreeWhite Fir
Abies concolor
A graceful evergreen with soft blue-green needles, a broad pyramidal form and strong year-round structure.
Evergreen TreeConcolor Fir
Abies concolor
Concolor Fir is admired for its soft, silvery blue-green needles and refined pyramidal shape. It offers excellent year-round color and a softer texture than many spruces.
Evergreen TreeAustrian Pine
Pinus nigra
A dense, dark-green pine with a strong upright form and good tolerance for wind, heat and urban conditions once established.
Evergreen TreeBaby Blue Eyes Spruce
Picea pungens 'Baby Blue Eyes'
A compact blue spruce selection with vivid silvery-blue needles and a dense pyramidal shape that fits smaller landscapes better than a full-size Colorado Blue Spruce.
Evergreen TreeBlack Hills Spruce
Picea glauca var. densata
A dense, slow-growing spruce with a compact pyramidal habit and dark green needles. It provides excellent year-round screening and wind protection.
Evergreen TreeBosnian Pine
Pinus heldreichii
A durable pine with dense branching, dark green needles and a tidy pyramidal form. It adapts well to sunny, well-drained landscapes.
Evergreen TreeColorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens
Colorado's iconic evergreen, known for its strong pyramidal shape and blue-green to silvery-blue needles. It provides year-round color, screening and winter structure.
Evergreen TreeDouglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
A tall, pyramidal evergreen with soft green needles and a natural mountain character. It can create impressive scale and screening on larger properties.
Evergreen TreeFat Albert Spruce
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
A broad, dense blue spruce cultivar with excellent silvery-blue color and a naturally symmetrical form.
Evergreen TreeNorway Spruce
Picea abies
A fast-growing large evergreen with dark green needles and graceful drooping branchlets that create a distinctive mature appearance.
Evergreen TreeSerbian Spruce
Picea omorika
A narrow, elegant spruce with dark green needles and silvery undersides. Its slimmer form can fit spaces that would be too tight for broader spruce varieties.
Evergreen TreeVanderwolf Pine
Pinus flexilis 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'
A popular limber pine cultivar with soft blue-green needles, flexible branches and an attractive upright pyramidal form.
Evergreen, Flowering & Water-Wise Choices
Shrubs for ColoradoScape Landscapes
Shrubs create the middle layer of a successful landscape, adding year-round structure, seasonal flowers, foliage color, privacy and wildlife value. This combined collection includes evergreen and deciduous options for both traditional landscapes and lower-water ColoradoScape designs.
Shrub
Anthony Waterer Spirea
Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer'
A compact flowering shrub with rosy-pink summer blooms and a rounded form that works well in foundation beds and mixed borders.
Shrub
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
A tough western native shrub with white flowers followed by distinctive pink feathery seedheads. It thrives in sunny, well-drained ColoradoScape settings.
Shrub
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A substantial deciduous shrub with white spring flower clusters, attractive foliage and blue-black fruit that can provide wildlife value.
Shrub
Blue Star Juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
A compact evergreen with dense, steel-blue foliage and a naturally rounded form. It adds strong year-round color to smaller beds.
Shrub
Bridal Wreath Spirea
Spiraea prunifolia
An arching deciduous shrub that produces masses of small white flowers in spring, creating a classic cascading appearance.
Shrub
Burning Bush
Euonymus alatus
A dense deciduous shrub best known for its brilliant red fall color and tidy rounded growth habit.
Shrub
Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'
A compact barberry with deep burgundy foliage that holds strong color through the growing season.
Shrub
Diablo Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'
A large, durable shrub with dark purple foliage, white-pink spring flowers and exfoliating bark that adds winter texture.
Shrub
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea glauca 'Conica'
A slow-growing evergreen with a naturally dense cone shape and fine green needles.
Shrub
Dwarf Korean Lilac
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'
A compact lilac with fragrant lavender flower clusters and a dense rounded shape well suited to residential beds.
Shrub
Fernbush
Chamaebatiaria millefolium
A western native shrub with aromatic fern-like foliage and white summer flowers. It performs best in hot, dry, well-drained sites.
Shrub
Globe Blue Spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa'
A compact blue spruce cultivar with dense silvery-blue needles and a broad rounded form.
