Best plants for Colorado
These species reliably perform in Colorado's climate — a blend of regionally-adapted ornamentals and native plants that don't need babying once established. Start with this short list, then expand once you know your specific microclimate (slope, shade, drainage).
- Rocky Mountain juniper
- Aspen
- Russian sage
- Yarrow
- Penstemon
- Lilac
- Tomato (short-season)
- Echinacea
- Hollyhock
Native plants of Colorado
Natives evolved alongside Colorado's soils, pollinators, and weather patterns, so they need almost no supplemental water or fertilizer once established. Mixing 30-50% natives into a garden dramatically improves its drought resilience and its value to local birds and pollinators.
- Rocky Mountain columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)
- Quaking aspen
- Blue grama grass
- Showy milkweed
- Pasque flower
For zone-specific timing and a fuller plant palette, see the gardening guide for USDA zone 3.
Your plant advisor can filter the full database to species suited to your Colorado zone.
Frost dates and timing in Colorado
Average last spring frost: mid-May (Front Range) to late June (mountains). Average first fall frost: early September (mountains) to mid-October (Front Range). Growing season runs about 90-160 days. As always, average dates are starting points — set seedlings out a week or two later than the average last-frost for high-value crops like tomatoes and peppers, and have row cover or frost blankets ready for an unseasonable late freeze.
Use the fall planting schedule by zone to plan your second crop, and the vegetable garden planting schedule for week-by-week spring timing.
Soils and amendment in Colorado
Alkaline clay and sandy loams along the Front Range; thinner rocky soils at elevation.
Challenges specific to Colorado
Late spring snowstorms, intense UV at altitude, low humidity, alkaline soils, and dramatic temperature swings (60°F drops in 12 hours).
For drought-prone parts of Colorado, see the drought-tolerant garden design guide. If your yard sits low and stays wet, the drainage fix without regrading guide covers raised beds, French drains, and bog-tolerant planting palettes.
Design your Colorado garden in 3D
Sketch your beds, place plants to scale, and see the whole design in 3D before you buy a single one-gallon pot. The free designer filters plants by USDA zone, so anything you place is already suited to the climate in Colorado.
Design your Colorado garden in 3D
Free, no signup required. Filter plants by USDA zone 3a-7a and see your design rendered to scale before you buy.
Open the free 3D garden designerFrequently asked about gardening in Colorado
›What USDA hardiness zones is Colorado in?
Colorado spans USDA zones 3a-7a. Front Range cities like Denver and Colorado Springs sit in zone 5b-6a, but the high mountain valleys drop to zone 3a and the western slope warms to 7a. Match plant cold-hardiness ratings to your local zone — pushing into warmer-rated species is a gamble against the next hard winter.
›When is the last spring frost in Colorado?
Average last spring frost in Colorado is around mid-May (Front Range) to late June (mountains), and the first fall frost typically arrives early September (mountains) to mid-October (Front Range). That gives a typical growing season of 90-160 days. Average dates are starting points — set seedlings out a week or two later than the average for safety.
›What plants grow well in Colorado?
Reliable choices for Colorado include Rocky Mountain juniper, Aspen, Russian sage, Yarrow. These species are matched to Colorado's climate and soils — a blend of regionally-adapted ornamentals and natives that perform without babying once established.
›What plants are native to Colorado?
Native plants in Colorado include Rocky Mountain columbine, Quaking aspen, Blue grama grass. Natives evolved alongside local soils, pollinators, and weather, so they typically need no supplemental water or fertilizer once established — and they support local birds and pollinators in ways non-native ornamentals can't.
›What's distinctive about gardening in Colorado?
Colorado gardens contend with thinner air and harsher UV than any other state, rewarding plants tough enough for the Rockies' boom-or-bust weather. Late spring snowstorms, intense UV at altitude, low humidity, alkaline soils, and dramatic temperature swings (60°F drops in 12 hours).