DIY Tools · Plant Finder

Choose for the place the plant will become.

Filter a focused list for Colorado Springs conditions, then compare mature size, water needs, useful characteristics, and the drawbacks that rarely make it onto a nursery tag.

Search plantsPlant typeSun exposureWater after establishmentOrigin

Deer resistant Rabbit resistant Pollinator value

20 plants match your site

Flower

Rocky Mountain penstemon

Penstemon strictus

CO nativeDeer-smartRabbit-smartPollinator

Mature height: 18–30 in.
Mature spread: 12–18 in.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Violet-blue flower spikes in late spring and early summer.

Good for: Dry borders, pollinator beds, and naturalistic groups.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Leave basal foliage through winter. Cut old stems in early spring and avoid heavy mulch over the crown.

Know before planting: Short-lived in rich or poorly drained soil; allow some reseeding.

Flower

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

CO nativeDeer-smartRabbit-smartPollinator

Mature height: 18–30 in.
Mature spread: 18–24 in.
Time to mature: 1–2 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Long red-and-gold bloom season with prairie character.

Good for: Sunny borders, gravel gardens, and hot reflected sites.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Shear lightly after the first major bloom for a tidier repeat. Leave some seedheads for birds.

Know before planting: Can look untidy late in the season and may reseed.

Flower

Blue flax

Linum lewisii

CO nativeDeer-smartPollinator

Mature height: 18–30 in.
Mature spread: 12–18 in.
Time to mature: 1–2 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Clear blue flowers opening in waves from late spring onward.

Good for: Meadow planting, dry slopes, and between larger structural plants.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Cut back by roughly one-third after flowering if it becomes loose. Do not overwater.

Know before planting: Individual flowers last one day; it looks best in groups.

Flower

May Night salvia

Salvia × sylvestris ‘Mainacht’

Deer-smartRabbit-smartPollinator

Mature height: 18–24 in.
Mature spread: 18–24 in.
Time to mature: 2 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Dense violet flower spikes and a tidy repeat-blooming habit.

Good for: Formal borders, front walks, and mass planting.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Shear spent spikes after the first bloom. Divide in spring when the center becomes woody.

Know before planting: Wet winter soil can shorten its life.

Groundcover

Prairie zinnia

Zinnia grandiflora

CO nativeDeer-smartPollinator

Mature height: 4–8 in.
Mature spread: 12–24 in.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring, after the soil begins to warm

Why it works: Small yellow flowers over a low native mat.

Good for: Hot gravel edges, dry slopes, and low-water foregrounds.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Keep the first season weeded and water deeply but infrequently. Little pruning is needed.

Know before planting: Slow to establish and dislikes rich, wet soil.

Groundcover

Creeping thyme

Thymus serpyllum

Deer-smartRabbit-smartPollinator

Mature height: 2–4 in.
Mature spread: 12–24 in.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Fragrant evergreen foliage and small summer flowers.

Good for: Between stepping stones, dry edges, and small sunny slopes.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Trim lightly after flowering. Do not bury the crown under mulch or winter debris.

Know before planting: Not a turf substitute under regular foot traffic; needs sharp drainage.

Groundcover

Kinnikinnick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

CO native

Mature height: 4–8 in.
Mature spread: 3–6 ft.
Time to mature: 3–5 years
Light: Sun to part shade
Water: Low
Deer: Sometimes browsed
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring is safest

Why it works: Evergreen leaves, pale flowers, and red berries.

Good for: Slopes, rock gardens, and under open-canopy native plantings.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Avoid hard pruning. Water deeply during establishment and keep mulch away from trailing stems.

Know before planting: Slow to establish and performs poorly in wet clay without preparation.

Blue grama grass showing the horizontal eyelash seedheads typical of the species — Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Ornamental grass

Blue grama ‘Blonde Ambition’

Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’

CO native

Mature height: 30–36 in.
Mature spread: 18–24 in.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Sometimes browsed
Rabbits: Often browsed
Ideal planting time: Late spring, after the soil warms

Why it works: Horizontal seedheads hold through winter and move in the wind.