Shrub
Goldfinger Potentilla
Dasiphora fruticosa 'Goldfinger'
A hardy flowering shrub with bright yellow blooms over a long summer season and a naturally rounded habit.
Shrub
Green Mountain Boxwood
Buxus × 'Green Mountain'
An upright evergreen boxwood with dense foliage and a refined form suited to structured landscape designs.
Shrub
Hicks Yew
Taxus × media 'Hicksii'
A narrow upright evergreen with dark green needles that provides screening in shaded or protected areas.
Shrub
Jackman Potentilla
Dasiphora fruticosa 'Jackmanii'
A hardy, long-blooming potentilla with cheerful yellow flowers and excellent tolerance for sunny Colorado conditions.
Shrub
Knock Out Rose
Rosa 'Radrazz'
A repeat-blooming shrub rose known for strong color, a compact habit and a longer flowering season than many traditional roses.
Shrub
Limemound Spirea
Spiraea japonica 'Limemound'
A compact spirea with bright lime-green foliage and pink summer flowers that create strong color contrast.
Shrub
Little Devil Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May'
A compact ninebark with deep burgundy foliage and small white-pink flower clusters in late spring.
Shrub
Magic Carpet Spirea
Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet'
A low compact spirea with gold, orange and red-toned foliage plus pink summer flowers.
Shrub
Mango Tango Potentilla
Dasiphora fruticosa 'UMan'
A compact potentilla with yellow flowers accented by warm orange centers, offering a more distinctive look than standard yellow varieties.
Shrub
Meidiland Rose
Rosa Meidiland series
A hardy landscape rose valued for repeat bloom, spreading growth and good use as a colorful mass planting.
Shrub
Miss Kim Lilac
Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim'
A compact lilac with fragrant pale lavender flowers and attractive fall foliage.
Shrub
Miss Molly Butterfly Bush
Buddleja 'Red Chip'
A colorful butterfly bush with vivid magenta-red flower spikes that attract pollinators through summer.
Shrub
Mockorange
Philadelphus species and cultivars
A deciduous flowering shrub known for masses of white spring flowers and a sweet citrus-like fragrance.
Shrub
Mugo Pine
Pinus mugo
A durable low-growing pine with dense dark-green needles and strong year-round structure.
Shrub
Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
A western native shrub with silvery foliage and bright yellow late-summer flowers that provide strong pollinator value.
Shrub
Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A deciduous shrub known for bright red winter stems, white spring flowers and a broad rounded form.
Shrub
Rose Glow Barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow'
A colorful barberry with burgundy foliage mottled in pink and cream, creating strong seasonal contrast.
Shrub
Sea Green Juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
A durable evergreen juniper with arching mint-green foliage and a broad spreading form.
Shrub
Shrub Rose
Rosa shrub cultivars
Shrub roses provide repeated seasonal color in a durable landscape form, with size and flower color varying by cultivar.
Shrub
Skyrocket Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'
A very narrow upright juniper with blue-green foliage, useful where vertical screening is needed in limited space.
Shrub
Spartan Juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Spartan'
A dense upright evergreen with rich green foliage and a formal pyramidal shape.
Shrub
Summer Wine Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward'
A medium-sized ninebark with dark wine-colored foliage, pink-white flowers and attractive peeling bark.
Shrub
Taylor Juniper
Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor'
A narrow columnar juniper with blue-green foliage and a clean vertical habit.
Shrub
Threeleaf Sumac
Rhus trilobata
A tough western native shrub with aromatic foliage, red fruit and strong orange-red fall color.
Shrub
Western Sand Cherry
Prunus pumila var. besseyi
A hardy native-adapted shrub with white spring flowers, dark fruit and attractive fall color.
Shrub
Wine & Roses Weigela
Weigela florida 'Alexandra'
A colorful flowering shrub with dark burgundy foliage and bright pink trumpet-shaped flowers.
Shrub
Winter Gem Boxwood
Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Winter Gem'
A compact evergreen boxwood with dense foliage and a naturally rounded habit.
Shrub
Wichita Blue Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum 'Wichita Blue'
An upright evergreen juniper with vivid silver-blue foliage and a dense pyramidal form.
