Colorado Recommended

Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in Colorado. Visit our Suppliers Directory to locate businesses that sell native plants or seeds or provide professional landscape or consulting services in this state. Visit the Organizations Directory to locate native plant societies, conservation groups, governmental agencies, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant-related organizations in this state.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Abies concolor Balsam fir, Colorado fir, Concolor fir, Oyamel de California, Silver fir, White balsam, White fir Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade
Abies lasiocarpa Subalpine fir Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain maple Perennial Tree Sun
Acer grandidentatum Bigtooth maple, Big-toothed maple, Canyon maple Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun Moist
Acer negundo Ash-leaf maple, Ash-leaved maple, Box elder, Boxelder, Fresno de guajuco Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Achillea millefolium Common yarrow, Yarrow, Milfoil, Western yarrow Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Achnatherum hymenoides Indian ricegrass, Indian Millet, Sandgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Actaea rubra Red baneberry Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Thinleaf alder Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon serviceberry, Western serviceberry, Juneberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Amorpha fruticosa Indigo bush, False indigo bush, False indigo, Desert false indigo Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Amorpha nana Dwarf false indigo, Fragrant indigo-bush, Fragrant false indigo, Dwarf wild indigo Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Anaphalis margaritacea Western pearly everlasting, Pearly-everlasting Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem, Turkeyfoot Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Andropogon hallii Sand bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun
Aquilegia caerulea Colorado blue columbine, Rocky Mountain columbine Perennial Herb Shade Moist
Aquilegia flavescens Yellow mountain columbine, Yellow columbine, Golden columbine Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Aquilegia jonesii Jones' columbine, Blue limestone columbine Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick, Red bearberry, Kinnikinnik Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Artemisia cana Silver sagebrush, Coaltown sagebrush, Dwarf sagebrush, Hoary sagebrush, Silvery sagebrush Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Artemisia filifolia Sand sagebrush, Silver sagebrush, Silvery wormwood, Sand sage Perennial Subshrub Part-shade Dry
Artemisia frigida Prairie sagewort, Prairie sagebrush, Fringed sage, Pasture sage Perennial Subshrub Sun Dry
Artemisia tridentata Big sagebrush, Great Basin sagebrush Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed, Pink Milkweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Asclepias tuberosa Butterflyweed, Butterfly milkweed, Orange milkweed, Pleurisy root Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Atriplex canescens Chamiso, Four-wing saltbush, Fourwing saltbush, Wingscale Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Atriplex confertifolia Shadscale, Spiny saltbush, Shadscale saltbush, Hop sage Perennial Subshrub Sun Dry
Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrowleaf balsamroot, Arrow-leaf balsamroot Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Betula occidentalis Mountain birch, Water birch Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Betula papyrifera Paper birch, Canoe birch, White birch Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Bouteloua dactyloides Buffalograss, Buffalo grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Caltha leptosepala Elkslip, White marsh marigold, White marsh-marigold Perennial Herb Part-shade Wet
Campanula uniflora Arctic bellflower Perennial Subshrub
Ceanothus velutinus Snowbrush, Snowbrush ceanothus, Tobacco-brush, Mountain balm, Buckbush Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Celtis occidentalis Common hackberry, Nettle tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Cercocarpus ledifolius Curl-leaf mountain mahogany, Curl-leaf mountain-mahogany Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Cercocarpus montanus Alderleaf mountain mahogany, Alder-leaf mountain-mahogany, Mountain mahogany, Silverleaf mountain mahogany Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium Fireweed, Narrow-leaf fireweed, Willow herb Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Cleome serrulata Rocky Mountain beeplant, Rocky mountain bee plant, Waa, Skunk weed Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Cornus sericea ssp. sericea Redosier dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Dalea purpurea Purple prairie clover Perennial Subshrub Sun Dry
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden-hardhack Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Delphinium barbeyi Subalpine larkspur Perennial Herb Shade
Delphinium nuttallianum Delphinium, Two-lobe larkspur, Twolobe larkspur Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa Rabbitbrush, Rubber rabbitbrush Perennial Shrub Sun
Erigeron speciosus Aspen fleabane, Showy fleabane Perennial Herb Sun
