Native Flowers to Denver: Landscape Designers Guide
As the days grow shorter and your garden prepares for winter’s quiet, you might feel a little disheartened seeing your favorite flowers fade. Don’t let the changing seasons bring you down—now is the perfect time to start planning your garden goals for the coming spring. If this year’s garden didn’t live up to expectations, it might be because early planning or the selection of native plant species was overlooked. The high-altitude environment presents unique challenges, but our Denver landscape designers will be by your side to guide you through selecting and incorporating resilient native flowers.
Why Use Native Flowers in Colorado Landscapes?
Choosing native plants for your yard has numerous benefits, particularly in our high-altitude and semi-arid climate. Here are a few key reasons to use native flowers in your garden:
Water Efficiency: The local climate can be quite dry, and we even face drought conditions from time to time. Native flowers have survived for so long because of their resilience in the face of these dry conditions. Not only will they maintain their vibrancy for longer, but you can also expect lower water bills.
Low Maintenance: Less watering isn’t the only maintenance benefit of native flowers. They are also adapted to local soil and ecosystems, meaning less need for fertilization, minimal use of pesticides, and fewer hours of garden upkeep.
Support Local Wildlife: Native flowers aren’t just adapted to local ecosystems, they are often an integral part of them. These flowers will attract beneficial insects, birds, bees, butterflies, and other local pollinators. Supporting biodiversity ensures a beautiful landscape design for years to come.
A Few Of Our Favorites to Consider
There are so many options when it comes to native flowers. While you can get a better idea of all that are available here on Colorado State University’s website, we wanted to showcase three of our Denver landscape designer’s favorites.
Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea)
If you knew that the Columbine is Colorado’s state flower, then you likely also knew it is a native species to the area. This stunning flower features delicate blue and white petals and blooms around April-July. Columbines thrive in partial shade and well-drained soil, making them ideal for gardens with inconsistent light.
Penstemon (Penstemon strictus)
A robust family of native perennials known as penstemons, or beardtongues, bear tall spikes of tubular flowers in hues of purple, pink, and red. Hummingbirds are attracted to these blooms, which thrive in rocky or sandy soil that's dry and sunny. Penstemons can withstand the frequent temperature swings in Colorado and bloom in the early summer.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
The vivid orange, yellow, and red blooms of the blanket flower add a cheery touch to any garden. These flowers are a perfect fit for our high desert climate because they love full sun and are incredibly drought-tolerant. Their blooming period spans from early summer to fall, offering your garden enduring color and frequent visitors such as bees and butterflies.
Maintenance and Care of Native Flower Gardens
Although using native flowers in your garden requires minimal upkeep, there are a few things you can do to make sure they prevail every year. First, use water sparingly. While native flowers can withstand droughts, they still require it, particularly in their first year after being planted by our Denver landscape designers. Strong root systems can be developed by thoroughly watering every few weeks.
Deadheading and pruning will keep your garden neat and encourage new blooms. Removing spent flowers and trimming overgrown plants also helps control self-seeding. By adding a layer of mulch around your plants, you can control temperature, weed growth, and soil moisture retention. Lastly, trim back perennials in the fall, leaving some seed heads for the birds, in preparation for the upcoming winter.
We’re Dedicated to Residential Landscape Design in Denver
At the heart of any successful garden is thoughtful planning and design. Whether you’re looking to create a vibrant flower garden, a water-wise xeriscape, or a pollinator-friendly habitat, native flowers provide a versatile and sustainable solution. Now is the perfect time to begin planning your garden for next year—so why not start working with the landscape design experts at Enviroscapes today?
Give us a call today and embrace the unique beauty of Colorado's native flora!