Shrub
Woods Rose
Rosa woodsii
A native shrub rose with simple pink flowers, red hips and valuable habitat benefits.
Shrub
Yellow Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
A broad deciduous shrub with vivid yellow winter stems, white flowers and strong four-season interest.
Movement, Texture & Four-Season Interest
Ornamental Grasses for ColoradoScapes
Ornamental grasses add movement, texture, winter interest and a natural Colorado character to the landscape. This collection includes native and adapted varieties ranging from compact edging grasses to taller selections used for screening, structure and dramatic seasonal color.
Ornamental Grass
Black Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
A low, grass-like evergreen perennial with dramatic near-black foliage that creates strong contrast in protected planting beds.
Ornamental Grass
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
A native ornamental grass with distinctive horizontal seed heads that age from chartreuse to blonde and remain attractive into winter.
Ornamental Grass
Japanese Blood Grass
Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'
A compact ornamental grass with green blades tipped in deep red, creating a vivid seasonal accent in smaller planting areas.
Ornamental Grass
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
A compact clumping grass with fine blue-gray foliage that provides year-round texture and color in sunny, well-drained beds.
Ornamental Grass
Blue Grama Grass
Bouteloua gracilis
Colorado's state grass, valued for its drought tolerance, fine texture and distinctive eyebrow-shaped seed heads.
Ornamental Grass
Blue Oat Grass
Helictotrichon sempervirens
A cool-season ornamental grass with stiff blue-gray foliage and an upright rounded form that remains attractive for much of the year.
Ornamental Grass
Heavy Metal Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'
An upright native switchgrass with steel-blue foliage, airy summer flowers and strong golden fall color.
Ornamental Grass
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
A highly dependable upright grass with early tan flower plumes, strong vertical form and excellent year-round structure.
Ornamental Grass
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
A native warm-season grass with blue-green summer foliage that develops copper, orange and burgundy tones in fall.
Ornamental Grass
Mexican Feather Grass
Nassella tenuissima
A fine-textured ornamental grass with soft, flowing foliage that moves easily in the wind and adds a light natural appearance.
Ornamental Grass
Overdam Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Overdam'
A variegated feather reed grass with narrow green-and-white foliage and upright tan flower plumes.
Ornamental Grass
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
A warm-season ornamental grass known for airy clouds of pink flowers that create a dramatic late-season display.
Ornamental Grass
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
A refined native grass with fine arching foliage, fragrant summer flowers and attractive golden-orange fall color.
Ornamental Grass
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
A native prairie grass with oat-like seed heads hanging along one side of the stem and excellent tolerance for heat and drought.
Ornamental Grass
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
A versatile native grass with upright foliage, airy flower panicles and dependable fall and winter interest.
Seasonal Color, Pollinators & Low-Water Beauty
Perennials for ColoradoScape Landscapes
Perennials bring changing color, texture and pollinator activity to Colorado landscapes year after year. This collection includes native and adapted plants for hot sunny beds, protected shade gardens, boulder areas, dry creek beds and complete water-wise ColoradoScape designs.
Perennial
Agastache
Agastache spp.
Aromatic flower spikes that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Perennial
Allium
Allium spp.
Globe-shaped flowers add strong form and late-spring color.
Perennial
Angelina Sedum
Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'
Chartreuse succulent foliage develops orange and bronze tones in cool weather.
Perennial
Autumn Joy Sedum
Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude'
Pink flower heads age to copper through late summer and fall.
Perennial
Baptisia
Baptisia australis
Blue flower spikes, blue-green foliage and decorative seed pods.
Perennial
Bee Balm
Monarda spp.
Fragrant foliage and summer flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
Perennial
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
Golden flowers with dark centers bloom from summer into fall.
Perennial
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia aristata
Red-and-yellow flowers bloom over a long summer season.
Perennial
Blue Flax
Linum lewisii
Sky-blue flowers rise above fine foliage in late spring and summer.
Perennial
Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen foliage is covered with white flowers in spring.
Perennial
Caradonna Salvia
Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'
Dark stems support violet-purple flower spikes with good rebloom.
Perennial
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Yellow daisy-like flowers release a chocolate fragrance in the morning.
