Native Plants for ColoradoColorado Dept. of Agriculture

Forbs (perennials)

Abronia fragrans (sweet sand verbena)
Aconitum columbianum (western monkshood)
Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting)
Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)
Arnica cordifolia (heartleaf arnica)
Artemisia ludoviciana (white sage, prairie sage, artemisia)
Aster ascendens (purple aster, Pacific aster)
Aster ericoides (heath aster, white wreath aster)
Aster foliaceus (leafy aster)
Aster laevis (smooth aster)
Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)
Castilleja integra (Indian paintbrush)
Clematis hirsutissima (clematis, vase flower, leather flower, lion's beard)
Dalea candida (white prairie clover)
Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover)
Epilobium angustifolium (fireweed, willow herb)
Erigeron compositus (alpine daisy)
Erigeron speciosus (showy fleabane)
Gaillardia aristata (blanket flower, gaillardia, brown-eyed Susan)
Gaura coccinea (scarlet gaura)
Geranium viscossisimum (sticky wild geranium)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (prairie verbena, Dakota vervain)
Hedysarum boreale (sweet vetch, sweet broom)
Heliomeris multiflora (showy goldeneye)
Heterotheca villosa var. villosa (golden aster)
Iris missouriensis (Rocky Mountain iris, western blue flag)
Liatris punctata (dotted blazing star, gayfeather)
Linum lewisii (wild blue flax)
Lupinus argenteus (silvery lupine)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy, rock daisy)
Mirabilis multiflora (wild four o'clock)
Oenothera cespitosa (gumbo evening primrose, gumbo lily)
Penstemon ambiguus (sand penstemon)
Penstemon angustifolius (whorled penstemon)
Penstemon barbatus (red penstemon, scarlet bugler)
Penstemon glaber v. alpinus (blue penstemon, alpine penstemon)
Penstemon strictus (Rocky Mountain penstemon)
Phacelia sericea (silky phacelia)
Ratibida columnifera (prairie coneflower, long-headed coneflower, Mexican hat)
Ratibida tagetes
Rudbeckia laciniata (cut-leaf coneflower)
Saxifraga bronchialis (spotted saxifrage, matted saxifrage)
Sidalcea neomexicana (checker mallow, prairie mallow)
Silene acaulis (moss campion)
Silphium integrifolium (rosinweed)
Solidago canadensis (meadow goldenrod)
Solidago missouriensis (Missouri goldenrod, prairie goldenrod)
Solidago rigida (stiff goldenrod)
Sphaeralcea coccinea (scarlet globe mallow))
Sphaeralcea parvifolia (globe mallow)
Stanleya pinnata (desert or prince's plume)
Thalictrum dasycarpum (tall or purple meadow rue)
Yucca baccata (blue yucca, banana yucca, fleshy-fruited yucca)
Yucca glauca (yucca, soapweed)
Zinnia grandiflora (Rocky Mountain zinnia, yellow zinnia, plains zinnia)

Grasses/Grass-like plants

Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)
Andropogon hallii (sand bluestem)
Aristida purpurea (purple three awn)
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama)
Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama)
Buchloe dactyloides (buffalograss)
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint grass)
Calamovilfa longifolia (sandreed grass, prairie sandreed)
Carex nebrascensis (Nebraska sedge)
Carex utriculata (beaked sedge)
Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hairgrass)
Distichlis spicata (seashore saltgrass)
Eleocharis macrostachya spike rush)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye)
Elymus lanceolatus (thickspike wheatgrass)
Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue, blue bunchgrass)
Glyceria grandis (American mannagrass, tall mannagrass, reed meadowgrass)
Koeleria macrantha (June grass)
Leymus cinereus (Great Basin wild rye)
Muhlenbergia montana (mountain muhly)
Muhlenbergia porteri (bush muhly)
Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass)
Panicum obtusum (vine mesquite)
Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass)
Poa secunda (pine bluegrass)
Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Scirpus acutus (hardstem bulrush)
Scirpus maritimus (alkali bulrush, prairie bulrush, bayonet grass)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass)
Spartina pectinata (prairie cordgrass, freshwater cordgrass)
Sporobolus airoides (alkali sacaton)
Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed)
Stipa comata (needle-and-thread grass)
Trisetum spicatum (spike trisetum)
Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)
Typha latifolia (cattail) Shrubs (deciduous)

