Best plants for Greeley gardens
Greeley gardens sit out on the Weld County plains at about 4,660 ft in USDA zone 5a-5b, the driest and most continental of these cities, with hot summers, open-plains wind, and cold winters. The plants below are chosen for hardiness, wind tolerance, and low water, and Greeley Water pays rebates on efficient sprinkler gear to help the rest of the yard use less.
Last updated 2026-05-31
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.
Greeley growing conditions
- USDA hardiness zone
- 5a-5b
- Elevation
- 4,658 ft
- Avg. annual precipitation
- ~13 to 15 in
- Soil
- heavy alkaline clay; semi-arid plains
- Avg. last spring frost
- ~May 4
- Avg. first fall frost
- ~October 4
- Growing season
- ~150 days
Greeley is the lowest and most continental of these cities, out on the semi-arid Weld County plains at about 4,660 ft. It's drier (~13 to 15 in), hotter in summer, and more exposed to open-plains wind, with colder zone 5a winters than the foothills towns. Choose genuinely cold-hardy, heat- and wind-tolerant plants.
What's challenging in Greeley
Cold, dry, continental plains
Greeley's zone 5a-5b winters are colder than the foothills towns, and with only ~13 to 15 inches of precipitation and hot, windy summers, plants face real swings. Favor cold-hardy natives and proven water-wise species over marginal selections. (source)
Emerald ash borer: not yet confirmed, but diversify
EAB has not been confirmed in Weld County as of this writing, but it is established in neighboring counties and spreading. As a precaution, diversify away from ash (genus Fraxinus) in new plantings and report suspect ash decline to the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture. (Verify current Weld County status with CSU Extension.) (source)
Top trees for Greeley
Ranked for Greeley's late frosts and cold, drying wind, hail and low water use.
One-seed JuniperJuniperus monosperma10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Rocky Mountain Juniper (species)Juniperus scopulorum15 to 30 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' PinePinus flexilis25 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Bristlecone (foxtail) PinePinus aristata15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 7
Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungens glauca15 to 50 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Colorado SprucePicea pungens50 to 75 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Rocky Mountain Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca40 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 6
White FirAbies concolor50 to 80 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Top shrubs for Greeley
Ranked for Greeley's late frosts and cold, drying wind, hail and low water use.
Apache plumeFallugia paradoxa4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Cliff fendlerbushFendlera rupicola3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
CliffrosePurshia mexicana4 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Common juniperJuniperus communis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Curlleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus ledifolius10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Dwarf wild indigoAmorpha nana1 to 2 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
FernbushChamaebatiaria millefolium4 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Top perennials for Greeley
Ranked for Greeley's late frosts and cold, drying wind, hail and low water use.
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
Top groundcover for Greeley
Ranked for Greeley's late frosts and cold, drying wind, hail and low water use.
Blue grama grassBouteloua gracilis8 to 18 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
Buffalo grassBouteloua dactyloides4 to 8 inlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 10
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
Clustered field sedgeCarex praegracilis8 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Aromatic asterSymphyotrichum oblongifolium12 to 24 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Creeping Oregon grapeMahonia repens10 to 18 inlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Rebates & water rules in Greeley
We could not confirm a 2026 Life After Lawn program. Greeley's old program page now returns not found, and the city's current residential rebates page lists toilet and irrigation rebates and free water assessments, not a lawn rebate. In past years applications were due by July 1. Ask Greeley Water and Sewer's water efficiency team before you plan on any money.
Greeley water customers; register on the utility portal and apply within 90 days of purchase. Subject to available funds; rebates over $600 are taxable. Greeley also offers free water assessments.
Watering rules: New landscaping must meet Greeley's landscape code; watering guidance follows the Front Range norm (avoid mid-day). Check Greeley Water for the current level. 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 Greeley
- Extension
Weld County Colorado Master Gardeners, CSU-trained volunteers offering pest/disease diagnosis and landscape help. - Native plant society
Colorado Native Plant Society, Northern Chapter, Covers the Greeley area; native-plant programs and sales.
When to plant in Greeley
Plant in spring (early-to-mid May) or early fall. On the windy, dry plains, mulch well, water deeply to establish, and choose hardy, low-water species. Out on the dry Weld County plains, Greeley's wind and wide temperature swings reward tough, established water-wise plants.
Video
Video PlantTalk Colorado: planting & xeriscape videos (CSU Extension)
Greeley gardening FAQ
- What hardiness zone is Greeley?
- Greeley is USDA zone 5a-5b at about 4,660 ft, colder winters than the foothills towns, on the dry plains.
- When is the last frost in Greeley?
- The average last spring frost is around May 4; wait for warm soil before planting tender annuals.
- Does Greeley have a turf rebate?
- We could not confirm one for 2026. Greeley's Life After Lawn page is gone, and the city's current residential rebates page lists sprinkler and toilet rebates, not a lawn rebate. Ask Greeley Water and Sewer's water efficiency team before you remove grass expecting money back.
Targeted guides for Greeley
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.
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