What are the best drought-tolerant perennials for Colorado?

Our top-ranked picks for Front Range yards are Black-eyed Susan, Chocolate Flower, Gayfeather, and Letitia Flannel Plant. Of the 96 perennials on this page, 51 are rated low water and 45 low-to-medium. All of them need regular water through their first summer before they get by on less.

Which low-water perennials grow in part shade?

31 of the 96 take part shade as well as full sun, including Blue Flax, European Pasque Flower, False Indigo, and Golden Candles. The other 65 want full sun, which most dry-land plants do.

Are there low-water ornamental grasses for Colorado?

Yes. Little Bluestem Grass, Prairie Dropseed Grass, Switchgrass, and FREEDA Caterpillar Grass are on this list, each rated low or low-to-medium water. 5 more low-water grasses and sedges, such as Blue fescue and Blue grama grass, are on our groundcover lists.

Which of these are Plant Select plants?

35 of the 96, including Letitia Flannel Plant, Bellina Pink Cornflower, and Moon Carrot. Plant Select is a nonprofit started by Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and professional horticulturists to pick plants for landscapes from the intermountain region to the high plains.

How long until low-water perennials are drought tolerant?

Plan on most of three growing seasons. Denver Water's schedule for new plants waters twice a week in the first summer, once a week in the second, and every one to two weeks in the third. Plant Select and Denver Botanic Gardens say xeric plants need about 1 inch of water a month, rain plus irrigation, until they establish.

How big do these perennials get?

Mature heights range from about 6 to 144 in across the 96 perennials on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.

Which of these are Colorado native?

43 of the 96 perennials are Colorado natives, including Bee Balm/Horsemint, Bigelow's Tansyaster, Black-eyed Susan, and Blanketflower.

How were these plants selected?

All 96 perennials are rated low or low-to-medium water in our plant records, which draw on CSU Extension, the Colorado Native Plant Society, Plant Select and Resource Central references; each plant page lists its own sources. The top picks follow the rule stated with them. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.

Low-water perennials for Colorado's Front Range

Compiled by Nicholas Julia · Reviewed against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension & Plant Select® · Updated 2026-10-14

Quick answer

The best low-water perennials for Front Range yards are Black-eyed Susan, Chocolate Flower, Gayfeather, and Letitia Flannel Plant, with Poppy Mallow and Prairie Coneflower close behind. For a grass, try Little Bluestem Grass and Prairie Dropseed Grass. All of them need regular water through their first summer, then less each year: Denver Water's schedule tapers over three years.

Perennials that keep blooming through Front Range heat on little water once their roots settle in. Each is rated low or low-to-medium water, and the list includes the prairie grasses our data files as perennials. Like any drought-tolerant plant, they need regular water for their first summer or two.

Planning a whole xeriscape? See the xeriscape plants for Colorado list, trees through groundcovers.

Top picks by type

Jump to

Flowering perennials
Grasses
Watering them in
Full list

Every pick is rated low or low-to-medium water, hardy to zone 4, fine in alkaline soil, and free of invasive, spreading, dog-toxicity and fails-here flags; picks then score a point each for Colorado native, low water (not just low-to-medium), Plant Select, high pollinator value, and in stock at a retailer we track, with ties going alphabetically and one pick per species.

Top 10 flowering perennials

1Black-eyed SusanYellow and brown flowers in summer into fall, low water, 24 in tall.
2Chocolate FlowerYellow flowers in spring into summer, low water, 18 in tall.
3GayfeatherPurple and pink flowers in summer into fall, low water, 24 in tall.
4Letitia Flannel PlantCompact silver-foliage mullein with bright yellow flowers all summer.
5Poppy MallowWhite and pink flowers in summer, low water, 6 in tall.
6Prairie ConeflowerYellow flowers in summer, low water, 18 in tall.
7Bellina Pink CornflowerSilver-leaved cushion with clear-pink cornflower blooms; tidy mounding habit.
8Bigelow's TansyasterLate-season purple daisies, drought tolerant, reseeds; goldenrod companion.
9BlanketflowerYellow and red flowers in summer into fall, low water, 12 in tall.
10Blue FlaxBlue flowers in spring into summer, low water, 18 in tall.

Top 3 grasses

1Little Bluestem GrassPrairie warm-season grass; blue-green summer foliage turns coppery-red in fall; year-round structure.
2Prairie Dropseed GrassFine-textured fountain shape.
3SwitchgrassWarm-season prairie grass; airy pink flower clouds; bluish foliage turns red-gold in fall.