Amorpha fruticosa (false indigo, indigo bush)
Artemisia frigida (prairie sagewort, fringed sage)
Atriplex canescens (four-wing saltbush, wingscale)
Atriplex confertifolia (spiny saltbush, shadscale saltbush, hop sage)
Chrysothamnus nauseosus (rabbit brush, chamisa)
Cornus sericea (red-twig dogwood, red-osier dogwood)
Fallugia paradoxa (Apache plume)
Holodiscus dumosus (bush rock-spires, cream bush, ocean spray)
Krascheninnikovia lanata (winterfat)
Prunus pumila var. besseyi (sand cherry)
Prunus virginiana (chokecherry)
Purshia tridentata (antelope brush)
Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)
Rhus trilobata (squawbush, basketbush, skunkbush)
Ribes aureum (golden currant)
Ribes cereum (wax currant, western red currant, squaw currant)
Ribes odoratum (buffalo currant, golden currant)
Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)
Rosa woodsii (western wild rose, woods rose)
Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (red raspberry)
Rubus parviflorus (western thimbleberry)
Salix bebbiana (Bebb willow, long-beaked willow)
Salix scouleriana (western pussy willow, Scouler's willow)
Shepherdia argentea (silver buffaloberry)
Shepherdia canadensis (buffaloberry)
Symphoricarpos albus (snowberry)
Symphoricarpos oreophilus (mountain snowberry)

Shrubs (evergreen) Artemisia nova (black sagebrush)
Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush, Great Basin sagebrush)
Ceanothus fendleri (Fendler ceanothus, buckbrush)
Ceanothus velutinus (mountain balm, buckbush)
Cercocarpus montanus (mountain mahogany, silverleaf mountain mahogany)
Juniperus monosperma (one-seed juniper)
Kalmia polifolia (swamp laurel, bog laurel)

Trees (deciduous)

Acer glabrum (Rocky Mountain maple)
Betula fontinalis ( water birch)
Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (netleaf hackberry)
Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood)
Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)
Prunus americana (wild plum)
Quercus gambelii (Gambel's oak, Rocky Mountain white oak)
Salix amygdaloides (peachleaf willow)

Trees (evergreen)

Abies concolor (western white fir)
Abies bifolia ( fir)
Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper)
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper)
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce)
Picea pungens (blue spruce, Colorado spruce)
Pinus contorta var. murrayana (lodgepole pine)
Pinus edulis (pinyon pine, Colorado pinyon)
Pinus flexilis (limber pine)
Pinus longaeva (bristlecone pine)
Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine)
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir)

Federally Listed Endangered Species

Clay-loving buckwheat (Eriogonum pelinophiulum)
Dudley Bluffs bladderpod (Lesquerella congesta)
Dudley Bluffs twinpod (Physaria obcordata)
Knowlton cactus (Pediocactus knowltonii)
Mancos milk-vetch (Astragalus humillimus)
Mesa Verde cactus (Schlerocactus mesae-verdae)
North Park phacelia (Phacelia formosula)
Osterhout milk-vetch (Astragalus osterhoutii)
Penland alpine fen mustard (Eutrema penlandii)
Penland beardtongue (Penstemon penlandii)
Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus)
Ute ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis)

