Audrey 
As the winter wears away and homeowners get ready for Spring, it’s important to determine which flowers and plants you’ll be using for your garden and Colorado landscape design. While of course you’ll have a ton of choices when you visit your local nursery or gardening shop, more and more homeowners are turning to native flowers.
Not only do native flowers, plants, and trees look beautiful in your outdoor space, but they also offer a variety of unique benefits that will save you time, money, and allow you to create a more eco-friendly landscape design. And as we know, making steps towards sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment is more important now than it’s ever been before.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most beautiful and popular native Colorado flowers to complement your garden and complete Spring landscape design. Pairing some of these flowers with native shrubs and native trees can make your Spring landscape design an even more beneficial aspect of your local environment and be the envy of all your neighbors.
Native Colorado Flowers for Your Landscape Design
1. Rocky Mountain Columbine: why not start out with the Colorado state flower? If you’ve seen Colorado landscapes (especially those in the Spring or Summer) then you’re familiar with this beautiful native flower. This flower is well-known for its vibrant pattern of purple and white petals with a burst of yellow at the center. Growing as tall as two feet, the fragrant bloom will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden for even more beauty in your space.
2. Purple Coneflower: ranging in shades from white, pink, to darker reds and purples, the purple coneflower is a popular pick for many Colorado homeowners. Looking like a daisy, this flower is easily identifiable for how its petals lay out low shaping it just like a cone. These flowers do well in sun-exposed, warm environments and require little watering. They can even reach up to four feet in height.
3. Indian Paintbrush: this burst of orange and red can truly bring your Colorado landscape to life this Spring. With cup-like bracts, the colorful “petals” are actually modified leaves. This flower grows well in full sun and is a favorite flower for visiting hummingbirds.
4. Sedum: growing low and wide and bursting with a vibrant shade of yellow, sedum is found throughout Colorado in both the wild and landscape designs. These plants are known for being drought-tolerant and can even survive well in poor soil environments. They prefer rocky gardens as ground cover and may even grow up to two feet tall. While often seen in yellow, you may also catch clusters of pink, purple, or white.
5. Rocky Mountain Penstemon: this beautiful native flower is known for being very drought-tolerant and easy to maintain. With trumpet-like petals, the sweet nectar attracts bees and hummingbirds – adding a spark of life to your garden. For those interesting in a xeriscape landscape design, we highly recommend the Rocky Mountain Penstemon.
Why are the Benefits of Using Native Flowers and Native Plants?
Many people may wonder why it’s so important (and beneficial) to use native flowers, plants, trees, and shrubs throughout your yard and overall landscape design. Not only do native flowers look beautiful and fit in naturally with the surrounding environment, but they can also save you major cash and labor time in the long run. Interested in why you should be using native plants in your yard?
Take a look:
· Save time: native flowers have evolved over countless years to adapt perfectly to your local environment and climate conditions. Thus, they require far less maintenance so you can spend your time actually sitting back and enjoying your landscape.
· Save money: save both time and money—what could be better? Using native flowers for your garden can also save you quite a bit of cash in the big picture. Since they’re adapted to their local environments, native flowers will not only survive—they’ll thrive. This means you’ll save money by not having to replace your plants as often—if ever—and they also need less chemicals and pesticides. Native flowers can also help you conserve water, preserving our precious natural resources and cash in your wallet.
· Create a space for local wildlife: habitat loss is a major threat to our environment and the animals, birds, and insects who inhabit our spaces. While you can never completely make up for lost habitat, you can create a bit of local habitat on your own by using native plants in your outdoor space. They can work as a food source or even home for many different types of animals, such as local birds, bees, and critters like deer and squirrels. Not only is this good for the environment, but you’ll be able to enjoy their visits and share the wonders with family and friends.
Conclusion – Native Colorado Flowers for Your Spring Landscape Design
Spring is right around the corner. As you’re dreaming of warmer days and greener landscapes, don’t get caught flat-footed when it comes to your own yard. It’s just about time to start selecting flowers and plants for your garden and landscape design. When you’re out, keep in mind to use native flowers this time around. Not only do they look amazing and fit in naturally with your environment, but they also offer a slew of benefits. These benefits include conserving water, saving you time and cash, and also helping you protect the environment by preserving natural resources and limiting your use of pesticides and excess fertilizer. So, if you’re in Colorado, consider using sedum, Indian paintbrush, or Rocky Mountain Columbine to truly make your yard something special.
