Colorado Natives

Rice Cut Grass has a wide history across world wetlands and is native to North American floodplains and pond margins. Its sharp-edged leaves explain the common name and can form dense stands. Least Skipper larvae use the grass, adults feed in its habitat, and waterfowl eat the seed. Plant in sun or partial shade on wet, preferably silty soil.

Torrey's Rush is a North American wetland perennial with round flower clusters near the tops of slender stems. Its named species has long occupied marshes, wet prairies, and pond or river margins. Fast-spreading rhizomes help stabilize shorelines and create cover for wetland insects and small animals. Give it full sun and consistently moist soil.

Illinois Bundle Flower is a native legume of central North American prairies, named for the tight bundles of seed pods that follow its fuzzy summer flowers. Small bees visit the blooms, while quail, pheasants, and Prairie Chickens feed on the nutritious seeds. Rabbits and deer may browse its fern-like foliage. Plant in full sun on medium to dry soil.

Brown Fox Sedge takes its name from the fox-tail appearance of its midsummer seed heads. This abundant North American native grows across wet meadows and other moist open habitats. Fruiting clumps provide bird forage and cover for small wetland animals. It adapts to sun or partial shade and soils ranging from wet to moderately dry.

Awl-fruited Sedge has several long-used names, including Prickly Sedge and Fox Sedge, reflecting its pointed seed heads. It is native to North American riverbanks, floodplain forests, and marshes and establishes quickly in disturbed wetlands. Caterpillars feed on the foliage; woodcocks, ducks, and swamp sparrows eat the seeds. Plant in sun or shade with reliably moist to wet soil.

Lance-fruited Oval Sedge has also been called Broom Sedge, a name linked to its broom-like fruiting form. It belongs to sunny North American marshes, floodplains, and wet sandy ground. Moths and skipper caterpillars use the foliage, while waterfowl, songbirds, turtles, and small mammals eat the seeds. This clumping, cool-season perennial suits wetland gardens and restoration sites.

Broad-leaved Woolly Sedge is native to North American wet meadows and mineral-rich wetlands, where calcareous soil is common. Its broad, softly textured leaves and June seed spikes distinguish it from finer sedges. Native sedge foliage can host insects, while its seeds contribute to wetland bird forage. Plant it in sun or partial shade with consistently moist to wet, often alkaline soil.

Field Oval Sedge is a North American native of open woods, swamps, and prairies; the older name Troublesome Sedge reflects its vigorous spread. Triangular green stems carry compact, yellow-brown seed clusters. Dense growth can shelter small insects and birds in rough habitat. Use it where a strong colonizing sedge is welcome, from sun to shade and medium-moist to dry soil.

Porcupine Sedge is a native of North American fens, marshes, sedge meadows, and wet prairies, also known as Bottlebrush Sedge. Its bristly seed heads give the common names their character. Wetland insects use its foliage and waterfowl forage for sedge seeds among the stems. Grow it in full sun and wet soil that may flood for short periods.

Hairy Wood Chess, also known as Hairy Woodland Brome, is a cool-season native grass of North American woodlands; it was once grouped with other Bromus species. Its dark leaves and tall clumps give structure to lightly shaded, moderately moist sites. Wild Turkeys, Ruffed Grouse, and small mammals eat its seeds, while deer and rabbits browse young growth. Plant it where a woodland edge needs a taller native grass.

River Bulrush has long occupied shallow-water margins of North American lakes, rivers, and marshes; older botanical names placed it in Scirpus and Schoenoplectus. Its tall stems and spreading rhizomes make dense cover for wetland invertebrates and waterbirds. This vigorous perennial is suited to large restoration areas rather than a small ornamental bed. Grow it in full sun with consistently wet soil or standing water.

Wild Four O'Clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) is a distinctive North American native plant. Magenta-purple flowers open later in the day on branching plants, offering nectar to evening-active pollinators. It matures at approximately 48 inches tall and flowers from late spring to early summer through early to mid summer through mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun, in dry to medium conditions, with loamy soil, sandy soil or dry soil. Space plants 24–36 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata) is a distinctive North American native plant. Rounded greenish flower clusters mature into seed valued by wild turkey, while deep roots help this native legume handle drought. It matures at approximately 48 inches tall and flowers from mid to late summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in dry to medium conditions, with loamy soil, sandy soil or dry soil. Space plants 18–24 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) is a distinctive North American native plant. Broad leaves and large white umbels give this imposing biennial a strong presence in moist meadows and woodland edges. It matures at approximately 96 inches tall and flowers from late spring to early summer through early to mid summer. Plant it in full sun to partial shade, in medium to medium-wet conditions, with loamy soil, clay soil or wet soil. Space plants 24–36 inches apart for healthy growth and airflow.

Early Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) is a native perennial valued for its nectar-rich red and green flowers. Upright plants reach about 5 feet tall and bloom from late spring through midsummer, attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects. This adaptable wildflower grows in full sun through shade and tolerates loamy or sandy soils across a broad moisture range. Seed requires 60 days of cold, moist stratification and light for germination.

Perfect for high elevation areas. Formulated for elevations above 7,000 feet in AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY, southern Alberta and British Columbia. It is also suitable for all elevations in southern Alaska.

The Colorado Blend combines annual and perennial wildflowers selected for sunny ornamental planting in the western and southwestern United States. Its current component profile features Blue Flax, California Poppy, Indian Blanket, and Prairie Coneflower. Colorado’s plains, foothills and mountain sites differ greatly, so use elevation and winter exposure when selecting a planting location. The mixture contains both native species and non-native flowers adapted to the region, creating varied colors, heights and bloom periods. Sow in a sunny, prepared, weed-free seedbed and keep the surface consistently moist while seedlings establish.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is an eastern North American perennial prized for vivid red flower spikes from midsummer into fall. It grows best in consistently moist soil in full sun to partial light and is well suited to rain gardens, pond edges, and wet meadows. The tubular flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and also draw butterflies and bees. Mature plants commonly reach 3 to 5 feet tall.

Purple Love Grass grows low to the ground in dense tufts, 8-18" tall. In late summer the fine-textured, stiff inflorescence appears like reddish-purple clouds hovering at ground level. Eventually this inflorescence breaks off and floats around like a tumbleweed.

The Fireweed Epilobium is a beautiful, brightly colored flower that is a great landscape variety for planting on hills and borders. This amazing variety produces bright pink flower spikes along this large landscape plant.