Plant Descriptions-Montrose, CO

Table 1. Native shrubs for Colorado landscapes.
Scientific Name1	Common Name(s)	Planting Altitude in feet2	Native Colorado Life Zone3	Moisture4	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Comments5
Large shrubs (6 - 10 ft when mature)
Acer glabrum	Rocky Mountain maple	5,000 - 10,500	Foothills -Montane	L - M	D	Small, rounded tree to large shrub; usually multi-stemmed; smooth, gray branches with red buds; fall foliage yellow; shade tolerant.
Amelanchier alnifolia	serviceberry	5,000 - 10,000	Foothills - Subalpine	L - M	D	upright to spreading branches, small rounded leaves; clusters of small white flowers; blue-black fruit attractive to wildlife; orange to red fall color.
Cercocarpus ledifolius	curl-leaf mountain-mahogany	4,500 - 9,000	Upper Sonoran3a	L - M	E	thick, dark evergreen leaves curl during drought conditions; feathery, attractive seed heads; irregular growth habit; large shrub to small tree
Cercocarpus montanus	mountain-mahogany	4,000 - 8,500	Foothills - Montane	L - M	D	open growth habit; feathery, attractive seed heads; wedge-shaped leaves.
Cornus sericea	red twig dogwood, red-osier dogwood	4,500 - 10,000	Plains - Montane	M - H	D	red stems in winter; flat, white flower clusters followed by white to blue fruits attractive to birds; yellow to red fall color; streamside understory plant, shade tolerant.
Forestiera neomexicana	New Mexico privet	4,500 - 7,500	Upper Sonoran3a	L	D	large shrub to small tree; dense, grayish-green foliage, yellow flowers before leaves, blue-black fruit on females, light tan bark; yellow fall color; good for screening.
Fraxinus anomala	single-leaf ash	4,500 - 6,000	Upper Sonoran3a	L - M	D	large shrub or small tree, often multi-stemmed; found in dry canyons in southwest CO; yellow fall color; less available.
Prunus americana	American plum, wild plum	4,500 - 8,500	Plains - Foothills	L - M	D	thicket-forming; white flowers before leaves, fruit good for preserves; attracts wildlife; cold and drought tolerant; yellow to red fall color; found along canyons and slope bottoms.
Prunus pensylvanica	pin cherry	5,000 - 8,000	Foothills3b	M	D	large shrub to small tree; thicket-forming; shiny green leaves; red edible fruit; shade tolerant, white flowers, red fall color.
Prunus virginiana melanocarpa	Western chokecherry	4,500 - 8,500	Plains - Montane Upper Sonoran	M	D	irregular, branching shrub with shiny dark green leaves and elongated flower clusters; suckers to form thickets; dark purple fruit excellent for preserves; reddish-orange to yellow fall color.
Ptelea trifoliata	hop tree, wafer-ash	4,000 - 6,500	Plains - Foothills3b	M - H	D	shrub or small tree with three-parted foliage, drought and shade tolerant; small, fragrant flowers, yellow fall color, persistent hop-like fruit.
Quercus undulata	wavyleaf oak	4,000 - 6,500	Foothills3b	L	D - E	blue-green leathery leaves with wavy edges; leaves persist in winter; coarse bark; native to southeast CO; less available.
Rhamnus smithii	Smith buckthorn	5,000 - 7,500	Foothills3a	L - M	D	upright habit with dark green shiny leaves; black fruit in late summer on female plants; yellow fall color; good screen plant; Plant Select®5a.
Rhus glabra	smooth sumac	4,000 - 8,000	Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran	L - M	D	open, rounded thicket-forming shrub; bright green leaves; pyramidal clusters of yellow flowers produce fuzzy dark red fruits in fall that persist into winter; outstanding yellow-orange-red fall color.
Salix exigua	sandbar willow	4,000 - 9,000	Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran	H	D	thicket-forming; gray-green narrow-leaved foliage, salinity tolerant; yellowish gray catkins before leaves; yellow fall color.
Salix monticola	Rocky Mountain willow, yellow mountain willow	6,000 - 10,500	Montane	H	D	broad, rounded shrub; narrow, deep green leaves, yellow fall color; arching yellow twigs attractive in winter; common streamside willow found in mountain areas.
Shepherdia argentea	silver buffaloberry	4,500 - 7,500	Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran	L-M	D	medium shrub to small tree; thicket-forming; silver, rounded leaves; golden to red, edible bitter fruits on females attract wildlife.
Sorbus scopulina	native mountain ash, Greene's mountain ash	6,000 - 10,000	Foothills - Subalpine	M	D	large shrub to small tree with divided leaves, white flower clusters followed by orange fruit attractive to wildlife; orange to red fall color; found in moist sites on slopes in rocky canyons.
Medium shrubs (4 - 6 ft when mature)
