What Grows Best in Colorado Springs? 20 Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Yard

What Grows Best in Colorado Springs?

Colorado Springs and surrounding areas like Monument, Falcon, and Black Forest present unique landscaping challenges—high altitude, intense sun, cold winters, critters and low precipitation. People often tell us that they cannot grow anything! The key to a successful garden in Colorado? Plant selection. Below are 20 of the most dependable, climate-adapted perennials and shrubs that thrive in Colorado. Every plant on this list is beautiful, resilient, and easy to grow.

1. Russian Sage

Why it works: This Colorado superstar is tall, airy, and practically unkillable. It thrives in full sun, rocky soil, and drought. Silver foliage and lavender blooms give it standout texture and color. Makes a great screen to hide utility boxes, etc.

• Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall

• Height: 3–5 feet

• Perks: Deer and rabbit resistant, attracts pollinators, no deadheading required

• Landscape Use: Backdrops, screens, mass plantings, xeriscapes
  

2. Blanket Flower

Why it works: A Colorado native that keeps blooming with zero fuss. Vivid red, orange, and yellow blooms light up the landscape and tolerate heat and drought like a pro.

• Bloom Time: Early summer to frost

• Height: 12–24 inches

• Perks: Pollinator favorite, reseeds modestly, very low water needs

• Landscape Use: Borders, cottage gardens, native plantings, xeriscapes,
  

3. Yarrow or Achillea

Why it works: Aromatic, feathery foliage and flat-topped blooms in shades of white, yellow, red and pink. Handles wind, drought, clay soil, and rabbits with ease.

• Bloom Time: Early summer to fall

• Height: 18–36 inches

• Perks: Spreads gently, easy to divide, long vase life

• Landscape Use: Meadow-style beds, rock gardens, pollinator plantings, xeriscape
  

4. Catmint or Nepita

Why it works: Compact, fragrant, and long-blooming, catmint fills in borders and softens hard edges. Loved by bees, ignored by deer and rabbits.

• Bloom Time: Late spring through midsummer (reblooms when cut back)

• Height: 12–24 inches

• Perks: Great filler, blends well, thrives in full sun

• Landscape Use: Path edges, mass plantings, rock borders
  

5. Coneflower or Echinacea

Why it works: Sturdy, bold flowers on strong stems. Tolerates drought, poor soil, and cold winters. Seedheads feed goldfinches in fall and winter. Can be used for tea!

• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

• Height: 2–4 feet

• Perks: Long bloom time, great in wildflower mixes

• Landscape Use: Mid-bed structure, naturalized groupings, cottage gardens, xeriscape.
  

6. Penstemon

Why it works: Known as beardtongue, this native perennial offers tall spires of blue or purple flowers that hummingbirds adore. Excellent in poor soils and harsh sun.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

• Height: 2–3 feet

• Perks: Drought-loving, vertical form, wildlife-friendly

• Landscape Use: Native beds, dry slopes, pollinator zones, cottage garden
  

7. Coreopsis

Why it works: Easy-to-grow with sunny yellow blooms that persist through the hottest months. Doesn’t flinch in clay or sandy soil.

• Bloom Time: Early summer through fall

• Height: 12–24 inches

• Perks: Pollinator-friendly, tidy habit, great for mass planting

• Landscape Use: Borders, xeriscape fill, low perennial beds, cottage garden
  

8. Columbine

Why it works: The state flower of Colorado. Delicate, nodding blooms appear in spring and early summer and are perfect for dappled shade. Although the pale purple and deep purple are the most popular varieties in Colorado, Columbine come in a variety of different colors including yellow and red!

• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

• Height: 12–24 inches

• Perks: Self-seeds, native, deer-resistant

• Landscape Use: Woodland-style beds, rock crevices, shaded corners, cottage garden
  

9. Salvia

Why it works: Spike-blooming perennial that adds vertical rhythm to gardens. Thrives in dry soil and full sun, and bounces back from hard winters.

• Bloom Time: Late spring through summer

• Height: 18–36 inches

• Perks: Pollinator favorite, tough and dependable

• Landscape Use: Upright contrast in mixed beds or rock gardens, cottage gardens, xeriscape, boulder planters
  

10. Black-Eyed Susan or Rudbeckia

Why it works: This bright, late-summer bloomer is a workhorse. It handles tough conditions and reliably returns each year with minimal care.