Good for: Masses, gravel gardens, and contemporary low-water landscapes.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Cut to 3–5 inches in late winter or early spring before new growth.

Know before planting: Warm-season growth begins later than cool-season grasses.

Ornamental grass

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

CO nativeDeer-smart

Mature height: 2–4 ft.
Mature spread: 18–24 in.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Late spring, after the soil warms

Why it works: Blue-green summer blades turn copper and burgundy in fall.

Good for: Meadow groups, sunny foundations, and slopes.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Leave standing for winter structure. Cut to 4–6 inches in early spring.

Know before planting: May lean in rich soil or shade and can reseed modestly.

Ornamental grass

Karl Foerster feather reed grass

Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

Deer-smartRabbit-smart

Mature height: 4–6 ft.
Mature spread: 2–3 ft.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Sun to part shade
Water: Moderate
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring; container plants can go in through summer

Why it works: Strong vertical form with early, long-lasting flower plumes.

Good for: Screens, repeated accents, and narrow beds.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Cut to 6–8 inches in late winter. Divide in early spring when crowded.

Know before planting: Needs more water than native warm-season grasses; mature height can block views.

Ornamental grass

Blue oat grass

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Deer-smartRabbit-smart

Mature height: 2–3 ft.
Mature spread: 2–3 ft.
Time to mature: 2–3 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Evergreen blue foliage with a clean architectural mound.

Good for: Rock gardens, modern borders, and repeated low accents.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Comb out dead foliage in spring instead of cutting flat. Divide only when necessary.

Know before planting: Can decline in wet clay or overly irrigated beds.

Shrub

Fernbush

Chamaebatiaria millefolium

CO nativeDeer-smartRabbit-smartPollinator

Mature height: 3–6 ft.
Mature spread: 3–6 ft.
Time to mature: 4–6 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Usually avoided
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Fernlike foliage and fragrant white summer flowers.

Good for: Dry screening, wildlife gardens, and sunny slopes.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Thin the oldest stems in early spring if shaping is needed. Avoid shearing into a tight ball.

Know before planting: Can become broad and informal; allow its mature width.

Close view of the small yellow flower clusters of rubber rabbitbrush — Photo: Davefoc · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

Shrub

Rabbitbrush ‘Baby Blue’

Ericameria nauseosa ‘Baby Blue’

CO nativeDeer-smartPollinator

Mature height: 3–5 ft.
Mature spread: 3–5 ft.
Time to mature: 3–5 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: Silver-blue foliage and brilliant yellow late-summer flowers.

Good for: Native beds, hot dry exposures, and fall color near dark stone.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Reduce by up to one-third in early spring; never cut into leafless old wood.

Know before planting: The photograph shows the species; the compact cultivar differs in form. Plants may look loose after flowering and can reseed in open gravel.

Shrub

Shrubby cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticosa

CO nativePollinator

Mature height: 2–4 ft.
Mature spread: 2–4 ft.
Time to mature: 3–5 years
Light: Sun to part shade
Water: Low
Deer: Sometimes browsed
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: A long season of yellow, white, or pale-pink flowers.

Good for: Low informal hedges, foundations, and mixed borders.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Thin a few oldest stems at ground level in early spring. Shape lightly after flowering.

Know before planting: Old plants become twiggy if repeatedly sheared.

Shrub

Western serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

CO nativePollinator

Mature height: 8–15 ft.
Mature spread: 6–12 ft.
Time to mature: 6–10 years
Light: Sun to part shade
Water: Low
Deer: Often browsed
Rabbits: Often browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring or early fall

Why it works: White spring flowers, edible berries, and orange-red fall color.

Good for: Large mixed borders, wildlife gardens, and multi-stem screens.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Thin older stems after flowering or in dormancy. Water during extended drought.

Know before planting: May sucker and berries attract birds; allow space away from narrow walks.

Tree

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Mature height: 50–70 ft.
Mature spread: 50–70 ft.
Time to mature: 25+ years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Sometimes browsed
Rabbits: Often browsed
Ideal planting time: March 15–June 15 or September 1–October 15

Why it works: A long-lived shade tree with rugged bark and strong branching.