Amorpha fruticosa	false indigo, leadplant	3,500 - 6,000	Plains3b	L	D	open, wide-spreading shrub; feathery green foliage; spikes of deep blue flowers in summer; yellow fall color; deer resistant.
Artemisia tridentata	big sagebrush	4,500 - 9,500	Upper Sonoran	L	E	silver colored evergreen with peeling grayish bark; leaves densely hairy and aromatic; wildlife browse plant; does not tolerate high moisture.
Betula glandulosa	bog birch	5,000 - 11,000	Subalpine	H	D	globe-shaped shrub with small, rounded dark green leaves on reddish-brown erect stems; yellow to red fall color; better at higher altitudes.
Cowania mexicana	cliffrose	4,000 - 7,500	Upper Sonoran3a	L	E	upright oval shrub; rigid, gnarled branches; small, lobed olive-green leaves; fragrant creamy-colored flowers followed by feather-tailed seeds.
Fallugia paradoxa	Apache plume	3,500 - 8,000	Plains Upper Sonoran3b	L	D - E	open, rounded shrub; small grayish-green leaves; whitish shreddy bark; white, rose-like flowers; fuzzy pinkish seed heads appear all summer; native to San Luis and Arkansas Valleys. Plant Select®5a.
Fendlera rupicola	cliff fendlerbush	4,000 - 8,000	Upper Sonoran3a	L	D	small, grayish-green narrow leaves with edges rolled under; white to pink flowers, bark reddish-tan; less available.
Holodiscus dumosus	rock-spirea, mountainspray	5,000 - 10,000	Foothills - Montane	L - M	D	upright shrub; arching slender branches with pyramidal sprays of white flower clusters that turn rust; fall foliage color bronze-red; sun to partial shade; found on rock outcrops and cliff bases.
Rhus trilobata	three-leaf sumac, skunkbrush	3,500 - 9,000	Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran	L	D	arching branches with glossy green three-parted leaves, small yellow flowers before leaves; reddish hairy edible fruits; orange to red fall color.
Ribes aureum	golden currant	4,000 - 10,000	Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran	L - M	D	arching growth habit; yellow clove-scented flowers in late spring; yellow to black fruit attracts birds; well-drained sites; orange to red fall color.
Ribes inerme	whitestem currant	6,000 - 10,000	Foothills - Montane	M	D	rounded growth habit; few if any spines; whitish stems becoming reddish-brown and flaky; small pink flowers followed by edible, tart, wine-red fruit.
Ribes lacustre	bristly currant, swamp currant	8,000 - 10,000	Montane - Subalpine	H	D	low-growing shrub with spines; lobed leaves; greenish-purple flowers in drooping clusters followed by bristly purple fruit; native along streams; browse plant for livestock and game.
Rubus deliciosus	boulder raspberry	4,500 - 9,000	Foothills	L - M	D	arching growth habit with peeling, cinnamon-colored bark; shade tolerant; spineless; large, white rose-like flowers in spring followed by sparse raspberry-like fruits.
Rubus parviflorus	western thimbleberry	5,000 - 10,000	Montane	M - H	D	large, maple-like leaves; white, rose-like flowers followed by edible fruits; best in shady, moist locations.
Salix irrorata	blue stem willow	5,000 - 9,000	Foothills	H	D	rounded, upright shrub with spreading silver blue twigs; glossy green linear leaves; yellow fall color.
Sambucus racemosa	red-berried elder	5,000 - 12,000	Foothills - Subalpine	M - H	D	upright to arching growth form; shiny compound leaves; stout branches; white flower clusters in early summer followed by bright red berries; yellow fall color; found in marshy meadows or along streams; attracts birds.
Small shrubs (less than 4 ft when mature)
Amorpha canescens	silvery leadplant	3,500 - 7,500	Plains - Foothills3b	L	D	erect, dense shrub with gray-green, fern-like foliage; tall spikes of violet-purple flowers in mid-summer; tolerant of drought and poor soils.
Arctostaphylos patula	manzanita, bearberry	6,000 - 9,000	Foothills - Montane3a	L	E	spreading growth habit with dense foliage; mahogany-red stems; oval, bright green erect leaves; pink flowers in spring followed by dark brown small apple-like fruits; does best on well drained soils.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	kinnikinnik	5,000 - 10,000	Foothills - Subalpine	L - M	E	mat-forming evergreen with small oval leaves; pink urn-shaped flowers followed by red fruits; requires well-drained gravelly soils; attracts wildlife; needs light shade.
Artemisia cana	silver sagebrush	5,000 - 10,000	Montane	L - M	E	mounding growth habit; branches become gnarled; aromatic, silver-gray leaves.
Atriplex canescens	fourwing saltbush	4,000 - 8,000	Plains Upper Sonoran	L	D - E	light green to gray small leaves; interesting four-winged fruits on female plants; tolerant of poor or salty soils; slow-growing.
