Lately, it seems there has been an ever-growing buzz in the media regarding native plants. We here at Outdoor Design Group appreciate this budding interest in native plants, but we have a long-established love and interest in utilizing native plants in the landscapes we design.
The blooming enthusiasm for North American, as well as regionally specific native plants got us thinking about how to advise native plant newbies to get started with these plants in their gardens and landscapes.
If you’re not sure why you should include native plants in your Colorado landscape (or any landscape anywhere on earth for that matter), here are a few reasons:
They’re adapted to the water, light, soil and temperature fluctuations and constraints of your area.
They’re adapted to the animals and insects of your region, providing food & shelter for the native fauna, as well as being generally more resistant to browsing by insects and other animals.
Utilizing them in your landscape design helps anchor your property in the ‘place’ of your region. Put another way: Why grow plants that can be grown in New York, London or Tokyo? Why not grow plants that show your interest and love of the region you live in?
This brings us to a quick list of the 14 Easiest Colorado Native Plants to include in your landscape.
Before we get to the list, we must mention one big caveat: the term “native” plant is somewhat subjective. What area is one referring to when they say, “native to a certain region”? North America? The Great Plains? The Rocky Mountains? The state of Colorado? Only within a 50-mile radius of your location? The native plants we are presenting on the following list are mostly native to the Rocky Mountain region, while some on the list are more broadly native to North America.
The other thing we should mention is that while native plants have various and obvious good reasons to be utilized in one’s landscape, there are many non-native plants that can be good and ecologically appropriate choices for a certain landscape as well.
It’s worth mentioning that even if a plant is native to your region or state, that doesn’t mean that these plants will do well in every situation your yard presents. For example, aspen trees are native to the state of Colorado and surrounding Rocky Mountain states, but only are they native to the mountains and foothills. Aspen trees often struggle on the hotter drier front range cities east of the mountains where Denver is located. And just because a plant is a “native” does not mean that it won’t perform like an invasive weed. An example of this is Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) which is a North American native vine but reseeds readily in many areas and can be difficult to remove.
It all depends on many factors! Now, on to our list of great native plants to grow in Colorado:
TREES:
– Blue Spruce (Picea pungens). Sporting a conical and classic Christmas Tree form, this evergreen tree has moderate water needs so should be thoughtfully placed if your property is hotter & drier. There are many cultivars to choose from. This is one evergreen tree that might do better in an irrigated lawn.
-Bristlecone Pine (Pinus Aristata). This is a tough pine tree that is native to higher elevations but can do well in some locations at lower elevations. It can have an irregular and shrubby form. Like most pines, it has low water requirements.
Bristle Cone Pine
-Pinon Pine (Pinus edulis). The native range of this pine is generally southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. This is a good pine tree for hotter and drier locations. Its form is somewhat bushy and rounded. And the nuts are edible!
-Cottonwood (Populus spp.). There are several types of cottonwoods to choose from. They are all tough and dependable, but they don’t live very long. And some varieties have a suckering habit. They prefer moist soils, and they grow fast. They can be messy as well, so best for informal areas or larger properties.
-Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum). One of the few maples that can survive drought type conditions. Related to sugar maples, this native of the Rocky Mountain region has orange-red fall color and is more adapted to Colorado’s alkaline soils so it shouldn’t suffer chlorosis like other maple trees. This tree maxes out at 20-30 ft. tall and is more shrub-like (with multiple stems) and not a classic shade tree shape like some more popular and common (but not suited for Colorado soils) maple trees sold in local nurseries.
Bigtooth Maple, fall color
SHRUBS:
-Currants (Ribes spp.). There are several native varieties of currants to choose from. One of our favorites is Crandall Clove Currant, Ribes odoratum ‘Crandall’
-Yucca (Yucca spp.). Yuccas are tough plants that are well adapted to most areas of Colorado and the surrounding states. Some species and varieties are less cold hardy than others. If you’re bored with the local native Soapweed Yucca, you could try Banana Yucca, Beaked Yucca or even Dollhouse Yucca. If you’re worried about the stiff spiky leaves, you could opt for Yucca filamentosa, which has spiky tips, but the leaves are less stiff. It is native to the Southeastern United States, so they’re less drought tolerant than other yuccas.
Adam’s Needle Yucca
-Agave (Agave spp.). Agaves bring stunning architectural interest to the garden with their sword-like leaves. Most agaves that are native to North America are not cold tolerant enough to be grown in Colorado, but there are at least 3 species that can handle winter in greater Denver and other Front Range areas, as well as The Grand Valley on the Western Slope. Any areas that are at least USDA zone 5 or higher. As with cacti, keeping the agave roots on the dry side during winter will help them survive the cold. One of the cold hardiest Agaves is the Harvard’s Agave, Agave havardiana.
