ACHILLEA Achillea millefolium, the common yarrow, is native to North America, from coast to coast and into the alpine regions. If you hike in the Colorado mountains you’ll find it growing near the trails and in mountain meadows. It attracts bees and butterflies, making it an excellent pollinator plant. We offer many selections of this drought tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant plant. Other species of Achillea are equally valuable in the garden!
Achillea filipendulina ‘Coronation Gold’ YARROW: Huge golden yellow flowers on 36″ tall stems. Starts blooming in June and holds its flowers for a very long time, reblooming until late summer. The deer were hungry last year, eating some varieties of yarrow, but not this one! Zone 4. (A)
Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’ YARROW: Bright red flowers with yellow centers. Looks great combined with ‘Coronation Gold Yarrow’ and Salvia ‘May Night.’ 2′ tall x 2′ wide. Zone 4. (A)
Achillea x ‘Moonshine’ YARROW: A clear, lemon yellow flower over silvery foliage. Different from the other yarrows we sell, this is a hybrid between A. clypeolata x A. ‘Taygetea.’ One of our favorites. 2′ tall. Zone 4. (A)
Aegopodium podagraria variegata BISHOP’S WEED: A vigorous groundcover with variegated leaves and white flowers that look like a dwarf Queen Anne’s Lace. Useful in shade or part sun. Needs regular irrigation or leaf edges turn brown. 10″ tall. Zone 4. (A)
AGASTACHE Known by many common names, including hummingbird mint and wild hyssop, agastaches are the prime pollinator plants in our late summer garden. They attract hummingbirds like almost no other plant, and butterflies love them, too.
Agastache ‘Blue Boa’: Violet-blue flowers cover this hummingbird mint. Very showy. 3′ tall. Zone 5. (A)
Agastache ‘Morello’ A good, sturdy grower, with long-blooming, rose-purple flowers that attract hummingbirds. Great choice for a hot sunny spot. Deer resistant. 30″ tall. Zone 5. (B)
Agastache cana 'Sonoran Sunset' Lavender rose flowers cover the fragrant foliage. 18" tall by 18" wide. For full sun. Zone 5. (B)
Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’: Dark purple, almost black leaves are a stunning contrast with other plants in the garden. Purple blooms in spring. For part shade. 8″ tall. Deer resistant. 6″ tall. Zone 3. (A)
Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’: Narrow leaves give this ajuga an entirely different look and effect in the garden, compared to ‘Black Scallop.’ It’s a much smaller plant and looks good edging paths in a shady spot. Blue flowers in spring. 3″ tall. Winter hardy and deer resistant. Zone 3. (A)
Amsonia jonesii BLUESTAR: Native to Colorado and other western states, this species does well in hot, dry areas. Light blue flowers in clusters; narrow leaves; 12" tall x 12" wide. Zone 4. (B)
AQUILEGIA We grow many different varieties of columbines, because they do so well in Colorado. They will thrive at high elevations and bloom profusely. If you live in the lower Arkansas Valley, you might want to think about growing Aquilegia chrysantha, it does much better than others in summer heat. For our mountain customers, nothing is better than Aquilegia caerulea and the many hybrids derived from it.
Aquilegia barnebyi OIL SHALE COLUMBINE: Colorado native. Delicate blue green foliage grows in a mound beneath pink and yellow flowers. Long blooming. 18” tall. Zone 4. (B)
Aquilegia caerulea ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLUMBINE: Our unsurpassed state flower. These graceful plants with cerulean blue and white flowers are classic! 18″ tall. Zone 3. (A)
Aquilegia desertorum DESERT COLUMBINE: Native to mountains of New Mexico and Arizona, this red and yellow flowered columbine attracts hummingbirds. Limited supply. Zone 5. (B)
Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Denver Gold’ COLUMBINE: A native to canyons and mountains of the Southwest, this columbine is taller than most and the big yellow flowers are strikingly beautiful. 3′ tall. Very long-lived and more tolerant of heat than some columbines. Zone 5. (A)
Aquilegia elegantula SHOOTING STAR COLUMBINE: This Colorado native is common in open woods and on rock ledges in the mountains. Red and yellow flowers. Attracts hummingbirds. 18” tall. Zone 3.(B)
Arenaria montana MOUNTAIN SANDWORT: A small evergreen mounding perennial. The shiny green foliage is so cute you can't help but pat it. Looks great in the rock garden, fairy gardens, or as an accent plant in a trough. Not just cute, this plant is tough and long-lived. Winter hardy, deer resistant, and drought tolerant once established. 3" tall. Zone 4. (B)
Asclepias tuberosa BUTTERFLY WEED: A favorite of the monarch butterfly, this bright orange flower does best in well-drained soil and full sun. Transplant with as little root disturbance as possible. Native to Colorado. 2′. (B)
Berlanderia lyrata CHOCOLATE FLOWER: A native to Colorado and New Mexico, this yellow daisy with a red center is most fragrant in the morning when it smells like hot chocolate! Very drought tolerant! Zone 5.