Perennial
Coral Bells
Heuchera spp.
Colorful foliage and airy flowers brighten protected planting beds.
Perennial
Coreopsis
Coreopsis spp.
Bright yellow flowers provide long-lasting summer color.
Perennial
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Low evergreen foliage is covered with spring flowers.
Perennial
Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Durable arching foliage supports flowers in many colors.
Perennial
Dianthus
Dianthus spp.
Blue-green foliage and fragrant flowers suit bed edges.
Perennial
English Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Silvery foliage and purple flower spikes thrive in sharply drained soil.
Perennial
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Brilliant red tubular flowers attract hummingbirds.
Perennial
Gaura
Oenothera lindheimeri
Airy pink or white flowers move lightly in the breeze.
Perennial
Geum
Geum spp.
Bright cup-shaped flowers rise above textured foliage.
Perennial
Hardy Geranium
Geranium spp.
Rounded foliage and long-lasting flowers make a useful filler.
Perennial
Ice Plant
Delosperma spp.
Succulent foliage and vivid flowers tolerate heat and drought.
Perennial
Lupine
Lupinus spp.
Tall flower spikes rise above distinctive palmate foliage.
Perennial
May Night Salvia
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'
Deep violet-blue flower spikes bloom heavily and often rebloom.
Perennial
Moonshine Yarrow
Achillea 'Moonshine'
Silver foliage contrasts with bright yellow flower clusters.
Perennial
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Early purple flowers are followed by fuzzy seed heads.
Perennial
Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
Native flowers feature yellow or red petals around tall cones.
Perennial
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Nodding flowers develop feathery smoke-like seed heads.
Perennial
Prairie Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
A low native perennial with yellow flowers and exceptional drought tolerance.
Perennial
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Pink-purple flowers provide reliable summer color and seed-head interest.
Perennial
Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia spp.
Bold red, orange and yellow flower spikes rise above grassy foliage.
Perennial
Red Yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora
Arching evergreen foliage sends up tall coral-red flower stalks.
Perennial
Rocky Mountain Columbine
Aquilegia caerulea
Colorado's state flower produces blue-and-white blooms.
Perennial
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Blue-purple flower spikes perform well in dry sunny sites.
Perennial
Sea Thrift
Armeria maritima
Grassy evergreen foliage supports rounded pink flowers.
Perennial
Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum × superbum
Large white flowers with yellow centers bloom through summer.
Perennial
Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Silver foliage is covered with small white flowers in late spring.
Perennial
Stella de Oro Daylily
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'
Compact foliage supports repeat-blooming golden flowers.
Perennial
Sulphur Flower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Yellow flower clusters age to orange and rust above evergreen mats.
Perennial
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis verticillata
Fine foliage carries masses of yellow summer flowers.
Perennial
Veronica
Veronica spp.
Upright flower spikes come in blue, purple, pink or white.
Perennial
Walker's Low Catmint
Nepeta × faassenii 'Walker's Low'
Lavender-blue flowers bloom above aromatic gray-green foliage.
Perennial
White Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea white cultivars
White flowers provide a lighter look with strong pollinator value.
Perennial
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium and cultivars
Fern-like foliage supports flat flower clusters in many colors.
Proven Front Range Selections
FRSR ColoradoScape Favorites
These are examples of plants we regularly consider because they offer dependable performance, useful structure, seasonal interest or strong low-water value when matched to the correct site.
Favorite Trees
- Autumn Blaze Maple for faster shade and fall color
- Shademaster Honeylocust for filtered shade
- Kentucky Coffeetree for bold form and durability
- Hot Wings Maple for smaller spaces and summer color
Favorite Evergreens
- Vanderwolf Pine for soft blue-green texture
- Fat Albert Spruce for a dense blue focal point
- Wichita Blue Juniper for upright screening
- Blue Star Juniper for compact evergreen color
Favorite Grasses
- Karl Foerster for reliable vertical structure
- Blonde Ambition for native low-water character
- Prairie Dropseed for refined texture
- Little Bluestem for native fall color
Favorite Perennials
- Walker's Low Catmint for long bloom and soft edges
- May Night Salvia for repeated purple color
- Moonshine Yarrow for silver foliage and low water use
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon for native pollinator value
Design Before You Plant
Five ColoradoScape Planting Principles
Successful landscapes depend on the relationship between plants, irrigation, soil, hardscape and mature spacing—not on any one plant by itself.
