Privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado
Quick answer
64 plants make our list of privacy and hedge shrubs for Colorado. Examples include American plum, Big sagebrush, Cliffrose, Curlleaf mountain mahogany, and Fourwing saltbush. Each is rated for Colorado Front Range conditions and drawn from the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List and regional extension references.
Larger and hedge-forming shrubs that screen views and define space on the Front Range. Pick from formal hedges to informal living screens.
Need a taller screen? Evergreen privacy trees for Colorado hold their cover year-round.
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.
Compare these shrubs at a glance
| Plant | Mature height | Water | Colorado native | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American plum | 10 to 15 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Big sagebrush | 3 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 9 |
| Cliffrose | 4 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Curlleaf mountain mahogany | 10 to 20 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Fourwing saltbush | 3 to 8 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 9 |
| Golden currant | 5 to 8 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 2 to 8 |
| Leadplant / false indigo bush | 6 to 12 ft | low to medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 9 |
| Lewis's mock orange | 6 to 10 ft | medium water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Littleleaf mountain mahogany | 3 to 6 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| Mountain mahogany | 6 to 12 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 3 to 8 |
| New Mexico privet | 6 to 12 ft | low water | Yes | USDA 4 to 8 |
| Red twig / red osier dogwood | 6 to 10 ft | medium to high water | Yes | USDA 2 to 7 |
Ordered Colorado-native first, then alphabetically, not a quality ranking. Full list below.
All 64 plants
American plumPrunus americana10 to 15 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Big sagebrushArtemisia tridentata3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
CliffrosePurshia mexicana4 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Curlleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus ledifolius10 to 20 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Fourwing saltbushAtriplex canescens3 to 8 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Golden currantRibes aureum5 to 8 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 8
Leadplant / false indigo bushAmorpha fruticosa6 to 12 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 9
Lewis's mock orangePhiladelphus lewisii6 to 10 ftmedium waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Littleleaf mountain mahoganyCercocarpus intricatus3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Mountain mahoganyCercocarpus montanus6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
New Mexico privetForestiera neomexicana6 to 12 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Red twig / red osier dogwoodCornus sericea6 to 10 ftmedium to high waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7- Roundleaf buffaloberryShepherdia rotundifolia3 to 6 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 5 to 8
Sand cherryPrunus pumila3 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 4 to 8
Silver buffaloberryShepherdia argentea8 to 18 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 7
Smooth sumacRhus glabra8 to 15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 9
Utah serviceberryAmelanchier utahensis10 to 15 ftlow to medium waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 8
Wax currantRibes cereum3 to 5 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 2 to 8
Western snowberrySymphoricarpos occidentalis2 to 4 ftlow waterColorado nativeUSDA 3 to 7
Abraham Darby roseRosa 'AUScot'5 to 8 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
American highbush cranberryViburnum trilobum6 to 12 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Anglojap yewTaxus x media3 to 12 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 7
Black elderberrySambucus nigra8 to 12 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
BLUE VELVET® honeysuckleLonicera korolkowii 'Floribunda'8 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Bonica roseRosa 'Meidomonac'3 to 5 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Border forsythiaForsythia x intermedia6 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Bridal-wreath spireaSpiraea x vanhouttei5 to 8 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Burning bush / winged euonymusEuonymus alatus5 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 4 to 9
Butterfly bushBuddleja davidii5 to 8 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Cinco de Mayo roseRosa 'WEKcobeju'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Common lilacSyringa vulgaris8 to 15 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 7
Common ninebarkPhysocarpus opulifolius5 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Double Delight roseRosa 'Andeli'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9- Electric Blanket roseRosa 'Korpancom'2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Elmshorn roseRosa 'Elmshorn'5 to 6 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9- Flower Carpet Coral roseRosa 'Noala'2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Hansa roseRosa rugosa 'Hansa'4 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Iceberg roseRosa 'Korbin'3 to 5 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Japanese barberryBerberis thunbergii2 to 5 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
John Cabot roseRosa 'John Cabot'6 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Julia Child roseRosa 'WEKvossutono'2 to 3 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Jump for Joy roseRosa 'Weknewchi'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Knock Out roseRosa 'Radrazz'3 to 4 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Koko Loko roseRosa 'Koko Loko'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 6 to 9- Lord Byron roseRosa 'Lord Byron'6 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Mister Lincoln roseRosa 'Mister Lincoln'4 to 6 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Morden Sunrise roseRosa 'Morden Sunrise'2 to 3 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 9
Panicle hydrangeaHydrangea paniculata4 to 8 ftmedium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Peace roseRosa 'Madame A. Meilland'3 to 5 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Pumpkin Patch roseRosa 'WEKnongros'3 to 4 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Queen Elizabeth roseRosa 'Queen Elizabeth'4 to 6 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Redleaf roseRosa glauca4 to 7 ftlow waterUSDA 3 to 9
Rose of sharonHibiscus syriacus6 to 10 ftmedium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Russian oliveElaeagnus angustifolia15 to 30 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 7
Saltcedar / tamariskTamarix ramosissima12 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 2 to 8
Scarlet firethornPyracantha coccinea6 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoides10 to 20 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Siberian pea shrubCaragana arborescens10 to 18 ftlow waterUSDA 2 to 7
Silver fountain butterfly bushBuddleja alternifolia8 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 5 to 9
Smoke bush / smoke treeCotinus coggygria10 to 15 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 8
Sungari redbead cotoneasterCotoneaster racemiflorus var. soongoricus6 to 10 ftlow waterUSDA 4 to 7
Sunrise Sunset roseRosa 'BAIset'2 to 3 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 4 to 9
TIDY Littleleaf peashrubCaragana microphylla 'Tidy'3 to 4 ftlow waterUSDA 2 to 7
Wayfaring tree viburnumViburnum lantana8 to 12 ftlow to medium waterUSDA 3 to 8
Frequently asked questions
- How big do these shrubs get?
- Mature heights range from about 2 to 30 ft across the 64 shrubs on this list. Each plant's page lists its exact mature size and spread.
- Which of these are Colorado native?
- 19 of the 64 shrubs are Colorado natives, including American plum, Big sagebrush, Cliffrose, and Curlleaf mountain mahogany.
- How much water do these plants need?
- 36 of the 64 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 64 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.
Related guides
- Drought-tolerant shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Colorado native shrubs for the Front Range
- Front Range plants that are toxic to dogs
- Deer-resistant plants and shrubs for Colorado's Front Range
- Fast-growing screening shrubs for the Colorado Front Range
- Native plants of Colorado for Front Range yards
- Xeriscape plants for Colorado
- Salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range
- Hail-tolerant trees and shrubs for the Front Range