Best plants for Colorado Springs gardens
Colorado Springs gardens sit high, about 6,035 ft, in USDA zone 5b-6a, on soils that swing from rocky decomposed granite to alkaline clay, with a last frost in mid-May. The signature challenge is hail: the Springs anchors the Palmer Divide, the most hail-prone corridor in North America, so the plants below favor hail-resilient, low-water species.
Last updated 2026-05-30
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Colorado Springs growing conditions
- USDA hardiness zone
- 5b-6a (urban heat-island pockets behave like 6a)
- Elevation
- 6,035 ft
- Avg. annual precipitation
- ~16 to 17 in
- Soil
- rocky decomposed granite on the west side; alkaline clay on the east side
- Avg. last spring frost
- mid-May
- Avg. first fall frost
- ~October 5
- Growing season
- ~145 days
At ~6,035 ft Colorado Springs is one of the highest and sunniest Front Range cities, and it sits at the heart of the Palmer Divide, the most hail-prone corridor in North America. West-side gardens near Garden of the Gods battle rocky, fast-draining decomposed granite; east-side neighborhoods like Stetson Hills sit on heavy alkaline clay that needs amendment.
What's challenging in Colorado Springs
You're in Hail Alley
Colorado Springs and the Palmer Divide record the highest large-hail frequency in North America. The Front Range averages several catastrophic hail storms a year, and insurers commonly write 2 to 5% hail deductibles here. Tough, flexible, fast-recovering plants fare best; the trees below are filtered to high hail tolerance. (source)
Wildfire-wise planting near the foothills
Foothill and Black Forest-adjacent neighborhoods sit in the wildland-urban interface (the 2013 Black Forest Fire destroyed 486 homes nearby). In the defensible-space zone closest to the house, choose low-resin, well-irrigated, fire-resistant plants and keep them maintained. (source)
Top trees for Colorado Springs
Ranked for Colorado Springs's hail, wildfire-wise placement, drying wind, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Thornless Common Honeylocust (IMPERIAL®)Gleditsia triacanthos40 to 50 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9- Thornless Common Honeylocust (NORTHERN ACCLAIM®)Gleditsia triacanthos30 to 45 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Amur MaackiaMaackia amurensis20 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 7
CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus50 to 70 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides60 to 80 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
European LarchLarix decidua40 to 70 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 2 to 6- Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicus60 to 75 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
SHAWNEE BRAVE™ BaldcypressTaxodium distichum 'Mickelson'50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterUSDA 4 to 10
Top shrubs for Colorado Springs
Ranked for Colorado Springs's hail, wildfire-wise placement, drying wind, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Small soapweed / Great Plains yuccaYucca glauca2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Three-leaf sumacRhus trilobata4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Common snowberrySymphoricarpos albus3 to 5 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Smooth sumacRhus glabra8 to 15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Adam's needle yuccaYucca filamentosa2 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 10
Western sand cherryPrunus besseyi2 to 4 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Lewis's mock orangePhiladelphus lewisii6 to 10 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii2 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Top perennials for Colorado Springs
Ranked for Colorado Springs's hail, wildfire-wise placement, drying wind, low water use and late frosts and cold.
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
Butterfly MilkweedAsclepias tuberosa18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Common YarrowAchillea millefolium18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Firecracker PenstemonPenstemon eatonii18 to 36 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
HarebellsCampanula rotundifolia12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Poppy MallowCallirhoe involucrata6 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Top groundcover for Colorado Springs
Ranked for Colorado Springs's hail, wildfire-wise placement, drying wind, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Mat penstemonPenstemon caespitosus2 to 4 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Small-leaf pussytoesAntennaria parvifolia2 to 5 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Sulfur buckwheatEriogonum umbellatum6 to 12 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Fire Spinner ice plantDelosperma 'Fire Spinner'1 to 2 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
Hens and chicksSempervivum tectorum2 to 6 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 8- Mesa Verde ice plantDelosperma 'Kelaidis'1 to 3 inlow waterUSDA 5 to 10
Silverheels horehoundMarrubium rotundifolium6 to 12 inlow waterUSDA 4 to 8
Turquoise Tails blue sedumSedum sediforme4 to 8 inlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Rebates & water rules in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Utilities residential customers; requires classes (in person or on demand) and suits spots with 6+ hours of sun. 2026 registration is full; CSU keeps a notification list for spring 2027.
Newly built homes with a CSU residential water account only; renovating an existing yard does not qualify. Rules include approved native or low-water grass and planting beds that reach 70% cover at maturity. CSU's program overview is undated and the program is not listed on CSU's current rebates page, so confirm it is still running with CSU before you plan around it.
Watering rules: CSU “Water Wise Rules” (May 1 to Oct 15): no sprinkler watering 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; up to 3 days/week; drip and handheld hoses allowed any time. current rules →
What's open right now across the Front Range, with dates and the rules that trip people up: lawn replacement rebates by city →
Statewide: new Colorado turf rules (SB24-005/HB25-1113) limit nonfunctional turf in new development, and HOAs can't ban xeriscaping (SB23-178). Read the statewide rules →
Local resources near Colorado Springs
- Demonstration garden
Horticultural Art Society Demonstration Garden, Volunteer-run display garden in Monument Valley Park with Plant Select and All-America Selections beds; free. - Demonstration garden
Colorado Springs Utilities Xeriscape Demonstration Garden (Mesa), 500+ labeled varieties showing the seven xeriscape principles; always open, free. - Extension
CSU Extension, El Paso County Master Gardeners, Native plant demonstration garden and a Master Gardener help desk. - Nursery
Phelan Gardens, Local garden center (since 1981) with a strong native and regional selection.
When to plant in Colorado Springs
Plant in spring (after mid-May) or early September. At 6,000+ ft the season is short and sun is intense. Mulch well and water deeply but infrequently. Expect hail May to August; site fragile plants where they get some overhead protection. On the Palmer Divide, hold tender crops until the soil genuinely warms; a late frost is common here.
Video
Colorado Springs gardening FAQ
- What hardiness zone is Colorado Springs?
- Colorado Springs is USDA zone 5b-6a; warmer urban pockets behave like 6a, higher/exposed areas like 5b.
- What plants survive hail in Colorado Springs?
- Tough, flexible, fast-recovering plants do best in the Palmer Divide hail corridor; the trees listed here are filtered to high hail tolerance, and perennials/grasses generally recover from hail faster than broad-leaved tender plants.
- Is there a turf rebate in Colorado Springs?
- Not in cash for an existing lawn. Colorado Springs Utilities runs a Native Grass Lawn Program (free seed and sprinkler nozzles), but 2026 registration is full; join the notification list for spring 2027. The New Home Landscape Incentive is for new construction only. Verify current status with CSU.
Targeted guides for Colorado Springs
Plan your garden
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