​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. 

​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. 

​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: 

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. 

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. 

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

Why We Enjoy Fire
Any patio in the Front Range is made complete by an outdoor fire feature to warm your morning or make sunset watching even more cozy and enjoyable. 

Outdoor fire features add comfort, style, and function to home. Whether you pride yourself in creating warm and welcoming spaces, or simply cherish personal time outside with something to drink and a good read, the perfect fire feature helps you enjoy outdoor living when temperatures dip low. 

There are a variety of ways to safely incorporate fire elements into your outdoor oasis. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor fire features for Front Range homes:  

Designing Deluxe Landscapes
Arterra not only specializes in designing spaces with fire features, but also low-voltage outdoor lighting, water features that wow, dog friendly spaces, and drought-tolerant xeriscapes and gardens. 

Ask for a free consultation for our licensed landscape architect today. ​

Arterra Landscape Design/Build's owner and principal, John Majeski, is a long time dog lover and owner. He understands it can be challenging to create a space that is both beautiful and suited to the needs of your canine companion.

​Your four-legged friend probably needs to enjoy the freedom of taking a few rowdy laps around the yard, chasing a ball, and playing freely without causing worry that he or she could destroy delicate landscape elements or accidentally escape your yard for a neighborhood adventure.

​Conceptualizing and designing a landscape that truly considers your dog’s behavior and needs is something we delight in. In fact, we’ve brought joy to a number of dogs and their guardians throughout the Denver metro with our unique designs. 

​In general, dog friendly landscape designs tend to include turf grass, quality fencing, ground covering, shade bearing trees and pergola structures, and protection built around your sensitive plants or garden beds. 

​Request a complimentary consultation for your dog-friendly landscape today.

 Thoughtful Design Solutions
Before offering design solutions, John talks to you about your dog’s behavior and habits. A custom dog friendly landscape plan is thoughtfully informed by your pup’s habits, personality, size, and temperament by our licensed landscape architect. ​

What Is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping, also sometimes called “smart-scaping” or “drought-tolerant landscaping,” is a set of landscape design principles to benefit areas susceptible to drought or concerned with water conservation, like Colorado's drought-prone Front Range. This style of landscape utilizes water conserving techniques such as the inclusion of drought-tolerant plants; ground covers such as bark, mulch, or rock; and efficient irrigation to create sustainable and functional beauty that also reduces water bills and consumption. 

Designs can range from rustic alpine to vibrant xeriscape garden to minimalist zen meditation aesthetics and anything in between. 

Water Wise Landscape Designs Rooted In Colorado
Did you know that the Water Department of Denver is credited for coining the word “xeriscape” back in 1981? Really! Denver Water combined "landscape" with “xeros” (the Greek word for “dry”), to make it easier to talk about a style of landscaping suited to the Front Range and other semi-arid regions. 

How It Works & Materials To Use 
Ask your landscape architect to select plants adapted to the Denver metro’s general weather patterns. (If you have lived near the Mile High City for at least a season or two, you’ll notice how quickly the weather can turn from 70 degrees one day to snowing or below freezing the next!) Your plants need to be adapted to withstand these extremes, and they shouldn't require copious amounts of water remain healthy. 

A skilled landscape architect like our award winning designer will create a beautiful plan that is aesthetically pleasing with more than just a drab span of sand or rocks to replace your lawn. Ideally you want to enjoy a beautiful space that is designed to require minimal water consumption and minimal maintenance. 

Arterra owner, John Majeski, approaches xeriscape designs considering your area’s average rainfall and what grows indigenously in your area. Instead of expansive sod lawns, he incorporates natural materials like turf grasses, native plants like deciduous shrubs or pine trees, and wildflowers that are hardy enough to sustain the varied temperature swings seen in our region.

Some of John’s favorite plants to work with include roses, ornamental grasses, boxwood, and certain cacti. 

When Should I Install A Xeriscape?
While spring is always the most ideal time to install and renovate gardens and lawns, you can generally install xeriscapes anytime throughout the year (weather permitting).

Work With Us
Arterra is now booking landscape design and construction projects for the spring and summer on a first come, first served basis. We give you accurate, fair, and custom quotes based on a site visit to your property with your personal lifestyle and home’s features in mind. 

Specialists in Custom Landscape Designs
Great landscaping starts with intentional and creative design work. At Arterra, our licensed landscape architect takes great care in the process behind envisioning your outdoor oasis. John Majeski visits your space to assess things like the land’s grade, existing structural features or trees, weather elements, irrigation needs, and more. 

How do we imagine a space?
First we connect with you to learn more about how you want to use your space. Need a dog-friendly patio, low maintenance space, outdoor sanctuary to read books in the cool mornings and evenings, or want to entertain family and friends while you cook and dine outside? All of this factors into how we conceptualize your landscape design. 

We also consider the style of your home and any challenges or factors (such as privacy from bordering property lines, sloping grades, soil type, sun exposure and wind factors) for your unique location. 

After talking about your dream vision and ideal outdoor space, we assess your property, and chat about your budget before creating a custom, hand rendered landscaping design with built and natural elements. Many of our renovation and new construction projects include hardscapes such as stamped concrete walkways, patios, pergola shade structures, garden beds, water features, fences and, of course, automated irrigation systems (less work outdoors equals more relaxation in it, right?).