Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Silvery-fuzzy seedheads in winter give the name 'winterfat'; valuable browse for wildlife.
Colorado nativelow water1–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Krascheninnikovia lanata
- Variety / cultivar
- (species — formerly Ceratoides lanata)
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 1–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 7.0–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Pollinator value
- low
- Good for
- slope, hellstrip
Planting & establishment
Tough native of the western plains; tolerates salt and alkali.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Winterfat good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Winterfat is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Winterfat get?
- It matures to about 1–3 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide.
- How much water does Winterfat need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Winterfat native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
