Colorado native perennials for the Front Range
Quick answer
50 plants make our list of colorado native perennials for the Front Range. Examples include Beardlip penstemon, Bee Balm/Horsemint, Bigelow's Tansyaster, Black-eyed Susan, and Blanketflower. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Native perennials adapted to Front Range soils and rainfall, low-maintenance color that supports local ecosystems.
All Colorado natives in one place, with top picks by type: Native plants of Colorado →
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Compare these perennials at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beardlip penstemon | 24 to 48 in | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| 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 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 50 plants
Beardlip penstemonPenstemon barbatus24 to 48 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Bee Balm/HorsemintMonarda fistulosa24 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Bigelow's TansyasterMachaeranthera bigelovii24 to 48 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta24 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
BlanketflowerGaillardia aristata12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
Blue FlaxLinum lewisii18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Blue Mist PenstemonPenstemon virens12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Bush SunflowerHelianthus pumilus20 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Butterfly MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Chocolate FlowerBerlandiera lyrata18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Common YarrowAchillea millefolium18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Desert Four O’ClockMirabilis multiflora18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
evening primroseOenothera speciosa12 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Firecracker PenstemonPenstemon eatonii18 to 36 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Fringed SageArtemisia frigida12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
GayfeatherLiatris punctata24 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Geyer’s onionAllium geyeri12 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Golden ColumbineAquilegia chrysantha24 to 36 inmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
HarebellsCampanula rotundifolia12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Howard’s Evening-PrimroseOenothera howardii6 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Little Bluestem GrassSchizachyrium scoparium24 to 36 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Missouri Evening PrimroseOenothera macrocarpa6 to 12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
nodding onionAllium cernuum12 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
northern bedstrawGalium boreale12 inmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Pacific WindflowerAnemone multifida8 to 12 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Pineleaf PenstemonPenstemon pinifolius12 to 18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Pitcher SageSalvia azurea36 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
plains coreopsisCoreopsis tinctoria36 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Poppy MallowCallirhoe involucrata6 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Prairie ConeflowerRatibida columnifera18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
Prairie Dropseed GrassSporobolus heterolepis24 to 30 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Prairie SageArtemisia ludoviciana18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
prairie smokeGeum triflorum18 inmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Purple Prairie CloverDalea purpurea24 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Rigid GoldenrodSolidago rigida36 to 60 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Rocky Mountain ColumbineAquilegia coerulea18 to 36 inmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Rocky Mountain PenstemonPenstemon strictus30 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
rosy pussytoesAntennaria rosea6 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Sandia Coral BellsHeuchera pulchella6 to 12 inmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Showy FleabaneErigeron speciosus12 to 24 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Showy MilkweedAsclepias speciosa30 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Side-bells PenstemonPenstemon secundiflorus20 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
silvery lupineLupinus argenteus12 to 36 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Smooth AsterSymphyotrichum laeve24 to 36 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Star Flower/Blazing-StarMentzelia decapetala28 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
SwitchgrassPanicum virgatum36 to 72 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Utah milkvetchAstragalus utahensis6 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
western spring beautyClaytonia lanceolata6 to 18 inmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
western wallflowerErysimum capitatum12 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
White-tufted Evening-PrimroseOenothera caespitosa6 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these perennials get?
- Mature heights range from about 6 to 72 in across the 50 perennials on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- All 50 perennials on this list are Colorado natives.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 44 of the 50 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 50 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.