Buddleia 'Buzz Hot Raspberry' BUTTERFLY BUSH: Bright raspberry pink blooms from July to frost. This is a very compact, deer resistant shrub that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. 3' tall. Zone 5. (B)
Buddleia 'Buzz Midnight' BUTTERFLY BUSH: Deep dark purple blooms from summer to fall. Compact, fragrant, deer resistant shrub. Looks great in the perennial border or even in large patio pots. 3' tall. Zone 5. (B)
Callirhoe involucrata POPPY MALLOW: Also called WINE CUPS, this Colorado native wildflower blooms from July to frost. Tolerates drought and full, hot sun. Grows 4" tall and 24" wide. Zone 4.(B)
Campanula rotundifolia HAREBELLS: This Colorado wildflower blooms from late May to early fall. Wonderful to see on many hiking trails in San Isabel National Forest. Wonderful and easy in the garden. Sun to part shade. Native. 15" tall. Zone 4. (A)
Campanula persicifolia ‘Takion Blue’: The upward facing blooms are very showy. Only 18” tall, it makes a sturdy plant for the mid border. Winter hardy. Sun to part shade. Zone 3. (B)
Catananche caerulea CUPID’S DART: This pretty blue flower blooms from mid-summer on, in poor and rocky soil, and full sun. The seed pod is pretty, too, a silvery pod that is good for arrangements. Deer did not eat this plant in the last two summers, so it has moved up in my estimation! Can take some dry conditions. 15″ tall. Zone 4. (A)
Centranthus ruber JUPITER'S BEARD or RED VALERIAN: Long blooming pink to red flowers tolerates drought and poor soils. Good to plant with catmint and lavender. 18" tall. Zone 5. (A)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides PLUMBAGO: Brilliant blue flowers with striking red calyces in late summer. In fall the leaves turn deep red. For full sun or part shade. 10″ tall. Drought tolerant! Zone 4. (B)
Coreopsis ‘Magic Magenta' These showy flowers bloom off and on all summer. Will attract butterflies..Great in containers because it's never out of bloom. In the hottest part of the summer the bright magenta petals fade to white on the tips. This change in color is very appealing. 15″ tall. Moderate moisture. Zone 5. (B)
Crassula sarcocaulis ssp. rupicola BONSAI JADE: This succulent makes a good bonsai tree, with the trunk growing thicker each year. Perfect in troughs, or any miniature garden setting, and for bonsai as it's common name suggests! Has survived a number of winters in the Denver Botanic Gardens rock alpine garden. Does well as a houseplant, too, if you don’t trust it outside. 10″ tall. Zone 6. (B)
DELOSPERMA These succulents are versatile; they can grow in containers, in a rock garden, or edging a border. Deer usually leave them alone, but rabbits do like them, so be forewarned. Some are more drought tolerant than others, some more winter hardy. Check individual descriptions to find the perfect delosperma for your own garden.