• Bloom Time: Midsummer through fall

• Height: 2–3 feet

• Perks: Great cut flower, seeds for birds

• Landscape Use: Mass plantings, sunny backdrops, prairie-style beds, cottage gardens, bird sanctuaries, xeriscapes
  

11. Red Valerian

Why it works: A charming and often underused perennial with bold pink or red flowers that bloom from late spring through fall. Well-suited to lean soils and low irrigation.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to fall

• Height: 18–30 inches

• Perks: Drought-tolerant, reseeds lightly, deer-resistant, unique foliage color giving variety to any planting

• Landscape Use: Slopes, rock gardens, cottage borders, xeriscape
  

12. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

Why it works: Big, bold blooms and mint-scented foliage make bee balm a standout. Best with some moisture but still tough enough for Colorado once established.

• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer

• Height: 2–4 feet

• Perks: Hummingbird magnet, fragrant, colorful

• Landscape Use: Cottage gardens, back-of-border plantings
  

13. Snowball Viburnum

Why it works: A multi-season shrub with showy white blooms and beautiful red fall foliage. Wind- and rabbit-tolerant and suitable for larger yards. Many people confuse this plant with a hydrangea.

• Bloom Time: Late spring

• Height: 6–10 feet

• Perks: Bold structure, bird-friendly

• Landscape Use: Screens, corners, anchor shrubs, elegant plantings
  

  
  
  
  

14. Cranesbill Geranium

Why it works: Not to be confused with annual geraniums, these hardy perennials are perfect for Colorado gardens. With mounding foliage and delicate, cup-shaped blooms in pinks, purples, and blues, cranesbill geraniums thrive in sun or partial shade and handle our tough soil conditions with ease.

• Bloom Time: Late spring through summer (some varieties rebloom in fall)

• Height: 12–24 inches

• Perks: Deer- and rabbit-resistant, spreads gently, tolerates drought once established

• Landscape Use: Groundcover, border edging, underplanting for shrubs
  

15. Spirea

Why it works: Classic, reliable shrub with spring or summer blooms depending on variety. Dense and easy to shape.

• Bloom Time: Spring or summer

• Height: 2–5 feet

• Perks: Great for mass planting, deer-resistant

• Landscape Use: Hedges, borders, commercial plantings

  
  

16. Sedum

Why it works: A succulent-like plant that handles rocky, dry soils and stores moisture. Offers great late-season color and texture.

• Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall

• Height: Varies by variety

• Perks: Drought-proof, pollinator-friendly

• Landscape Use: Rock gardens, green roofs, small-space accents

  
  

17. Blue Flax

Why it works: Native wildflower with delicate blue blooms that reseed naturally. Great for naturalized settings or wildflower meadows.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to midsummer

• Height: 18–24 inches

• Perks: Beautiful motion, easy to grow, wispy and whimsical growth pattern

• Landscape Use: Meadow gardens, dry slopes, rustic beds

18. Lamb’s Ear

Why it works: Silvery, fuzzy foliage gives this plant childlike appeal. Ground-hugging and low water, though it dislikes excessive moisture.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

• Height: 6–12 inches

• Perks: Great texture, rabbit-resistant

• Landscape Use: Groundcover, pathway edging, cottage gardens

  
  

19.Lupine

Why it works: Beautiful, nitrogen-fixing native with bold spikes of blue flowers. Can be a bit picky about soil drainage.

• Bloom Time: Late spring

• Height: 2–3 feet

• Perks: Improves soil, native wildlife support

• Landscape Use: Meadow-style gardens, native beds, cottage gardens

20. Smokebush

Why it works: This architectural shrub adds deep purple foliage and dreamy, smoke-like flower plumes. Best used sparingly in small yards.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer

• Height: 6–12 feet

• Perks: Showstopper accent, low maintenance

• Landscape Use: Feature shrub, mixed border, slope drama
  

Want the Perfect Colorado-Friendly Landscape Without the Guesswork?

We’ve helped homeowners in Colorado Springs, Monument, Falcon, and Black Forest create stunning, low-maintenance yards with plants that thrive in our altitude, soil, and climate.

Let us help you:

✅ Select the right plants for your specific property ✅ Design a landscape that’s both beautiful and practical ✅ Save time, water, and money on long-term maintenance ✅ Have a landscape that you are proud of!

Call us at 719-888-8801 to schedule an estimate for your landscape design. Like this blog on What Grows best in Colorado Springs? Subscribe for more Colorado Landscaping content!