-Opuntia Cacti (Opuntia spp.). If you can get past the spines, you will be rewarded with amazing flowers in late spring. Not every Opuntia cacti variety is cold hardy enough for all of Colorado. But a few varieties are hardy to zone 5 and are great additions to your xeriscape, providing a stunning floral display in spring and interesting shapes and forms all year round. And if the spines are a roadblock to enjoying these North American natives, there are some cultivars with less spines. Cacti will be happier if their roots can be in mostly dry and well-drained soil throughout the winter.
Opuntia, Chocolate Princess cultivar
Perennials & Ornamental Grasses:
– Native Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata). Blanket Flower is a wonderful North American native flower that provides eye-popping yellow, orange and red color when it blooms in late summer to early fall.
– Penstemon (Penstemon spp.). There are so many Penstemon cultivars and nativars to choose from, its hard to pick just one. Some live longer than others. Two of our favorite penstemons (how can we pick just 2?!?) are Penstemon pseudospectabilis, and Penstemon pinifolius.
Pineleaf Penstemon
– Desert Four-O’-Clock (Mirabilis multiflora). The Desert Four-o-clock is a low-growing perennial that is very drought tolerant. It grows and spreads fast during summer with a display of bright magenta-pink blooms, but it is an herbaceous perennial, so it “dies” back to the ground every fall, like peonies.
– Columbine (Aquilegia spp.). A classic perennial plant with many varieties to choose from. These plants generally do better in cooler & wetter conditions. It’s best to save them for the part sun / part shade areas of your property.
– Blonde Ambition Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracillis ‘Blonde Ambition’). This nativar, discovered by the late David Salman of High Country Gardens, has exploded in popularity, almost to the point of being overplanted. But it’s popular for good reasons. It is tough, drought tolerant and visually striking in the fall when it sends out its one-sided seed heads that catch the sunlight in the waning days of autumn.
Blonde Ambition Grass
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
Outdoor Design Group is based in Arvada, Colorado – this blog concerns the Great Plains and Western United States. A previous blog post – wonderfully written by Julie O’Brien – traced the origins of the “green carpet”. The ubiquitous American lawn. It’s important to note that the green carpet exists in multiple forms. It’s a literal thing and a cultural construct. Most Americans associate homes with green lawns regardless of the prevailing environmental conditions. The lower 48 of the USA receives between 5” – 120” annual precipitation. Established Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG) requires about 26” of precipitation during the growing season. Our collective perception of the green carpet must incorporate prevailing environmental conditions!
Within the confines of this blog, the term ‘native grass’ refers to grass species found on the Great Plains prior to western settlement; to understand the applicability of native grass, refer to the map below. The eastern half of the United States receives 30 – 70” per year; the western half gets 5-30” (with exceptions in the Pacific NW). Denver sits on the dry half with 15” annual precipitation. Landscape is all about place, and our place is pretty dry. Our native flora have adapted to the prevailing conditions, yet the same cannot be said for the green carpet!
Sown native grass shines in low-traffic applications. Once established, it needs no supplemental water or fertilizer. It is not soft and fluffy. It needs full sun and doesn’t tolerate heavy foot traffic. If planted in your front yard, there is a high probability that at least one neighbor will vehemently dislike. Yet it’s a solid solution for covering low-use space. After all, you need to do something with any given patch of earth – so weeds don’t run amok. Semi-arid climates such as ours render large-scale KBG nonsensical. It requires excessive irrigation, fertilizer and herbicides, while contributing zero ecological value. Native grass isn’t a silver-bullet; it’s a tool in the toolbox that’s applicable to many areas.
There are myriad factors to consider with native grass. First off, it doesn’t have to be native! Secondly, many species are sold by container. While many viable grass species are endemic to the Great Plains, other well-adapted varieties come from elsewhere in the world. Either way, native grass species have deep roots, grow relatively tall and are not available as rolled sod. They are typically sown by seed, and in some cases installed by plug. It’s difficult to establish and there’s an ongoing maintenance requirement. Ample moisture is required during the first season and an underground sprinkler system is recommended. Temporary (above ground) irrigation can also be used. Weed management is critical. Certain weeds (especially bindweed) must be addressed BEFORE installation! Ongoing weed management will be required! Native grass is not easy. If you’re willing and able, you’ll be rewarded.
There are many cool & warm season grasses to choose from – that differ in terms of height, texture & cold-tolerance. On the shorter side, buffalograss and blue grama are proven options. Taller options include little bluestem, big bluestem, switchgrass, western wheatgrass, sideoats grama & tufted hairgrass – in addition to many more. You might consider several varieties of water-thrifty turf as an alternative to native grass. Options such as Dog Tuff, RTF Tall Fescue & Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass.