Good for: Large lots where a permanent canopy has room to develop.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Train a strong central structure while young. Deep-water during establishment and prolonged drought.

Know before planting: Far too large for small yards; consider acorns and mature spread.

Tree

Kentucky coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Deer-smart

Mature height: 50–70 ft.
Mature spread: 35–50 ft.
Time to mature: 20+ years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: March 15–June 15 or September 1–October 15

Why it works: Bold branching, large compound leaves, and filtered shade.

Good for: Large lawns and broad planting areas where winter structure matters.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Structural-prune when young. Keep turf and mulch away from the trunk flare.

Know before planting: Late to leaf out; female trees make large pods. Choose a male cultivar if needed.

Tree

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

CO native

Mature height: 40–60 ft.
Mature spread: 35–50 ft.
Time to mature: 15–25 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Deer: Often browsed
Rabbits: Often browsed
Ideal planting time: March 15–June 15 or September 1–October 15

Why it works: A tough shade tree with corky bark and small fruit used by birds.

Good for: Large residential lots and exposed sites needing durable canopy.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Correct crossing branches while young. Water deeply during establishment and dry winters.

Know before planting: Can develop witches’-broom and drops small berries; not for tight strips.

Tree

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii

CO native

Mature height: 15–30 ft.
Mature spread: 12–25 ft.
Time to mature: 10–20 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Often browsed
Rabbits: Often browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring is safest; early fall can work

Why it works: Native oak character, wildlife value, and orange-red fall color.

Good for: Naturalized edges and larger properties with room for colonies.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Thin selectively for structure and remove unwanted suckers while small. Do not top.

Know before planting: Spreads by suckers and is difficult to confine near small beds or hardscape.

Tree

Pinyon pine

Pinus edulis

CO nativeDeer-smart

Mature height: 15–30 ft.
Mature spread: 10–20 ft.
Time to mature: 15–25 years
Light: Full sun
Water: Very low
Deer: Usually avoided
Rabbits: Sometimes browsed
Ideal planting time: Spring is safest

Why it works: A compact native evergreen with sculptural form and edible nuts.

Good for: Dry specimen planting and larger native landscapes.

Care and possible drawbacks

Care: Deep, infrequent establishment water and winter water in dry periods. Avoid unnecessary pruning.

Know before planting: Do not crowd against structures in wildfire-prone settings; drought stress can invite ips beetle.

Timing and wildlife are site-specific.

Planting windows assume workable soil, reliable establishment water, and no extreme heat or hard freeze. “Deer resistant” and “rabbit resistant” mean usually avoided—not guaranteed untouched.

Care guides by plant group

These are useful starting points for the Front Range—not rigid dates. Elevation, exposure, irrigation, and an unusually early or late season can move the right timing.

Late winter through spring

Perennials and flowers

Leave healthy stems and seedheads through winter when practical, then cut back before new growth. Divide crowded clumps in spring and avoid burying crowns under mulch.

Late February through April

Ornamental grasses

Warm-season grasses can stand through winter for structure. Cut before new blades emerge. Evergreen grasses are usually combed out rather than cut flat.

Depends on flowering habit

Shrubs

Thin older stems instead of repeatedly shearing the outside. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom; prune many summer-flowering shrubs while dormant.

Dormant season for most structural work

Young trees

Protect the trunk flare, establish a wide mulch ring, and water deeply rather than frequently. Correct competing leaders while cuts are small.

First two growing seasons matter most

Low-water plants

Drought-tolerant does not mean no establishment water. Water deeply, allow soil to dry between cycles, and gradually reduce frequency.

Dry, mild days from October through March

Winter watering

Water when soil is not frozen and daytime temperatures permit, especially evergreens, young trees, and exposed south- or west-facing beds.

A good shortlist, not a site inspection.

Sun reflected from a wall, winter wind, irrigation overlap, drainage, animals, elevation, and soil disturbance can all change the right choice. Confirm availability and final suitability with a reputable local nursery or Colorado State University Extension guidance.