Ceanothus fendleri	Fendler ceanothus, mountain-lilac	5,000 - 9,000	Foothills - Montane	L	D	spiny, low shrub with small white flower clusters in late spring; wildlife browse plant; grows on coarse soils; less available.
Ceratoides lanata	winterfat	3,500 - 9,500	Plains Upper Sonoran	L	D - E	dense erect shrub covered with white woolly fruits; grayish-green leaves persist in winter; excellent forage for wildlife.
Chrysothamnus nauseosus	rabbitbrush, rubber rabbitbrush	5,000 - 10,000	"Plains - Foothills Upper Sonoran"	L	D	size and growth habit varies with subspecies; narrow aromatic leaves; young stems green to silvery-gray; showy clusters of yellow flowers on new growth in late summer attract butterflies; can be aggressive through reseeding.
Jamesia americana	waxflower	5,500 - 10,000	Foothills - Montane	M	D	flat-topped shrub with upright branches; distinctly veined heart-shaped leaves with white undersides; shreddy reddish bark; waxy, white flowers in late spring; red fall color; shade tolerant; needs well-drained soil.
Juniperus communis montana	common juniper	5,000 -10,000	Foothills - Subalpine	L - M	E	low-growing evergreen; needle-like leaves with whitish stripes; bluish-gray berry-like fruits; shade tolerant; needs well-drained soil.
Lonicera involucrata	twinberry	5,000 - 11,000	Montane - Subalpine	M - H	D	shade-tolerant upright oval shrub with erect branches; bright green leaves; creamy yellow trumpet-shaped flowers in pairs followed by black fruit enclosed in a red cup.
Mahonia repens	creeping Oregon grape-holly	5,000 - 9,500	Foothills - Montane	L - M	E	low-growing thicket-forming ground cover; blue-green leaves turn purplish in winter; yellow flowers followed by edible, blue grape-like fruit; shade tolerant; may winter burn in windy, exposed sites.
Philadelphus microphyllus	littleleaf mock-orange	5,000 - 8,000	Foothills Upper Sonoran	L - M	D	rounded, compact slow-growing shrub with small gray-green leaves; fragrant white star-shaped flowers.
Physocarpus monogynus	mountain ninebark	5,500 - 10,000	Foothills - Montane	M	D	interesting shreddy bark on older branches; white to rose-colored flowers in small heads; good wildlife cover; leaves resemble those of currant; yellow to maroon fall color; less available.
Potentilla fruticosa	shrubby cinquefoil	5,000 - 11,000	Montane - Subalpine	M	D	open, rounded shrub; single yellow flowers throughout summer; many cultivated forms available from nurseries.
Prunus besseyi	Western sand cherry	3,500 - 8,500	Plains - Foothills3b	L - M	D	upright, rounded open shrub with grayish-green leaves; numerous white, single, fragrant flowers followed by purplish-black fruits that attract birds; red fall color. 'Pawnee Buttes' is a low, spreading groundcover, Plant Select®5a.
Purshia tridentata	antelope bitterbrush, antelope-brush	5,000 - 9,000	Foothills - Montane	L	D	spreading shrub with small, oval gray leaves and pale yellow flowers in early summer; requires dry, coarse soils; important browse plant for wildlife.
Ribes cereum	wax currant	4,000 - 10,000	Foothills	L	D	rounded growth form; lobed, leathery leaves; lacks spines; pink tubular flowers in spring; edible orange-red berries in summer attract birds.
Rosa woodsii	Woods rose, wild rose	3,500 -10,500	Foothills - Subalpine	L - M	D	spiny, dark reddish-brown stems; thicket-forming; dark green compound leaf; single, large pink flowers in early summer; reddish-orange fruits; browse plant for wildlife.
Shepherdia canadensis	russet buffaloberry	5,000 -11,500	Montane - Subalpine	L	D	prostrate to upright shrub; brown thornless branches; dark green, oval leaves with russet colored scales beneath; inconspicuous flowers followed by red to orange bitter fruit on females; attractive to wildlife; shade tolerant.
Symphoricarpos albus	snowberry	5,000 - 8,500	Foothills	L - M	D	arching growth habit; thicket-forming; rounded, blue-green leaves; shade tolerant; pink bell-shaped flowers in summer; large white berries in fall persist into winter; attracts birds and small mammals.

Native Plants of Colorado- Photos

	Golden currant (Ribes aureum)
	Twinberry fruit (Lonicera involucrata) Red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa) Wild rose (Rosa woodsii) Western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana melanocarpa) Wax currant (Ribes cereum) Waxflower (Jamesia americana) Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Portland, OR

Vancouver, WA

The Dalles, OR

Montrose, CO