Delosperma ‘Lavender Ice’ ICE PLANT: Our own foundling, this plant has large lavender flowers with a darker lavender-blue ring at the center. Very distinctive and a vigorous ground cover. 3″ tall, spreading to 18″ wide. Zone 5. (A)
Delosperma ‘Delmara Orange’ ICE PLANT: Very long blooming from spring through fall. Vivid orange with a yellow center. Very winter hardy. 4″ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Delosperma ‘Red Mountain Flame' ICE PLANT: Big, bright orange-red flowers. Blooms spring to early summer. 4″ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Delosperma 'Royal Scarlet' ICE PLANT: One of the longest blooming of the iceplants. This one repeated three times last summer, and it was still blooming in late September. Survived seventeen below zero in February in the garden in 2021! 2" tall, 18" wide. Zone 5. (A)
Delosperma congestum ICE PLANT: Very winter hardy ice plant. Yellow flowers in spring. 2″ tall. Survives at 8000' in Westcliffe. Easy to root from cuttings! (A)
Dianthus x allwoodii: A very cute rock garden dianthus, pink flowers with darker eyes. Full sun. Average to dry conditions. 10" tall. Zone 4. (A))
ECHINACEA A native to North America, these coneflowers are great pollinator plants and also provide seeds for birds in the fall.
Echinacea purpurea ‘Wild Berry’ PURPLE CONEFLOWER: This variety has a long season of bloom, and bright rose pink flowers. 20″ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Echinacea purpurea ‘Pow Wow White’ This white coneflower is striking and long blooming. It is great for attracting butterflies, and hummingbirds will drink from the cone! 20″ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Echinacea purpurea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’: A seed-grown coneflower in a wide range of colors: gold, scarlet, orange, rosy-red, cream, and yellow. 2′ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Echinacea tennesseensis: This coneflower is very tough and long-lived. It blooms from July to the end of September. The pink petals curve inward in a cup shape, a different look than the droopier petals of Echinacea purpurea. Takes full sun and is not bothered by heat or occasional drought. 18" tall. Zone 4. (B)
GAILLARDIA Like Echinacea, Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) is a North American native. Very long blooming and tolerant of heat and poor soils.
Gaillardia ‘Mesa Peach’ BLANKET FLOWER: Clear yellow daisies bloom all summer long. They can take the heat and poor soils! Attract butterflies and bees. 18″ tall. Zone 4. (A)
Gaillardia ‘Mesa Red’ BLANKET FLOWER: Bright red daisies bloom all summer long. They can take the heat and poor soils! Attract butterflies and bees. 18″ tall. Zone 4. (A)
Galium odoratum SWEET WOODRUFF: A wonderful ground cover for a shady area; can tolerate moist or dry soils and blooms profusely in May and June. Zone 4. (A)
Geranium dalmaticum: Light pink flowers cover this rock garden geranium in May and June. Only 6″ tall and slowly spreading to 15″ wide, this is one that behaves itself in a small garden. The leaves are tidy and attractive all season with a bit of red color in the fall. Drought tolerant. Zone 4. Very short supply. (B)
Helianthemum nummularium ‘Fire Dragon’ SUNROSE: An evergreen plant, covered in June and July with orange-red flowers that look like a single wild rose. Very drought tolerant. Gray-green leaves. 6” tall x 18” wide. Zone 5. (B)
Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Summer Nights’ Golden yellow flowers with deep mahogany red centers top dark red stems and red-tinged foliage. Blooms from late June to early September. North American native. 3′ tall. This is a selection from the species that is native to Colorado. Zone 3. (B)
Helleborus ‘Ice and Roses Early Rose’ LENTEN ROSE: This variety is one of the first of the Lenten roses to begin to bloom and blooms for a long time through the spring. Flowers open light pink and age to dark rose. 15” tall. Zone 5. special price. $8.50 each.
Hesperaloe parviflora RED YUCCA: Native to the Southwest, this plant loves heat! Blooms all summer and attracts hummingbirds. 3′ tall. Zone 5. (B)
Iris BEARDED IRIS: We have collected a number of excellent cultivars of tall bearded iris and will have some available to sell in May. These have sold very well for us, you might consider adding some to your perennial section! Zone 4. (B)
Lamium maculatum ‘Pink Pewter’: Silvery foliage covered with light pink flowers. Seems to glow in a shady corner. Good as a groundcover and in a shady rock garden. Zone 4. (A)
Lavendula LAVENDER There are two types of lavenders that are hardy in Colorado, Lavandula angustifolia (the English lavenders-called English, but originally from the Mediterranean!?! ) and Lavandula x intermedia (the English hybrids). Other lavenders, like French, Spanish, and various cultivars you’ll find sold at Home Depot are not hardy here! We have talked to so many customers who ask “Why does my lavender die?” and it turns out they planted a type that is not winter hardy. Please don’t make that mistake. The ones we grow are all hardy to Zone 5, and some brave gardeners have had luck with them at 8000′ elevation.
