10 Best Perennials For Colorado

Denver Drought Tolerant Plants and Flowering Perennials

​What are the ten best outdoor flowering perennials and evergreen plants to grow in the Denver metro? 
​
We have a number of favorite perennials that are ecologically appropriate for Colorado's Front Range semi-arid climate, but the plants that will thrive best in your unique space depend on a variety of factors that an expert should help assess to avoid costly failed plantings and wasted outdoor water. 

Our Design Selection Process 
Our owner and licensed landscape architect, John Majeski, assures the proper plant selections for your home oasis based on a complimentary consultation that assesses:

• your home’s unique weathers patterns,
• sun and shade exposure,
• home style and your lifestyle,
• maintenance preferences,
• family safety and pet habits,
• wildlife interaction,
• soil type and property slope,
• plant maturation timelines, 
• zoned drip irrigation needs to keep your plants optimally hydrated with minimal effort and maximum water savings using WiFi control. We use high quality systems like Rain Bird. Learn more about drip irrigation systems.  

​Each of our custom design plans starts with a complimentary consultation that carefully considers the above key elements along with how much maintenance you are willing to put into your landscape. 

John made a beautiful landscape design keeping our ideas in mind and we were in love with his drawing... We always get compliments for our backyard and it's all thanks to John and his crew."
​- Ammu D. 

Our Short-List of Favorite Perennials

​Every landscape design should customized for the home and those living there, but a few of our favorite perennials that we often use across design categories include: 

Rose varieties for the Front Range

Flowering Perennials
Pollinator Attractors/Supporters
Full-sun perennials that offer ​fragrance and color in a semi-arid climate: 

• Hyssop
  (Smells like bubble gum.)
• Roses  
  (A classic and fragrant favorite.)
• Red hot pokers
  (Bright, conical shaped blossoms.)
• ​Day lilies​
  (Fragrant, delicate and beautiful.)

Newly Planted Blue Fescue Grass

​Ornamental Grasses
Appealing Water Wise Foliage 
These full-sun ornamental grasses add texture and color requiring minimal water: 

• Karl Foerster reed grass​ 
  (A popular hybrid feather reed grass with pink to purple summer blossoms.) 
• Maiden Grass​ 
  (Attractive ornamental grass with fine silver blades that turn golden after frost.)
• Blue Fescue  
  (Shout and delicate flowering grass with evergreen and semi-evergreen varieties.)

Globe Spruce Evergreen Shrub

​Evergreen Shrubs 
Year Round Color and Texture
These full-sun shrubs provide year long greenery with minimal water needs: 

• Winter Gem Boxwood 
  (An excellent shrub for small hedges that can acquire a golden hue in the cold of winter but return green in spring.)
• Spanish Gold Broom
  (Dense and upright evergreen stems with spring blossoms that look like bright yellow pea blossoms.)
• C​o​tone​a​ster​
  ​​(A deciduous evergreen that produces white and red berries.) 

John has a creative mind and eye, along with knowledge of plants in our environment. we are very happy with the finished product and have received numerous compliments."
​- Happy Homeowner review left through Team Dave Logan

Other Nuances to Consider 
There is great species diversity among each of the above genuses. Each species matures to varied sizes with time and requires distinct amounts of sun exposure, water, and maintenance. Furthermore, sloping spaces, salty or clay prone soils, spaces prone to wildlife or pet traffic, and many other factors should be thoughtfully considered before selecting the best perennials for your unique landscape. 

Modern Xeriscape Design With Raised Garden Beds

Don’t Risk the Guesswork:
Invest in Professional Consultations For Expert Results 
We offer over 18 years of expertise consulting and designing beautiful, ecologically appropriate master landscaping plans specifically adapted for the Front Range’s high altitude, semi-arid, and often extreme climate. 

Landscaping Consultations

Professional Plant Selection & Master Plan Guidance
Before creating any landscape design plan, we consider all of the important factors around your outdoor space -- from weather elements​ (especially sun and shade exposure)​, to timelines of plant maturation and expected foliage and blooming, to complimenting the style of your home​, honoring any requirements from your homeowners association, anticipating the behavior of people and animals who may frequent your space, and most importantly-- bringing life to the ​dreams of how you want to enjoy your outdoor oasis.

Work With Us
We provide complimentary consultations for design-only and design-and-build landscaping services to homeowners in the Denver metropolitan. 

Denver Smart Landscapes

Pollinator Garden Xeriscape Design for Colorado

Are you ready to enjoy a home oasis that saves water and is easy to maintain? 
Take the guesswork out of plant selection, placement, and irrigation needs.

schedule your complimentary consultation

Learn more about our Wifi Controlled home irrigation and lighting systems here.