Plan for Mature Size
Do not design around the size of a plant in a nursery container. Leave enough room for the mature canopy and root zone.
Group Similar Water Needs
Keep low-water plants together and separate them from plants that require consistently moist soil.
Build in Seasonal Interest
Combine spring flowers, summer color, fall foliage, ornamental seed heads and evergreen structure.
Use Repetition
Repeating plants in groups creates a cleaner design than installing one of every plant throughout the yard.
Prepare the Entire System
Healthy plants need proper grading, drainage, soil preparation, irrigation and placement—not simply a larger planting hole.
Balance Rock and Mulch
Rock can work well around xeric plants, while organic mulch is often better for plants that prefer cooler, more evenly moist roots.
Protect Outdoor Living Areas
Avoid thorny, messy or overly large plants directly beside patios, walks, gates and children's play spaces.
Expect Establishment Water
Even drought-tolerant plants need regular, appropriate irrigation while their root systems become established.
Colorado Plant Questions
ColoradoScape Plant Guide FAQs
These are some of the questions homeowners ask most often while planning a lower-water Colorado landscape.
What is the difference between ColoradoScape and xeriscape?
Both approaches emphasize thoughtful water use. ColoradoScape focuses specifically on landscapes suited to Colorado's climate and lifestyle, often combining water-wise plants, efficient irrigation, hardscape, turf reduction, outdoor living areas and regionally appropriate design.
Do drought-tolerant plants need irrigation?
Yes. Nearly all newly installed plants need consistent establishment water. After roots are established, many low-water plants can be irrigated less frequently, but the correct schedule depends on soil, weather, exposure and plant type.
What plants work best in Colorado clay soil?
Many adaptable trees, native grasses, junipers, ninebarks, potentillas, yarrow, catmint and penstemons can perform well when the site drains properly. Heavy clay should not automatically be amended plant-by-plant without considering the entire drainage pattern.
Should ColoradoScape beds use rock or mulch?
Either can be appropriate. Rock works well with many xeric plants and modern designs, while organic mulch can help moderate soil temperatures and retain moisture around shrubs and perennials that prefer cooler roots. The best answer depends on the plant palette and site.
How far apart should plants be installed?
Spacing should be based on mature width, not container size. Some overlap can create a fuller finished look, but overcrowding increases pruning, disease pressure and long-term maintenance.
What are good native plants for Colorado landscapes?
Strong options in this guide include Blue Grama, Sideoats Grama, Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Apache Plume, Rabbitbrush, Threeleaf Sumac, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, Firecracker Penstemon, Prairie Smoke, Pasque Flower and Sulphur Flower Buckwheat.
Can low-water plants be installed around artificial turf?
Yes, but plant beds need proper separation, drainage and irrigation. Plants immediately beside artificial turf may experience reflected heat, so heat-tolerant selections and correct spacing are important.
When is the best time to plant in Colorado?
Spring and early fall are often favorable because temperatures are milder. Summer planting is possible with proper irrigation and care, while late fall timing depends on weather, plant type and whether roots have time to establish before the ground freezes.
Will deer or rabbits leave these plants alone?
No plant is completely wildlife-proof. Resistance varies by neighborhood, season, food availability and animal pressure. Plant selection, repellents and physical protection may all be needed in areas with heavy browsing.
Can FRSR design the plant layout and handle HOA requirements?
Yes. FRSR designs complete landscapes around the property's space, exposure, irrigation, outdoor living goals and maintenance preferences, and can assist with the landscape documentation needed for many HOA submissions.
Need Help Choosing Plants for Your Colorado Landscape?
FRSR can design a complete ColoradoScape around your home's exposure, available space, HOA requirements, irrigation and long-term maintenance goals.
Schedule Your Free Consultation →Mature sizes, water requirements and performance are approximate and can vary based on cultivar, elevation, soil, irrigation, exposure and local microclimate. Final plant selections should be based on the specific conditions of the property.