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote Blue’: Along with Munstead, Hidcote Blue tops the list of most hardy lavenders. Hidcote has a deeper violet blue flower and tighter flower clusters and more compact habit than other English lavenders, and it’s our go-to lavender for xeriscape and rock garden plantings. Winter hardy, deer resistant, drought tolerant– this lavender is a good choice for the Front Range. 18″ tall. Zone 5. (B)
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’: Silver foliage is covered with a cloud of lavender blue flowers for most of the summer. It’s a very tough variety, even outperforming Hidcote and Munstead in many trials. Grows to 30″ tall and 3′ wide. If you want a lavender with landscape pizazz, this is the one for you. Edible, fragrant, deer resistant, xeric….we can’t say enough good things about this one. Zone 5. (B)
Leucanthemum superbum ‘Madonna' SHASTA DAISY: A super cute dwarf daisy that blooms from early summer to early fall. Deer seem to leave this one alone. For full sun. Excellent for containers or to edge the perennial border. 10" tall. Zone 5. (A)
Linum perenne BLUE FLAX: True blue flowers, unlike so many flowers that are called blue yet are purple or lavender. Drought tolerant. 18” tall. Zone 4. (A)
Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ GOLD MONEYWORT: Great as a groundcover, excellent in hanging baskets. The round, gold leaves look their best in part to full shade. Adaptable from moist to quite dry. Zone 4. (A)
Mentha piperata 'Chocolate' MINT: One of the most popular mints, easy to grow and pretty foliage. Zone 5. 18" tall. (A)
Mentha spicata SPEARMINT: The quintessential cooking mint. Perfect in tea or mint juleps, too! Likes sun and lots of moisture to perform its best. Zone 5 (A)
Monarda didyma 'Coral Reef' BEEBALM: This is really a hot coral pink and it stands out in the landscape! Compact form. Attracts hummingbirds. Blooms June-August. 15" tall. Zone 4.
Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' BEEBALM: Bright red flowers attract hummingbirds as well as bees. Blooms June through August. 30" tall. Zone 4. (B)
NEPETA All catmints that we sell are very drought tolerant. All are deer resistant. Try them in the spot where nothing else will grow–they are tough!
Nepeta ‘Little Trudy’ CATMINT: Silvery leaves topped with lavender blue flowers starting in May and blooming all summer and into fall. No need to deadhead, this plant blooms and blooms. 10″ tall. Very low water needs, and basically no maintenance. Zone 4. (B)
Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ CATMINT: This catmint has larger lavender-blue flowers than the common catmint. The leaves are smaller. Overall the effect is quite pleasant. One of the nicest. 2′-3′ tall. Zone 4. (B)
Ocimum basilicum BASIL: We plan to have a good amount of sweet basil in F-32 flats this year! Always a best seller. (A)
Origanum 'Hot and Spicy' OREGANO: Very flavorful oregano for Italian dishes as well as dips and sauces. Not really "hot" but it is definitely delicious. Zone 5. (A)
Origanum rotundifolium ‘Kent Beauty’ KENT BEAUTY OREGANO: One of the best of the ornamental oreganos. The hop-like bracts are light green suffused with pink; the tiny tubular flowers are lavender-pink. Very showy. Winter hardy. Zone 5.(B)
Papaver ruprifragum SPANISH POPPY: The lovely apricot-colored blooms are held on 18" tall stems over a tidy 8" wide base. Very tolerant of drought and poor soil. Blooms all summer. Zone 5. (B)
Paronychia kapela serpyllifolia NAILWORT: A great groundcover, and excellent between paving stones. Tiny white flowers look like snowflakes in May. Can take moderate foot traffic. Zone 4. (B)
Pelargonium 'Prince Rupert' SCENTED GERANIUM: Variegated leaves have a wonderful lemon scent. The leaves are small and attractive; green with a white edge. Excellent for topiary, bonsai, or just to grow as a sweet smelling foliage plant. Not winter hardy, but a good patio plant for summer and house plant in winter. (B)
PENSTEMON Penstemons, native plants extraordinaire! The blue flowered ones are attractive to bees, the red ones appeal to hummingbirds. Great addition to the pollinator garden.
