13 best garden plants for colorados

Name: Best Garden Plants for Colorado
Brand: Lone Pine International
Price: 178 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (250 reviews)

Gardening in Colorado presents unique challenges due to its high elevation, arid climate, and fluctuating weather conditions.However, there are several garden plants that thrive in Colorado's specific environment, offering a range of colors and beauty for your garden. Here are some garden plants suitable for Colorado:

Native Plants: Choosing native plants is often a wise choice because they are adapted to Colorado's climate and require less water once established. Some native options include:
- Blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea): Colorado's state flower, known for its blue and white petals.
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia): Produces colorful red and yellow blooms.
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus): Known for its purple-blue tubular flowers.
Xeriscape Plants: Xeriscape gardening focuses on water-efficient plants that can thrive in low-water conditions. Some colorful options include:
- Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): With silver-gray foliage and lavender-blue spikes.
- Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora): Features tall spikes of red or coral flowers.
- Mojave Sage (Salvia pachyphylla): Known for its gray-green leaves and lavender-blue flowers.
Drought-Tolerant Perennials: Perennial plants can provide long-lasting color. Consider:
- Coneflowers (Echinacea): Available in various colors, including purple, pink, and white.
- Daylilies (Hemerocallis): Offer a range of colors and are quite hardy.
- Russian Sage (Perovskia): As mentioned earlier, it's a drought-tolerant perennial with lovely blue flowers.
Annual Flowers: While annuals need replanting each year, they can provide vibrant color. Some options are:
- Zinnias: Available in various shades, including red, orange, pink, and yellow.
- Marigolds: Offer bright orange and yellow blooms.
- Petunias: Come in a wide array of colors and can thrive in Colorado's summers.
Shrubs and Trees: Consider adding some shrubs and trees to your landscape for structure and color:
- Aspen Trees (Populus tremuloides): Known for their golden leaves in the fall.
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): Features white flowers in spring and red to black fruit in summer.
- Sumac (Rhus spp.): Provides brilliant red fall foliage.
Bulbs: Plant bulbs in the fall for spring color. Options include:
- Tulips: Offer a variety of colors.
- Daffodils: Known for their cheerful yellow and white flowers.
- Crocuses: Produce early spring blooms in shades of purple, yellow, and white.

When gardening in Colorado, it's essential to pay attention to soil conditions, sun exposure, and water requirements specific to your location. Additionally, mulching and proper irrigation practices can help conserve water and maintain a healthy garden. Choosing the right plants for your region will help ensure a colorful and thriving garden in the challenging Colorado climate.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best garden plants for colorados on the market

Best Garden Plants for Colorado

Lone Pine International

Based on 26 reviews Check latest price

The Colorado Gardener's Companion: An Insider's Guide to Gardening in the Centennial State (Gardening Series)

Globe Pequot

Based on 45 reviews Check latest price

Rocky Mountain Month-By-Month Gardening: What to Do Each Month to Have A Beautiful Garden All Year - Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming

Cool Springs Press

Based on 88 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Gardening throughout the Rocky Mountain region is an adventure.

Elevation often dictates much of the climate in this region. Mountain communities have cold winters and short summers.

Lower elevation river valley areas are milder and often wetter. Rainfall averages less than 10 to 20 inches a year in desert areas to 40 to 50 inches a year in the mountains and valleys of Colorado and Idaho.

The Rocky Mountain region features extreme and rapid fluctuations of temperature, wind, hail, drought, and light intensity. Snowfall may stay around for only a day, a week, or all winter long. Winters can be dry or very snowy, and very cold. However, in some of the warmer, more protected microclimates (against sides of buildings, boulders, or areas with consistent winter snow cover) and in lowland valley areas, less hardy plants can be successfully grown. Spring can appear suddenly, but so can a late spring snowfall and frost. All this will put your gardening skills and patience to the test each year.

The Rockies feature garden styles that are as distinctive as the land itself.

You’ll find more naturalistic styles where the beauty of rocks and streams are designed to reflect the local area. Other cultures have also played a part in shaping our landscapes, including the French, Dutch, Irish, German, Italian, and Japanese.

An overview of the natural ecology and cultural influences is useful, but it does not take into account our American ingenuity to create innovative gardens that reflect our modern living style.

Knowing the “when and how” of gardening will help you to be successful. This book is designed to help you eliminate some of the guesswork. It is a guide to help, not restrict, your gardening efforts and hopefully save you time and money.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Each monthly chapter is a schedule to keep track of what needs doing, and when, covering the major reminders to keep your plants growing and maintaining a healthy and attractive landscape.

Whether you garden in a small lot or a sprawling country retreat, you’ll find this book is just what you need to get started and to sharpen your gardening skills.

I’ve tried to pack plenty of practical information and how-tos to take you through the basic techniques involved in all aspects of gardening. These include: Plan, Plant, Care, Water, Fertilize, and Problem-Solve. Plus, I’ve added tips for “gardening with an altitude.” It is presented to help you become a more responsible and sustainable gardener so you will be complementing our natural surroundings.

My mantra is to first choose the right plant for the right place, and you’re on your way to successful gardening in the Rockies!

Gardening in our region will need some fine-tuning. The seasons do not always arrive here when expected.

You’ll discover many benefits from tending your home garden and landscape. Not only will you add beauty to your landscape and neighborhood, you are increasing the value of your property while improving your quality of life. Now, go forth and dig in!