Tag: go native

Plants native to Colorado

Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm (Sf,DM,A,N) 2 – 4 ft H x 2 – 3 ft W. Spider-like lavender blooms in late summer on single flowering stocks. Great plant to bring in wildlife. Blooms:  Late Summer to early fall  (Sf) Moisture: Dry to Medium  (DM) Soil Type: All soil types when local ecotype is available… Continue reading Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot

Elymus trachycaulus -Slender wheatgrass

Elymus trachycaulus – Slender wheatgrass (Su,DM,A,N) 12-40″ Tall x 12″ Spread, light blue-green wide leaves. Slender wheatgrass is a perennial, cool-season, short-lived, coarse, tufted bunchgrass. Leaves are from 3 to 13 inches long and upto a half inch wide, with basal leaves longer than upper leaves. The culms are erect, ranging from 6 to 48… Continue reading Elymus trachycaulus -Slender wheatgrass

Prunus americana Wild Plum

Prunus americana  American Plum / Wild Plum On sale in 2021 at Tagawa Gardens – this most intoxicatingly scented spring bloomer is a hardy, woody tall shrub or flowering tree. Blooming in March, this is early food source for native bees waking up in Spring. https://tagawagardens.com/documents/2021_Nursery_Trees_Shrubs_List.pdf This year we had a large wet snowstorm on… Continue reading Prunus americana Wild Plum

Asclepias tuberosa

Asclepias tuberosa- common butterflyweed is an essential part of the Colorado Garden. So lovely and bright, it also is a workhorse for providing  to our natural food web. I am planting this in both a sandy site and a heavy clay – two different varieties. I have seeds from Plants from Prairie Nursery    

Bouteloua curtipendula – Sideoats grama

sideoats grama

Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama (Su,DM,A,N) 12-36″ Tall x 12″ Spread, light green spiky leaves.  Purple-red spikes form on one side of the stem from late June to early August.   When blooming,  orange stamens and feathery stigmas form from the spikelets. host plant for a number of butterflies and moths; seeds for birds Blooms:  Mid… Continue reading Bouteloua curtipendula – Sideoats grama

Helianthus Annuus

Helianthus Annuus Sunflower (Su,D,AE,N) 2 – 8 ft H x 2 – 4 ft W. Annual. Bright yellow ray flowers surround a composite (many flowered) center. Blooming mid summer to fall. Great plant to bring in wildlife. Blooms:  Mid Summer to early fall  (Su) Moisture: Dry  (D) Soil Type: All soil types when local ecotype… Continue reading Helianthus Annuus

Anaphalis margaritacea – Pearly everlasting

Anaphalis margaritacea – Pearly Everlasting (Su,D,S,N) 24″ tall x 12 – 36″ spread, mounded with bright leaves and white summer blooms from June to October. host plant Blooms:  Summer  (Su) Moisture: Medium to Dry  (M-D) Soil Type: Sand (S)  – being tested in clay (2021) check back! Range: Native (N) Started as: Seed Deer resistant… Continue reading Anaphalis margaritacea – Pearly everlasting

Koeleria macanthra — June grass

Koeleria macanthra – June Grass  (Su,DM,A,N) Sun 3′ – 6′ Tall x 12″ Spread, light green spiky leaves.  Purple-red spikes form on one side of the stem from late June to early August.   When blooming,  orange stamens and feathery stigmas form from the spikelets. seed and cover for birds Blooms:  June to August  (Su) Moisture:… Continue reading Koeleria macanthra — June grass

Allium Cernuum

Allium Cernuum (Nodding Onion) Native to Colorado Can be planted in damp clays 1 -2′ tall pink blooms Best planted in mass   This full sun bulb of the onion family blooms in late summer, Jul to August.  It is good for pollinators and deer resistant.  The delicate blooms vary from white to pink.  If… Continue reading Allium Cernuum