Penstemon barbatus ‘Rondo’: A very reliable penstemon that self seeds in the garden. Shades of pink, red, and blue. Blooms from May to July. Xeric. 18″ tall. Zone 5. (A)
Penstemon grandiflorus 'Prairie Jewel' : The large flowers on this native penstemon range in color from pink to blue to white. It is very drought tolerant and long-lived. Has reseeded here at the nursery in an unwatered gravel path. 24″tall. Zone 4. Native to one county in Colorado, possibly more! (A)
Penstemon pseudospectablilis DESERT BEARDTONGUE: Native to Utah and Arizona in the Four Corners region. 18" tall. Deep pink flowers. 18" tall. Another penstemon that survived for many years in the garden here. Zone 5. (B)
Penstemon rostriflorus BRIDGES PENSTEMON: A red-flowered penstemon that is ready just as the hummers begin their migration south. Blooms July thru October. Native to Colorado in the Four Corners area. 2' tall. Zone 4.
Penstemon strictus ROCKY MTN. PENSTEMON: Colorado native. Dark blue flowers form on 18-24 inch stalks from early to midsummer. Evergreen foliage. Zone 4. (A)
Perovskia atriplicifolia RUSSIAN SAGE: Always tops on the deer resistant list! The violet blue flowers and silvery foliage are an excellent contrast with all the yellow flowers of late summer and it combines well with rudbeckias, sunflowers, and goldenrods. Blooms July through Sept. 3′ tall. Very drought tolerant. Zone 5. (B)
Phlox subulata CREEPING PHLOX: We plan to have a couple of new varieties of this spring blooming ground cover. (B)
Platycodon ‘Astra Blue’ BALLOON FLOWER: This is a very cute, dwarf balloon flower. Only six inches tall when in bloom, it looks great in the rock garden or the front of a border. Zone 3. (B)
Potentilla tonguei: Apricot-colored petals with wine-red center. Blooms late summer. Trailing. 2” tall by 12” wide. A favorite here at the nursery. Zone 4. (B)
Ratibida columnifera PRAIRIE CONEFLOWER; MEXICAN HAT: Native to Colorado and other southwestern states. Very drought tolerant, blooming in even the driest summers. These are seed grown from a collection that includes both red and yellow flowers and they will reflect all the color range, sometimes both colors on one plant. Gorgeous planted in a drift, or planted in a prairie garden with blue grama grass. (A)
Rosmarinus ‘Arp’ ROSEMARY: The most winter hardy rosemary, this plant will survive for many years outside in just the right micro-climate. A friend in Denver had one for fifteen years until one extremely bad winter took it. If you want to try a rosemary in your xeriscape garden (and they are super drought tolerant!) this is the one to try. Deer resistant. (B)
Ruschia pulvinaris CREEPING SHRUBBY ICE PLANT: This attractive succulent, with its blue green leaves and magenta colored flowers is a good addition to the rock garden. Only three inches tall and one foot wide, it is a great addition to the xeriscape. Blooms all summer.(B)
SALVIA Drought tolerant, deer resistant, attractive to pollinators–what would we do without salvia? There’s a variety to suit any gardener, and most of us want more than one!
