Cliff rose
Cowania mexicana
Cliff rose (Cowania mexicana) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6–10 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Sweetly fragrant cream blooms; native to dry foothills. Loves rocky, alkaline sites.
Colorado nativelow water6–10 ft tall and 6–10 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Cowania mexicana
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 6–10 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- cream, yellow
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Good for
- slope
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first 2 summers — slow to establish. Bombproof after rooting; needs no supplemental water.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cliff rose good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Cliff rose is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Cliff rose get?
- It matures to about 6–10 ft tall and 6–10 ft wide.
- How much water does Cliff rose need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Cliff rose native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
