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| Penstemon cardinalis |
It’s that time when gardeners start
wandering around their yards and pondering what to plant this year. We’ve been
forewarned that watering restrictions are coming, and they will be significant.
Knowing that, it will be helpful to narrow your list of plant possibilities to
those that are more xeric and likely to fare better in a hot, dry summer. Don't
fret! There are hundreds of readily available, beautiful xeric plants to choose
from – many of which are Colorado natives.
Besides being more drought resistant, native
plants have other benefits: they attract native bees and butterflies; they are
less fussy because they are naturally adapted to Colorado’s environment; and
they require less soil amendment and fertilizing. Local nurseries are starting
to carry more and more native plants, shrubs, and trees.
In addition to adding native plants for your
landscape, consider those from Plant Select®. Plant Select® is a cooperative program administered by Denver Botanic Gardens
and Colorado State University in concert with horticulturists and nurseries
throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. The purpose of Plant Select® is to seek out, identify and distribute the very best plants for
landscapes and gardens from the intermountain region to the high plains.
Check out recommended plants at www.plantselect.org.
Here are some suggestions for adding more
drought tolerant plants to your landscape!
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| Rosa glauca |
Instead of a high maintenance hybrid tea rose, you might try this
lovely Redleaf Rose (Rosa glauca) from Plant Select.® It is a medium size shrub with beautiful
foliage and red hips.
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| Ratibida columnifera |
Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), is native
to several western states, including Colorado. It is a heavy bloomer and naturalizes easily.
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| Callirhoe involucrata |
Poppy
Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) is a Colorado native with low-spreading stems
that are great for covering a slope. The wine-colored blooms are present all
summer.
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| Penstemon glaber |
Penstemon!
There are so many beautiful Penstemons to choose from. This one is Mountain
Beardtongue (Penstemon glaber), seen often along hiking trails in the Colorado
mountains.
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| Digitalis obscura |
If you
like Foxglove (who doesn’t!), try Spanish Peaks (Digitalis obscura) instead of
one of the woodland varieties. Spanish Peaks is a 2004 Plant Select® winner that prefers
deeper, less frequent watering.