Salvia darcyi x microphylla ‘Windwalker’ Big red flowers bring the hummingbirds to your garden. 3′ tall x 3′ wide. Zone 5? This is supposed to be one of the hardiest red salvias, but it didn’t survive the winter in my garden. I’m trying it again because this plant is gorgeous! Sure to be a winner in Pueblo and lower elevations. (B)
Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’: Bright red flowers bloom off and on all summer. Incredible plant to attract hummingbirds–and hummingbird moths! Really, all the red salvias should be planted in a hummingbird garden. Hardiness….questionable. Survives most winters in Pueblo; for those of us at higher elevations, Salvia greggii needs a warm dry spot for the winter. Try planting it near a rock on a south facing site. 2005 Plant Select. 2′ tall.(B)
Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing' Cherry pink flowers for the hummingbirds! 18" tall. (B)
Salvia nemerosa ‘May Night’: Large deep purple flowers withstand drought and deer without a problem. Beautiful with 'Moonshine' yarrow. 18″ tall. Xeric. Zone 4. (B)
SEDUM This great group of succulents has a lot going for it–texture, leaf color, flower color, heat and drought tolerance. They look good grouped together, or as an accent with other xeric plants.
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ STONECROP: The golden yellow foliage provides a nice contrast in the garden or in pots and baskets, but it is the fall and winter color that make this plant so amazing! It turns a brilliant golden orange with cool weather in October. Zone 4. (A)
Sedum sediforme Turquoise Tails: It’s been a while since we’ve had enough of this wonderful sedum to list in our catalog. A Plant Select introduction in 2013. One of the most drought tolerant of any sedum, with tidy turquoise blue foliage and creamy yellow flowers–it’s perfect in a pot, rock garden, or xeriscape. 6″ tall. Zone 5. (B)
Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’: Very low-growing sedum with pink blooms in June. The small, scalloped leaves make this irresistible to the succulent lover. Zone 3. (A)
Sedum ‘Sunsparkler Cherry Tart’: Cherry red leaves all spring and summer, bright pink flowers late summer into fall. Tough and showy. Good as a ground cover, rock garden plant, or for a container. Full sun to part shade. 6″ x 15″ Zone 4. (B)
Sedum telephium ‘Candy Cherry Truffle’ STONECROP: Deep purple foliage and warm pink flowers on this upright sedum are a standout in the late summer garden. Butterflies can’t resist. Drought tolerant. 16” tall. Zone 4. (B)
Solidago nana GOLDENROD: This is a small version of the more familiar tall goldenrod. It is native to the foothills of Colorado and during the very dry summer of 2012, it bloomed near Rye! Definitely a plant to include in your prairie wildflower garden. 8″ tall, maybe taller in a wet year. Zone 4. (B)
Stachys byzantina LAMB'S EARS: Soft fuzzy silver leaves make a great groundcover. Lavender flowers in summer. Foliage 6″ tall, flowers 18″ tall. For full sun, dry areas. Deer ignore them. Zone 4. (A)
THYMUS One of our favorite ground covers, the texture and color make the garden much more interesting. Nature abhors a vacuum, so don’t leave bare ground for weeds to take over. Cover it with thyme!
Thymus praecox 'Coccineus' The red creeping thyme is one of our favorite thymes. The foliage looks great in winter, the flowers are the most intense color of any creeping thyme. Drought tolerant. 2" tall; spreading; zone 5. (A)
Thymus praecox ‘Pink Chintz’: Dark green leaves, pretty light pink flowers. Good between pavers (A)
Thymus x citriodorus ‘Doone Valley’ DOONE VALLEY THYME: Beautiful ground cover, the small shiny green leaves are splashed with gold. Very fragrant lemon scent when stepped on. This can be used as a culinary herb, too. We were so impressed with this thyme when it survived above Rye in a garden that is only watered one month out of the year! Zone 4. (A)
Townsendia parryi: Blue to violet daisy flowers in spring. 8" x 10" in bloom; good for trough, rock garden, or crevice garden. Biennial that reseeds gently. Native to western North America where it is found growing wild in dry woodlands, prairies, and steppes. Zone 3. (B)
Verbascum roripifolium YELLOW BUTTERFLIES: The clear yellow flowers seem to float above the rosette, making this the perfect see-through plant. Grow it in full sun, and in average to dry soil. Deer resistant. 2-3' tall. Zone 5 (B)
Veronica liwanensis TURKISH VERONICA:Tiny, shiny, round leaves. Intense blue flowers. Creeper. Blooms May-June. Zone 4. (B)
Vinca minor PERIWINKLE:Low-growing evergreen ground cover smothered with blue flowers in spring. Shade. Zone 4. (B)
Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’: A periwinkle with unusual deep wine-red flowers. Perhaps not as vigorous at the common blue-flowered periwinkle, but very pretty. Zone 4. (B)
Shrubs and Trees
Woody plants are priced differently from herbaceous plants. 4.5” pots 6.75 each;
#1 pots (A) $8.00, (B) $9.50; #2 pots 12.50
Amelanchier alnifolia SERVICEBERRY: Native to Colorado and much of the West. Great for bird habitat. If you long for blueberries and can't grow them in our alkaline soil, here is a good alternative. Big white flowers in May give way to blue berries in June and July. Good for fresh eating and for jelly. Yellow to red fall color. 8'-10' tall, can be kept shorter with pruning. Zone 4. These are in 4.5" pots, an economical way to start them. (not available 2022)
Caryopteris 'Dark Knight' BLUE MIST SPIREA: Dark violet-blue flowers make this a great shrub for late summer color. Much loved by bees. Drought tolerant. Deer resistant! Zone 5.
