Best plants for Loveland gardens
Loveland gardens sit at about 4,980 ft in USDA zone 5b on alkaline clay where the Big Thompson leaves the foothills, with a last frost in early-to-mid May. Emerald ash borer arrived in 2024 and the canyon-mouth west side sees real deer pressure — so the plants below are deer-resistant, water-wise, and ash-free.
Last updated 2026-05-31
Loveland growing conditions
- USDA hardiness zone
- 5b
- Elevation
- 4,980 ft
- Avg. annual precipitation
- ~15 in
- Soil
- alkaline clay
- Avg. last spring frost
- early-to-mid May
- Avg. first fall frost
- early-to-mid October
- Growing season
- ~145 days
Loveland sits where the Big Thompson River spills out of its canyon at about 4,980 ft, wrapped around Lake Loveland. West-side neighborhoods toward the canyon mouth catch downslope wind and heavy deer traffic moving down the drainage, while the soils citywide are heavy alkaline clay. The city's own Water & Power utility runs a distinctive Hydrozone program that rewards water-efficient landscape design in new development. Emerald ash borer reached Loveland in June 2024, so diversifying away from ash is now a local priority.
What's challenging in Loveland
Emerald ash borer arrived in 2024
EAB was confirmed in Loveland in June 2024 (East 5th Street). Don't plant new ash (genus Fraxinus); consult a certified arborist about treating or replacing an existing ash before it declines. The trees below are diverse non-ash species. (source)
Deer come down the Big Thompson
West Loveland near the canyon mouth sees heavy deer browse as animals follow the river drainage into town. No plant is deer-proof, but the deer-resistant species below — many of them aromatic or native — are far less likely to be eaten.
Hydrozone-friendly, water-wise design
Loveland Water & Power rewards efficient, hydrozoned landscapes and rebates smart controllers and drip conversions. Grouping plants by water need and going low-water pays off here on the dry, clay-heavy Front Range.
Top trees for Loveland
Ranked for Loveland's hail, deer browse, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Juniper — One – SeedJuniperus monosperma
Juniper — Rocky MountainJuniperus scopulorum
Pine — 'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'Pinus flexilis
Pine — Bristlecone(foxtail)Pinus aristata
Douglas-fir — Rocky Mountain Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca
Fir — WhiteAbies concolor
Spruce — ColoradoPicea pungens
Spruce — Colorado Blue – BABY BLUE®, 'Baby Blue Eyes', 'Bakeri', 'Fastigiata', 'Fat Albert', 'Hoopsi', 'Colorado Weeping', 'Sester Dwarf'Picea pungens glauca
Top shrubs for Loveland
Ranked for Loveland's hail, deer browse, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Top perennials for Loveland
Ranked for Loveland's hail, deer browse, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Top groundcover for Loveland
Ranked for Loveland's hail, deer browse, low water use and late frosts and cold.
Blue grama grassBouteloua gracilis
Buffalo grassBouteloua dactyloides
Mat penstemonPenstemon caespitosus
Small-leaf pussytoesAntennaria parvifolia
Sulfur buckwheatEriogonum umbellatum
Clustered field sedgeCarex praegracilis
Creeping Oregon grapeMahonia repens
Kinnikinnick / bearberryArctostaphylos uva-ursi
Rebates & water rules in Loveland
Loveland Water & Power customers; 2026 program details being updated — confirm with the utility
Watering rules: Loveland is updating landscape codes under SB24-005; watering guidance follows the Front Range norm (avoid 10 a.m.–6 p.m.). Check the utility for the current level. current rules →
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 Loveland
- Native nursery + open space
High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) — 76-acre center with a native-plant nursery (~200 species of forbs, shrubs, and grasses). - Extension
CSU Extension — Larimer County Master Gardeners / Native Plant Master — Master Gardener help plus a Native Plant Master class program. - Native plant society
Colorado Native Plant Society — Northern Chapter — Active in the Loveland/Fort Collins area.
When to plant in Loveland
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall. Amend the clay, group plants by water need (hydrozone), protect new plantings from canyon-mouth wind, and favor deer-resistant species on the west side. Cold air draining the Big Thompson canyon can delay west-side beds about a week.
Video
📺 PlantTalk Colorado: planting & xeriscape videos (CSU Extension)
Loveland gardening FAQ
- What hardiness zone is Loveland?
- Loveland is USDA zone 5b at about 4,980 ft.
- Should I plant an ash tree in Loveland?
- No — emerald ash borer was confirmed in Loveland in 2024. Plant a diverse non-ash species and consult a certified arborist about existing ash.
- What plants do deer leave alone in Loveland?
- On the canyon-mouth west side, choose deer-resistant species (many aromatic and native plants), though no plant is fully deer-proof under heavy browse.
- Does Loveland have a turf rebate?
- Loveland Water & Power (via Efficiency Works) rebates smart irrigation controllers and drip-conversion equipment and runs a Hydrozone program for efficient new-development landscapes; it's more equipment-focused than a per-square-foot turf payout. Confirm current 2026 offerings with the utility.
Find plants & a pro near Loveland
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