Native Plants in Colorado
The native plants that belong in Colorado gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
59 native plants suit Colorado's ecoregions and USDA zones 3–6. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, shade, wet soil and rain gardens, dry, drought-prone ground, deer-resistant picks, groundcovers, pollinators, birds and hummingbirds — with a species table and when to plant.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
When to plant natives in Colorado
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly April 21 in the milder south to May 22 in the colder north. Fall is often even better for perennials and shrubs — the soil is still warm and roots settle before winter, ahead of the first frost around September 18 in the north to October 17 in the south.
For full sun
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
For shade
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
Deer-resistant
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
Groundcovers
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
- Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis
For pollinators
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
For birds
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
- Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
For hummingbirds
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Wax Currant Ribes cereum
- Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata
Identify Colorado wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Aromatic Aster — Sky blue (Sep–Nov), Great Blue Lobelia — Deep blue (Aug–Sep), Rocky Mountain Penstemon — Deep blue-purple (May–Jul), Blue Flax — Sky blue, paper-thin petals (May–Jul), Rocky Mountain Iris — Pale blue-lavender (May–Jun) |
| Gold | Black-Eyed Susan — Golden yellow (Jun–Sep), Stiff Goldenrod — Flat gold heads (Aug–Oct), Maximilian Sunflower — Golden yellow (Aug–Oct), Lanceleaf Coreopsis — Bright gold (May–Jul), Chocolate Flower — Yellow, maroon center (May–Sep), Arrowleaf Balsamroot — Bright sunflower-gold (Apr–May), Prairie Coneflower — Yellow with a tall brown cone (Jun–Aug) |
| Magenta | Dense Blazing Star — Magenta (Jul–Aug), Purple Prairie Clover — Rose-purple (Jun–Jul) |
| Orange | Butterfly Weed — Vivid orange (Jun–Aug), California Poppy — Saturated orange (Mar–Jun), Blanketflower — Red & gold (Jun–Sep) |
| Pink | Swamp Milkweed — Rose pink (Jul–Aug), Showy Milkweed — Star-shaped pink (Jun–Jul), Spotted Joe-Pye Weed — Mauve-pink (Jul–Sep), Creeping Phlox — Pink to lavender (Apr–May), Prairie Smoke — Dusky pink nodding bells (Apr–May) |
| Purple | Wild Bergamot — Lavender (Jun–Aug), Anise Hyssop — Lavender-blue (Jun–Sep), Blue Vervain — Violet-blue (Jul–Sep), Pasque Flower — Lavender-purple (Mar–Apr), Silky Lupine — Silvery-blue to violet spikes (May–Jul) |
| Red | Firecracker Penstemon — Scarlet tubes (Mar–May), Scarlet Gilia — Trumpet-shaped scarlet (Jun–Aug) |
| White | Common Yarrow — White (wild form) (May–Aug), Woodland Strawberry — Small white, five-petaled (Apr–Jun) |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
All 59 native plants for Colorado
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Sep–Nov |
| Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Full sun | Wet / Medium | 2–3 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–3 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Vervain Verbena hastata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica | Sedge | Shade / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–12 in | — |
| Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata | Groundcover | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 4–7 ft | — |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | — |
| Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–3 ft | — |
| Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 4–7 ft | — |
| Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry | 8–20 in | Jun–Aug |
| Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 5–8 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 6–16 in | Apr–May |
| Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 6–12 in | Mar–Apr |
| California Poppy Eschscholzia californica | Perennial / reseeding annual | Full sun | Dry | 8–18 in | Mar–Jun |
| Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | May–Jul |
| Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–3 ft | Mar–May |
| Chocolate Flower Berlandiera lyrata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | May–Sep |
| Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2.5 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa | Shrub | Full sun | Dry | 3–6 ft | Apr–Sep |
| Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | May–Aug |
| Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 5–10 ft | May–Jun |
| Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 6–9 ft | May–Jun |
| Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–6 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium | Evergreen shrub | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Evergreen shrub (groundcover) | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 30–50 ft | Jun |
| Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | May–Jun |
| Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 5–15 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–15 ft | Apr–May |
| Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–May |
| Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jul |
| Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Evergreen conifer | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 40–80 ft | Apr–May |
| Big Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Evergreen shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6.7 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca | Groundcover perennial | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 0.8–2 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Flax Linum lewisii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Antelope Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6 ft | Apr–May |
| Silky Lupine Lupinus sericeus | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Wood's Rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Wax Currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–5 ft | Apr–May |
| Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Biennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1–3 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | May–Jun |
| Sulphur Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Perennial subshrub | Full sun | Dry | 6–12 in | Jun–Jul |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 10–20 ft | May–Jun |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
Confirm any plant is native to your county with your state Native Plant Society before planting.
The Colorado natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in Colorado — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of Colorado
The native plants that belong in your yard — what to plant for pollinators, by zone, with bloom timing and a species table.
Want it on paper? See the printable Native Plants of Colorado.