Watering them in

"Low water" describes a plant whose roots have settled in, not one fresh from the nursery. CSU Extension's Master Gardener notes put it in one line: even xeric plants need rain or irrigation during establishment.

Year one, water on a schedule. For new plants in a water-wise yard, Denver Water says to soak each plant at its base twice a week from June through September, or run half-gallon-per-hour drip emitters 30 to 60 minutes, twice a week.
Then taper. Year two drops to once a week, year three to every one to two weeks. Denver Water calls it sleep, creep, leap: plants sleep the first year, show growth the second, and by the third are established and need less water.
Know the target. Plant Select and Denver Botanic Gardens put xeric plants at about 1 inch of water a month, rain plus irrigation, while they establish, and irrigation only during drought after that.
Go easy on compost. The same guide says many plants that thrive here prefer lean, well-drained soil to rich organic soil, and that organic matter and wood mulch are not ideal for xeric and native plants. It suggests working in squeegee or crushed granite (1/4 inch and smaller) and mulching with 1 to 2 inches of squeegee. Advice differs here: CSU PlantTalk recommends working compost into xeriscape beds so plants grow better on less water. Our read: keep it lean and gritty for the low-water plants, and save a modest dose of compost for the low-to-medium ones.
Start small. Plant Select recommends 1-quart pots for perennials, because small plants root in faster.

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.

Find my perennials

Compare these perennials at a glance

Plant	Mature height	Water	Colorado native	Hardiness
Bee Balm/Horsemint	24 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 9
Bigelow's Tansyaster	24 to 48 in	low water	Yes	USDA 4 to 8
Black-eyed Susan	24 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 9
Blanketflower	12 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 10
Blue Flax	18 in	low water	Yes	USDA 4 to 9
Blue Mist Penstemon	12 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 8
Bush Sunflower	20 in	low water	Yes	USDA 4 to 9
Butterfly Milkweed	18 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 9
Chocolate Flower	18 in	low water	Yes	USDA 4 to 9
Common Yarrow	18 in	low water	Yes	USDA 3 to 9
Desert Four O’Clock	18 in	low water	Yes	USDA 4 to 9
evening primrose	12 to 18 in	low to medium water	Yes	USDA 4 to 8

Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.

All 96 plants

Explore all low-water perennials in the interactive finder →

Frequently asked questions

What are the best drought-tolerant perennials for Colorado?: Our top-ranked picks for Front Range yards are Black-eyed Susan, Chocolate Flower, Gayfeather, and Letitia Flannel Plant. Of the 96 perennials on this page, 51 are rated low water and 45 low-to-medium. All of them need regular water through their first summer before they get by on less.
Which low-water perennials grow in part shade?: 31 of the 96 take part shade as well as full sun, including Blue Flax, European Pasque Flower, False Indigo, and Golden Candles. The other 65 want full sun, which most dry-land plants do.
Are there low-water ornamental grasses for Colorado?: Yes. Little Bluestem Grass, Prairie Dropseed Grass, Switchgrass, and FREEDA Caterpillar Grass are on this list, each rated low or low-to-medium water. 5 more low-water grasses and sedges, such as Blue fescue and Blue grama grass, are on our groundcover lists.
Which of these are Plant Select plants?: 35 of the 96, including Letitia Flannel Plant, Bellina Pink Cornflower, and Moon Carrot. Plant Select is a nonprofit started by Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and professional horticulturists to pick plants for landscapes from the intermountain region to the high plains.
How long until low-water perennials are drought tolerant?: Plan on most of three growing seasons. Denver Water's schedule for new plants waters twice a week in the first summer, once a week in the second, and every one to two weeks in the third. Plant Select and Denver Botanic Gardens say xeric plants need about 1 inch of water a month, rain plus irrigation, until they establish.
How big do these perennials get?: Mature heights range from about 6 to 144 in across the 96 perennials on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
Which of these are Colorado native?: 43 of the 96 perennials are Colorado natives, including Bee Balm/Horsemint, Bigelow's Tansyaster, Black-eyed Susan, and Blanketflower.
How were these plants selected?: All 96 perennials are rated low or low-to-medium water in our plant records, which draw on CSU Extension, the Colorado Native Plant Society, Plant Select and Resource Central references; each plant page lists its own sources. The top picks follow the rule stated with them. This is a reference guide, not a paid listing.

Sources

The watering and soil guidance comes from the pages below. Water ratings, sizes, hardiness and native status come from each plant's record; each plant page lists its own sources.