Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet
Zauschneria garrettii
Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet (Zauschneria garrettii) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3 to 6 in tall and 12 to 24 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Tubular orange-red flowers explode in late summer when little else blooms. Hummingbird favorite.
low water3 to 6 in tall and 12 to 24 in wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®Deer-resistant
Photos
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- Photo 3: "2020.08.21_10.36.45_IMG_9245" by AndreyZharkikh is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
- Photo 4: (c) crothfels, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 5: "2021.09.04_11.46.37_IMG_3712" by AndreyZharkikh is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/.
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At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 9
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.5
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hellstrips / parking strips, Hot south- or west-facing walls, Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 3 to 6 in tall and 12 to 24 in wide
- Growth habit
- Mat-forming
- Planting spacing
- ~17 to 24 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late summer, early fall
- Bloom color
- orange, red
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Lawn alternative
- No-mow lawn alternative
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Not rated
Using Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet as a groundcover
Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet forms a low mat. It fills in to a moderately dense cover. On a slope it helps knit the soil together and control erosion.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. Minimal water after, needs sharp drainage and tolerates true xeric conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet get?
- It matures to about 3 to 6 in tall and 12 to 24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet?
- Space Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet hardy on the Front Range?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet is hardy in USDA 4 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet deer-resistant?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes (inducted 2010). Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
- Can you walk on Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Can Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet replace a lawn?
- Yes, Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet works as a no-mow lawn alternative on the Front Range. Expect a season or two of weeding and watering while it fills in before it reads as a lawn replacement.
- Will Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet spread or stay put?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet is mat-forming. Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet stay green in winter?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet keeps partial cover through Front Range winters.
- Is Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet good for a slope?
- Yes. Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet helps hold soil on Front Range slopes and control erosion once its roots knit in.
- How long does Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet bloom?
- Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpet blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