Chilopsis linearis DESERT WILLOW: This gorgeous native has fantastic flowers that give pleasure to anyone who passes by. Beloved by hummingbirds. Xeric. 5' tall. It has survived many winters in the garden in Rye! Very exciting.
Crataegus ambigua RUSSIAN HAWTHORN: A beautiful, drought resistant small tree. White flowers in spring, red berries in fall. 20’ tall at maturity. Zone 4.
Euonymus microphyllus BOXLEAF EUONYMUS: For many years we thought this was a boxwood, and called it Buxus microphyllus. We were wrong! It's a very nice broadleaf evergreen and is suitable for a knot garden, or as a bonsai tree. It also looks good in a perennial border for evergreen foliage. Never gets very big. 16" tall x 16" wide. Zone 5.
Fallugia paradoxa APACHE PLUME: Native shrub with white, single, rose-like flowers followed by silky tan plumes. Both flowers and plumes are on t`he bush through most of the summer. 3'-5' tall. Zone 4. (B)
Forestiera neomexicana NEW MEXICO PRIVET: Native to Colorado. Can be grown as a shrub or small tree. If pruned to a tree shape, it looks graceful and open with smallish leaves. If allowed to follow its instincts, it can create a thick hedge. Nice fall color--golden yellow. 12tall. Zone 4.
Holodiscus dumosus ROCK SPIREA: Native to Colorado, this attractive shrub grows a couple of miles from our nursery in a rock outcrop. Very drought tolerant. Clusters of white flowers in summer. 5' tall. Zone 3.
Juniperus scopulorum ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER: One of our native junipers, growing in the Greenhorn Valley and many other locations in Colorado. Drought tolerant. 15' tall. Zone 4.
Lonicera 'Pink Velvet' HONEYSUCKLE SHRUB: This attractive shrub has blue green foliage and bright pink flowers in spring. Generally not browsed by deer. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers. Red berries in fall. Very drought tolerant. Great shrub for our area! 6' tall. Zone 3.
Pinus edulis PINYON PINE: Native to Colorado, this is a beautiful evergreen tree. Drought tolerant. 20' tall. Zone 4.
Pinus sylvestris SCOTS PINE: This tree grows quickly when young, and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Very winter hardy. 60' tall at maturity. Zone 3.
Picea pungens COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: Our state tree. Does best where summers are cooler, although I’ve seen lovely specimens at the lower elevations, too. Slow to moderate growing. Zone 3.
Purshia tridentata ANTELOPE BITTERBRUSH: Colorado native shrub. The light yellow flowers in spring look like small wild rose blooms. Gray-green leaves. Very drought tolerant. 3' tall. Zone 4.
Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' WILLOW, CORKSCREW: Also known as Dragon Willow. The interesting branches on this willow make it a conversation piece in the landscape and an excellent accent in flower arrangements. 15'-20' tall. Can be pruned yearly to keep it the height you want. Zone 4.
Sambucus nigra caerulea BLUE ELDERBERRY: This small Colorado native tree (or large shrub) is a great addition to the garden. It flowers in June and July and the berries are loved by humans and birds! You must cook them to use them, however, for jelly, or in wine. Zone 4.
