Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
Quick answer
38 plants make our list of colorado native shrubs for the Front Range. Examples include American plum, Apache plume, Beardlip penstemon, Big sagebrush, and Cliff fendlerbush. 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.
Plan your garden
Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Compare these shrubs at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American plum | 10–15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Apache plume | 4–6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–9 |
| Beardlip penstemon | 2–4 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Big sagebrush | 3–8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–9 |
| Cliff fendlerbush | 3–6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 5–8 |
| Cliff jamesia / waxflower | 3–6 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Cliffrose | 4–8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
| Common juniper | 2–4 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 2–7 |
| Common snowberry | 3–5 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 3–7 |
| Curlleaf mountain mahogany | 10–20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3–8 |
| Dwarf wild indigo | 1–2 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–9 |
| Fernbush | 4–6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4–8 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 38 plants
American plumPrunus americana10–15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Apache plumeFallugia paradoxa4–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Beardlip penstemonPenstemon barbatus2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata3–8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Cliff fendlerbushFendlera rupicola3–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5–8
Cliff jamesia / waxflowerJamesia americana3–6 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
CliffrosePurshia mexicana4–8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Common juniperJuniperus communis2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Common snowberrySymphoricarpos albus3–5 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
Curlleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus ledifolius10–20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Dwarf wild indigoAmorpha nana1–2 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
FernbushChamaebatiaria millefolium4–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3–8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Fragrant sumacRhus aromatica2–3 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Golden currantRibes aureum5–8 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–8
LeadplantAmorpha canescens2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Leadplant / false indigo bushAmorpha fruticosa6–12 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Lewis's mock orangePhiladelphus lewisii6–10 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Littleleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus intricatus3–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Mountain mahoganyCercocarpus montanus6–12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6–12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Red twig / red osier dogwoodCornus sericea6–10 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Rockspirea / mountain sprayHolodiscus dumosus3–5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8Roundleaf buffaloberryShepherdia rotundifolia3–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5–8
Rubber rabbitbrushEricameria nauseosa3–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Sand cherryPrunus pumila3–5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–8
Sand sagebrushArtemisia filifolia2–5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Shrubby cinquefoilPotentilla fruticosa2–4 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8–18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–7
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Smooth sumacRhus glabra8–15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4–6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Utah serviceberryAmelanchier utahensis10–15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Wax currantRibes cereum3–5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2–8
Western sand cherryPrunus besseyi2–4 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–8
Western snowberrySymphoricarpos occidentalis2–4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–7
WinterfatKrascheninnikovia lanata1–3 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4–9
Wood's wild roseRosa woodsii4–6 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3–9
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these shrubs get?
- Mature heights range from about 1 to 20 ft across the 38 shrubs on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- All 38 shrubs on this list are Colorado natives.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 36 of the 38 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 38 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
- Low-water shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Deer-resistant plants for the Front Range
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range