This is not an installation guide. Contact your local agricultural extension for more information. Seed suppliers such as Pawnee Buttes and Arkansas Valley Seed are also great resources. Most western residential and commercial landscapes have a place for KBG – the key is scale; not overdoing it. Native grass isn’t for everyone, nor is it perfect for every landscape – yet it’s severely underutilized!
Written by Matthew Whiteman
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
With recent news headlines (https://abcnews.go.com/US/happen-colorado-river-system-recover-historic-drought/story?id=98475953) warning of the extreme drought conditions hitting the western U.S. and the region that makes up the Colorado River basin, cutting water use has become top of mind for many citizens and leaders in Colorado and beyond. One city in Colorado has approved a plan to cut water use in the face of this historic drought, and this plan is raising some eyebrows and generating its own headlines due to its potential impacts.
In the summer of 2022, the city council for Aurora (Colorado’s third largest city), approved restrictions on high water turf lawns for all new construction. Originally proposed by Aurora mayor Mike Coffman, all ten members of the city council voted to approve the new ordinance which limits the amount of turf lawns in new developments and golf courses. (https://www.denverpost.com/2022/08/23/aurora-limits-grass-lawns-golf-courses-water-usage/)
The ordinance prohibits water guzzling turf lawns in common areas, medians, curbside landscape and front yards. In back yards, lawns must be equal to or smaller than 45% of the area, or 500 square feet, whichever is smaller. However, an exception was included to allow front yard turf lawns for residences whose backyards are too small to fit the 45% or 500 square feet threshold.
Perhaps most importantly, the ordinance restricts turf from being used merely for decorative purposes in common areas unless it is for use in “active or programmed recreation areas.” The skinny strips of lawn often found in older commercial developments which are inefficiently irrigated as water over-sprays wastefully on to nearby walks, streets and parking lots, will hopefully become a relic of the past.
Wasting water in a parking lot.
Considering that the typical high-water lawn needs 25″ of water annually to look good and green, and Aurora (as well as most of the front-range urban corridor of Colorado) only receives 15″ of natural precipitation all year, reducing or eliminating non-active or un-programmed turf lawns is a very easy way to reduce urban and suburban water use.
This is why another recent headline grabbing story regarding reducing turf lawns was welcome news. In June 2022, the State of Colorado passed a bipartisan-sponsored measure that will encourage property owners across the state to ditch their water-wasting turf lawns (https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1151).
The legislation is intended to use state funds ($2 million) to financially incentivize the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water-wise landscaping. The bill, HB22-1151, requires the Colorado water conservation board to develop a statewide program that would distribute funds to various “local governments, certain districts, Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations” for lawn replacement programs. Those funds could then be used to pay property owners to reduce their landscape irrigation by transitioning away from high water turf lawns, towards more climate appropriate landscape treatments. The funds could also go towards expanding some existing programs that already pay property owners to replace water-thirsty lawns, about $1 to $3 per square foot of removed sod. Most of these rebates are only offered in cities in Colorado and not unincorporated areas. One goal of this legislation is to broaden this type of program to other areas in the state.
An example of a water saving landscape renovation at a multi-family property in Aurora, CO.
While $1 to $3 per square foot of removed sod may seem generous, there are reports of some landowners in California getting lawn replacement rebates up to $6/sf. (https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/19/us/california-drought-lawns/index.html). Interestingly, some of the rebate programs in California also require installation of rain barrels as well as turf lawn replacement. That is an intriguing idea for rebate offering entities in Colorado to consider, especially since rain barrels only became officially legal just a few years ago.
Researchers at Colorado State University estimate that landscapes account for at about 55% of the total annual water use for a typical single family home in Colorado.
Typical Colorado household water use; CSU extension
And most of this goes towards lawn irrigation. In the city of Denver for example, it’s estimated that nearly 25% of the city-wide entire annual water consumption is sprayed on high-water turf lawns. (https://denverite.com/2019/05/06/denverites-can-use-120-million-gallons-a-day-to-water-their-lawns/) Considering that lawns are only irrigated about half of the year or less in Colorado, that is a lot of water that could easily be saved if more lawns were changed into climate appropriate landscape treatments.
Let’s hope that the recent passage of Aurora’s lawn restriction as well as HB22-1151 helps usher in a more water conserving and water conscious future in Colorado and other states in our drought prone region. This won’t translate into a complete disappearance of high-water turf lawns. However, for the sake of our rivers, aquifers and reservoirs, it means that these water-hogging green carpets must be used wisely and judiciously in the designed landscapes of the future.
Example of beautiful low-water groundcover alternatives to high water turf lawn.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
Once upon a time, there was a castle guarded by soldiers. Enemies obscured by the trees would sneak close to the castle, so the soldiers reduced the threat by removing the trees. Without the trees, the land filled in with grasses, thyme, and chamomile. Animals began to graze in these new fields, keeping the plants low. The soldiers could see clearly across the land, and the sheep were fat and happy. The castle prospered, and everyone who visited wished their land could be so grand. The other land owners cut down their trees and filled in their land with grasses. The smell from the grazing animals wasn’t ideal, so they brought in men to cut the grasses low instead.
The “green carpet” surrounding the finest castles and estates in the 16th & 17th century became a status symbol, and planted the seed for the sod lawn we’re all familiar with today.
In the United States after WWII, automobile technology and availability took off. With the open road ahead of them, well-to-do folks left the cramped urban conditions of the cities, moving outward to new suburban neighborhoods.
Planners like Frederick Law Olmsted and Abraham Levitt gave the people sprawling neighborhoods, with acres of lush green grass. With the popularity of the 2-day weekend on the rise, homeowners indulged in their green Edens. This ignited a new chapter for the centuries old status symbol of the turf lawn – now repurposed for mini-golf and lawn bowl rather than spying enemy invaders and feeding livestock.
“No single feature of a suburban residential community contributes as much to the charm and beauty of the individual home and the locality as well-kept lawns” – Abraham Levitt
Ingrained into the new vision for the American Dream, well-kept lawns became the golden standard. With an estimated 30 to 40-million acres of the United States serving as an irrigated sod lawn today, this status symbol is butting heads with our resources and priorities.
The cold hard truth about lawns are that they are a water hog, high maintenance (what other non-food-production plants do you cut weekly, fertilize seasonally, and treat with chemicals?!), lawns are a food desert for animals & insects, and they do nothing for our groundwater while the water runoff often pollutes creeks and streams with high nitrogen fertilizers, causing harmful algae blooms. All of that lawn maintenance also creates air pollution and noise pollution from mowers, blowers, and trimmer equipment.
A renovation project where Outdoor Design Group helped our client reduce their turf lawn.
But lawns can be great in the right location!
This is where “active-use” vs. “passive-use” spaces come into play. Lawns can be very durable, and are amazing for active children and pets. Maintaining a lawn to play and entertain on is a lovely idea. Kentucky Bluegrass has been a popular turf choice for decades, but climate suited alternatives like Dog-Tuff Buffalo Grass, Bermuda grass, or “steppable perennial lawns” made up of creeping thyme or clover can serve the same purpose as high-water turf lawns with fewer drawbacks. While choosing the right type of lawn for your environment is a start, reducing the overall amount of lawn is still the key to a progressive and sustainable landscape. Maintaining any type of lawn on the side or front of your house where no-one ever spends their time is wasteful for you, your wallet, and the environment.
Steppable groundcover used with other perennials, step stones and mulch.
Consider ditching the golf-course-quality front-yard peacocking and save that neighborly competitiveness for the holiday light display. Instead, beef up your shrub beds, add some neat planters, and opt for native seed mixes that include drought-tolerant grasses & wildflowers. Keep your lawn only where you will use it, and plant a nice tree just west or south of it to keep it cooler and healthier during hot sunny days.
A front yard filled with a diversity of ornamental grasses, perennials, shrubs, landscape rock and mulch.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
It’s summer, which means in Colorado and other surrounding states in the Central Plains/Inter-mountain West region of the country, it is Hail Season!
Earlier in the Summer, the Denver area had several sessions of hail that ripped through gardens and landscapes late one June night. Avid gardens who’d been awakened by the cacophony of thunder, torrential rain and hail that night, sleepily rushed out in the morning to find shredded plants and debris scattered everywhere. I myself had many plants I’d been babying from seed and roots all Spring which were severely torn up by the barrage of hail stones.
This horticultural carnage got me wondering what plants are best at surviving the annual severe weather in our region? As I walked around the yard sadly inspecting the damage, it was easy to see that the native and climate adapted plants fared best from the aerial ice-bullet onslaught. So I thought it might be a good idea to create a list of “hail-proof” (or at least “hail-resistant”) plants. The following list of plants is just a cursory look at some possible plant choices that should be better able to handle hail storms:
Ornamental Grasses:
-Many, many varieties. Some of the hardiest, and easiest to grow in our region are Feather Reed (Calamagrostis spp.), Switch grass (Panicum virgatum), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Giant Sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii)
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
