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Xeriscape plants for Colorado

Compiled by · Reviewed against the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List, CSU Extension & Plant Select® · Updated 2026-10-14

Quick answer

124 plants in our Front Range catalog are rated xeric or low water: 12 trees, 38 shrubs, 51 perennials, 23 groundcovers. Good starting points: One-seed Juniper, Apache plume, Firecracker Penstemon, and Mat penstemon. 62 of them are Colorado natives. Xeriscape means grouping plants by water need, not covering the yard in rock, and every plant here still needs regular water its first season.

The lowest-water trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers for Colorado xeriscapes, each rated xeric or low water once established.

Replacing a lawn? Turf-removal rebates by city and what to plant instead. Denver Water customers can also see Denver Water's yard remodel page.

Where the word comes from

Denver Water coined "xeriscape" in 1981, from the Greek xeros, dry, plus landscape. So the idea is a Colorado native too. (Denver Water: Water-Wise Landscape Handbook)

Xeriscape is not zeroscape

The common mistake is a yard of gravel with three lonely yuccas. A real xeriscape is planted and green most of the season: it puts the thirstiest plants together where the water goes, and the plants on this page everywhere else. Rock is one mulch option, not the point.

What "xeric" means in our data

Each plant here is rated xeric (gets by on about 8 to 12 inches of natural precipitation a year once established) or low water by CSU Extension, Plant Select, or the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. The trees list is short on purpose: most good Front Range shade trees are low to medium water, not low, and they live on the low-water trees list instead.

Top picks by type

Ranked on our data: low water first, then Front Range list rating (trees), Plant Select, native status, pollinator value, and no spreading or toxicity flags.

Top 4 xeric trees

  1. 1One-seed JuniperXeric once settled, irregular, picturesque needled evergreen, 10 to 20 ft tall, good on slopes. Note: needs a dry site.
  2. 2Russian HawthornXeric once settled, white flowers in spring, 15 to 20 ft tall.
  3. 3Wavyleaf OakXeric once settled, bronze and red fall color, 6 to 15 ft tall. Note: shrubby habit.
  4. 4Arizona CypressXeric once settled, pyramidal needled evergreen, 30 to 50 ft tall, shrugs off hail. Note: seed source important.

Low-water trees, the wider list →

Top 6 xeric shrubs

  1. 1Apache plumeLow water once established. Iconic native, white flowers in summer, pink feathery seed plumes through fall.
  2. 2Beardlip penstemonXeric once settled. Native penstemon with vivid red tubular flowers, hummingbird magnet.
  3. 3FernbushLow water once established. Fern-like aromatic foliage.
  4. 4Red yuccaXeric once settled. Hummingbird magnet from late spring through fall.
  5. 5Rockspirea / mountain sprayXeric once settled. Native foothills shrub with creamy plumes of flowers cascading down rocky banks.
  6. 6Platinum sageXeric once settled. Silver leaves + violet-blue blooms.

Drought-tolerant shrubs, the wider list →

Top 6 xeric perennials

  1. 1Firecracker PenstemonXeric once settled. Fiery scarlet tubular flowers; hummingbird magnet; very drought tolerant evergreen rosette.
  2. 2Pineleaf PenstemonXeric once settled. Needle-fine evergreen foliage; coral tubular flowers; hummingbird favorite.
  3. 3Bigelow's TansyasterXeric once settled. Late-season purple daisies, drought tolerant, reseeds; goldenrod companion.
  4. 4Black-eyed SusanLow water once established. Yellow and brown flowers in summer into fall, 24 in tall.
  5. 5BlanketflowerLow water once established. Yellow and red flowers in summer into fall, 12 in tall.
  6. 6Blue FlaxLow water once established. Blue flowers in spring into summer, 18 in tall.

Low-water perennials, the wider list →

Top 6 xeric groundcovers

  1. 1Mat penstemonXeric once settled. Native mat-forming penstemon with intense blue-purple blooms.
  2. 2Orange carpet / hummingbird trumpetXeric once settled. Tubular orange-red flowers explode in late summer when little else blooms.
  3. 3Sulfur buckwheatLow water once established. Native pollinator powerhouse.
  4. 4Mesa Verde ice plantXeric once settled. Salmon-pink blooms over silvery foliage.
  5. 5Moroccan pincushion flowerXeric once settled. Tight 1-inch mat of fuzzy gray-green leaves; bubblegum-pink pincushion flowers all summer.
  6. 6Russian stonecropXeric once settled. More restrained than S.

Xeric groundcover →

Filter xeric plants in the finder →

All 124 xeriscape plants

Colorado natives first within each type, then alphabetical. Not a quality ranking.

12 trees

38 shrubs

51 perennials

23 groundcovers

Frequently asked questions

What are the best xeriscape plants for Colorado?
For Front Range yards, start with One-seed Juniper, Apache plume, Firecracker Penstemon, and Mat penstemon, the top-ranked xeric or low-water pick in each category here. Each plant's page lists its mature size, sun, and hardiness.
Do xeriscape plants need watering?
Yes, while they establish. Plan on deep, regular watering through the first season or two, then taper to occasional deep soaks in long dry spells. Too much water, especially in heavy clay, kills some of them faster than drought does.
Is xeriscape the same as rock landscaping?
No. Xeriscape is about matching plants to water, and a good one is mostly plants. Rock is one mulch option, not the goal.
Can I get a rebate for replacing my lawn with xeriscape?
Many Front Range water utilities offer turf-replacement rebates, and the rules differ by city. Our lawn replacement guide lists the programs by utility, and Denver Water's own page covers its customers.

Xeriscape by city

Xeriscape plants for Colorado Springs · Xeriscape plants for Aurora · Low-water trees for Fort Collins · Low-water trees for Greeley

Related guides

Plan your garden

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