Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
Quick answer
37 plants make our list of colorado native shrubs for the Front Range. Examples include American plum, Apache plume, Big sagebrush, Cliff fendlerbush, and Cliff jamesia / waxflower. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Native shrubs adapted to Front Range conditions: tough, water-wise, and valuable for pollinators and birds.
All Colorado natives in one place, with top picks by type: Native plants of Colorado →
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Compare these shrubs at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American plum | 10 to 15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Apache plume | 4 to 6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 9 |
| Big sagebrush | 3 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Cliff fendlerbush | 3 to 6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 5 to 8 |
| Cliff jamesia / waxflower | 3 to 6 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Cliffrose | 4 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Common juniper | 2 to 4 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
| Common snowberry | 3 to 5 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3 to 7 |
| Curlleaf mountain mahogany | 10 to 20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Dwarf wild indigo | 1 to 2 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 9 |
| Fernbush | 4 to 6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Fourwing saltbush | 3 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 9 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 37 plants
American plumPrunus americana10 to 15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Apache plumeFallugia paradoxa4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Cliff fendlerbushFendlera rupicola3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
Cliff jamesia / waxflowerJamesia americana3 to 6 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
CliffrosePurshia mexicana4 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Common juniperJuniperus communis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Common snowberrySymphoricarpos albus3 to 5 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Curlleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus ledifolius10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Dwarf wild indigoAmorpha nana1 to 2 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
FernbushChamaebatiaria millefolium4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Fragrant sumacRhus aromatica2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Golden currantRibes aureum5 to 8 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 8
LeadplantAmorpha canescens2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Leadplant / false indigo bushAmorpha fruticosa6 to 12 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Lewis's mock orangePhiladelphus lewisii6 to 10 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Littleleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus intricatus3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Mountain mahoganyCercocarpus montanus6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Red twig / red osier dogwoodCornus sericea6 to 10 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Rockspirea / mountain sprayHolodiscus dumosus3 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8- Roundleaf buffaloberryShepherdia rotundifolia3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
Rubber rabbitbrushEricameria nauseosa3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Sand cherryPrunus pumila3 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Sand sagebrushArtemisia filifolia2 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Shrubby cinquefoilPotentilla fruticosa2 to 4 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8 to 18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Smooth sumacRhus glabra8 to 15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Utah serviceberryAmelanchier utahensis10 to 15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Wax currantRibes cereum3 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 8
Western sand cherryPrunus besseyi2 to 4 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Western snowberrySymphoricarpos occidentalis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
WinterfatKrascheninnikovia lanata1 to 3 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Wood's wild roseRosa woodsii4 to 6 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these shrubs get?
- Mature heights range from about 1 to 20 ft across the 37 shrubs on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- All 37 shrubs on this list are Colorado natives.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 35 of the 37 are rated low or low-to-medium water; the rest need moderate water. Each plant's page lists its water rating.
- How were these plants selected?
- Each of the 37 plants meets this page's criteria and is cross-referenced against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and USDA PLANTS. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.
Related guides
- Drought-tolerant shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Deer-resistant plants and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range