Fallugia paradoxa Apache plume, Ponil Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Fendlera rupicola Cliff fendlerbush, Cliff fendlerbush. False mock orange Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Festuca rubra Red fescue Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash, Red ash Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Gaillardia aristata Common gaillardia, Great blanketflower, Blanketflower, Brown-eyed susan Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel, Indian Blanket Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Gutierrezia sarothrae Broom snakeweed, Kindlingweed, Matchbrush, Texas snakeweed, Broomweed, Turpentine weed Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Juniperus communis Common juniper Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Juniperus horizontalis Creeping juniper, Creeping savin Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Juniperus monosperma Oneseed juniper, One-seed juniper, Cherrystone juniper Perennial Shrub Part-shade
Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountain juniper, Rocky Mountain red cedar Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Kalmia microphylla Alpine laurel Perennial Subshrub Sun Wet
Krascheninnikovia lanata Winterfat Perennial Shrub Sun
Liatris punctata Dotted blazing star, Dotted gayfeather Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Linum kingii King's flax Perennial Subshrub
Linum lewisii var. lewisii Blue flax, Prairie flax Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Lonicera involucrata Twinberry honeysuckle, Four-line honeysuckle, Black twinberry, Bear berry honeysuckle Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Tanseyleaf tansyaster, Tahoka Daisy, Tansy Aster Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Mahonia repens Creeping barberry, Creeping Oregon-grape Perennial Shrub Part-shade Moist, Dry
Melampodium leucanthum Blackfoot Daisy, Rock daisy, Plains blackfoot Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Mimosa borealis Fragrant mimosa, Pink Mimosa Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Monarda punctata Spotted beebalm, Spotted horsemint, Horsemint Annual Herb Sun Dry
Oenothera caespitosa Tufted evening primrose, Gumbo evening primrose, Gumbo lily, Fragrant evening primrose Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Oenothera nuttallii Nuttall's evening-primrose Perennial Herb Sun
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass, Wand panic grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Pascopyrum smithii Western wheatgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Penstemon angustifolius Broad-beard beardtongue, Broadbeard beardtongue, Whorled penstemon Perennial Herb Sun
Penstemon barbatus Beard-lip beardtongue, Beardlip penstemon, Red penstemon, Scarlet bugler Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Penstemon jamesii James's beardtongue, James's penstemon, James beardtongue, James penstemon Perennial Herb Sun
Penstemon strictus Rocky Mountain penstemon, Rocky Mountain beardtongue Perennial Herb Part-shade
Physocarpus opulifolius Atlantic ninebark, Common ninebark Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Picea engelmannii Engelmann spruce Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Picea pungens Blue spruce, Colorado spruce Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Pinus contorta Beach pine, Lodgepole pine Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Pinus edulis Colorado pinyon pine, Pinyon pine, Two-needle pine, Colorado pinyon, Pinyon Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Pinus flexilis Limber pine Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Populus angustifolia Narrow-leaf cottonwood, Narrowleaf cottonwood Perennial Tree Sun Wet
Populus deltoides Eastern cottonwood, Alamo, Carolina poplar, Necklace Poplar Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Populus tremuloides Quaking aspen, Aspen Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Prunus americana American plum, Wild plum Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Prunus virginiana Chokecherry, Common chokecherry, Choke cherry Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida Cutleaf anemone, Pasqueflower, Wild crocus Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Purshia tridentata Antelope bitterbrush, Bitterbrush, Antelope brush Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Quercus gambelii Gambel oak, Rocky Mountain white oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Ranunculus cardiophyllus Heart-leaf buttercup, Heartleaf buttercup Perennial Herb Sun
Ratibida columnifera Mexican hat, Prairie coneflower, Upright prairie coneflower, Red-spike mexican-hat, Long-headed coneflower, Thimbleflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Rhus glabra Smooth sumac Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Rhus trilobata Skunkbush sumac, Scented sumac, Ill-scented sumac, Squawbush, Basketbush, Skunkbush Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry, Western thimble-berry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan, Common black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan Annual Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rudbeckia laciniata Cutleaf coneflower, Green-head coneflower, Cut-leaf coneflower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis Common elderberry, Black elder, Mexican elderberry, Common elder, Elderberry, Tapiro, Sauco Perennial Shrub Part-shade Wet
Sambucus racemosa Red elderberry Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Dry
Shepherdia argentea Silver buffaloberry, Buffaloberry Perennial Shrub Sun Moist, Dry
Sorbus scopulina Cascade mountain-ash, Greene's mountain ash, Western mountain-ash Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass, Yellow indian grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Viburnum opulus European cranberrybush Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Yucca baccata Banana yucca, Blue yucca, Fleshy-fruited yucca, Datil Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Yucca glauca Soapweed yucca, Narrowleaf yucca, Plains yucca, Beargrass Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Zinnia grandiflora Rocky Mountain zinnia, Little golden zinnia, Yellow zinnia, Plains zinnia, Prairie zinnia Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry