10 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado

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Welcome to ThinkVail – shop our list of the best 10 high altitude plants for Colorado featuring beautiful perennials like Clematis, Partridge Feather, Snow In Summer, Lupine, Columbine, Catamint, Goldenrod, Lambs Ear, Irises and more.


Growing almost anything in the mountains can be challenging. Gardeners in Vail, Colorado and in any mountain town must battle intense sun, a short growing season, little rain, deer, rabbits and less oxygen than at sea level, all make growing plants at elevation, a seemingly impossible task.

We promise these beautiful perennial plants will make your gardening easier and more satisfying. All of these plants have been tested at elevations of 8,200 feet and they survive and thrive in harsh mountain conditions.

Keep in mind, that all plants at altitude need more time to become established, so water generously for 2-3 seasons and don’t expect too much growth for at least a season or three. Elevation definitely slows the growth of most plants.

In addition, many of these plants may be considered invasive at other elevations but the harsh conditions of high altitude gardening seems to control them from spreading uncontrollably as they might in other locations. But still, keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t spread too much from their original areas unless you want them to.

All of these plants are deer resistant, drought tolerant, grow well at high elevation and are perennial, so they will keep coming back year after year.

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See Also: Best High Altitude Gardening Tools


Best High Altitude Plants


#1 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Clematis Vine

Clematis vines are easy to grow at altitude and they grow really big with a rich profusion of flowers. C. Jackmanii is a popular and widely grown clematis that can easily run up a trellis, spill over a porch railing or can even be trained in a pot with beautiful, large, knock-out purple flowers.

Jackmanii is a type 3 Clematis which means they bloom later in the season and flower from buds from the current growing season. Cut back hard in late winter or early spring to stimulate new growth.

  • Botanical Name: Ranunculaceae
  • Grows in Zones 4-9
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows in full sun to partial shade
  • Extended bloom time over 4 weeks
  • Blooms early to late summer
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Clematis prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil
  • Loved by hummingbirds and bees
  • Perennial

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#2 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Columbine

The Columbine plant (Aquilegia) is the state flower of Colorado and it’s easy to see why. This easy-to-grow perennial thrives in the cool temperatures of the mountains and can be found on woodland hikes throughout the state.

This North American native flourishes with little fuss and is ignored by deer and rabbits. Enjoy this colorful, spring-blooming winner in your high altitude garden.

  • Botanical Name: Aquilegia
  • Grows in Zones 3-9
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun to partial shade but they do not like it very hot
  • Extended bloom time is over 4 weeks long
  • Blooms spring to summer
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Columbines prefer neutral soil that drains well and is not too dry
  • Loved by hummingbirds and bees
  • Comes in a variety of colors like blue, orange, pink, red, white, and yellow
  • Columbine is a short-lived perennial plant that will fade after a few years, but most varieties spread seeds that develop into new plants every spring, so they keep coming back.
  • Perennial

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#3 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado –  Lambs Ear

Lamb’s ears is an awesome plant for high altitude garden. It is a beautiful silvery gray foliage with really interesting texture and so easy to grow. Their fuzzy texture makes them unappetizing to deer and rabbits.

Lamb’s ear is perfect for rock gardens, walkways, flower borders and as a ground cover.  They spread readily, making them effective for covering large areas of ground if needed.

These well-known ground cover plants are grown for their texture and foliage color, not for their flowers. Lamb’s Ears are tough, easy to grow plants that you will love.

  • Botanical Name: Stachys byzantina
  • Grows in Zones 4-9
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows in full sun to some shade
  • Beautiful silver gray foliage grows all summer
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Lamb’s Ear is very versatile and can grow in soil from mildly acidic, neutral to slightly alkaline soil.
  • Grows 6-10 inches tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds and bees
  • Easily divided to create new plants
  • Ground cover
  • Perennial

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#4 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado –  Irises

There are approximately 200 species of Iris. Bearded irises are one of the most common perennials to grow but Siberian irises (Iris sibirica) are hardy, easy to grow, and almost completely trouble-free.

Siberian Irises have smaller, more delicate flowers than bearded irises and numerous varieties are available.

The foliage is narrow, upright, grass-like in appearance and turns an attractive yellow or orange-brown in the fall.

  • Botanical Name: Iris germanica
  • Grows in Zones 3-8
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows in full sun to partial shade
  • Blooms in early spring (May or June)
  • Irises seldom bloom the first year after planting but should be blooming well by the third or fourth year.
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Irises grow best in moist, well-drained, fertile soils but will tolerate poor, dry sites too.
  • Grows 12-40 inches tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds and bees
  • Easily divided in early spring to create new plants
  • Grows by Bulbs / Rhizomes
  • Irises come in a variety of colors like blue, purple, wine-red, pink, white, and yellow
  • Perennial

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#5 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Snow in Summer

Snow in Summer is a hardy, easy-to-grow show stopper. It lives up to it’s name in June when a profusion of small white flowers almost completely covers the pretty silver foliage and looks just like snow from a distance.

Grows well in cool, mountain summer climates and may be considered invasive but higher elevation seems to slow its growth somewhat.

These lovely plants create a neat, thick compact foliage mat that can cover large areas. This is a beauty that is ignored by deer and rabbits.

  • Botanical Name: Caryophyllaceae
  • Grows in Zones 2-7
  • Deer resistant / rabbit resistant
  • Grows in full sun but does not like high heat or high humidity
  • Beautiful silver gray foliage grows all summer
  • Small white flowers bloom in June
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Snow in Summer grows best in dry, sandy, well-drained soil
  • Grows 6-12 inches tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds and bees
  • Easily divided to create new plants, spreads by runners
  • Ground cover
  • Long lasting perennial plant

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#6 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Walker’s Low Catmint

An easy grower, Nepeta Walker’s Low (Walker’s Low Catmint) is a robust plant with really pretty dark lavender-blue flowers and aromatic gray-green foliage.

It thrives in harsh conditions, is long-lasting and very rabbit and deer resistant. But it is an excellent source of nectar for butterflies, honey bees and hummingbirds.

This is a winner for high altitude, Xeriscape gardens, and is especially rewarding for beginner gardeners.

  • Botanical Name: Nepeta
  • Grows in Zones 4-9
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade
  • Beautiful purple flowers bloom in mid summer
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Grows well in a wide range of soil types, including dry clay
  • Catmint grows 18- 30 inches tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees
  • Fragrant, compact mounds
  • Perennial

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#7 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Lupine

Lupine, like Columbines are a woodland staple in the forests and meadows of Colorado. These striking plants grow well in the cool summers of the high alpine mountains.

These plants are ignored by deer and rabbits and look beautiful wherever they are planted.

  • Botanical Name: Fabaceae
  • Grows in Zones 3-8
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade
  • Blooms May-July
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Grows well in slightly acidic, evenly moist, well-drained soils
  • Grows 18 inches to 4 feet tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees
  • Comes in a variety of colors like white, red, pink, yellow, blue, purple or bi color
  • Perennial

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#8 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Little Lemon Goldenrod Hybrid

Little Lemon (dwarf goldenrod) is a beautiful, delicate goldenrod hybrid that boasts a compact, upright growth habit with lots of showy plumes of bright, yellow flowers.

This native beauty will be a showstopper in your mountain garden and is very easy to grow and maintain.

Solidago is a genus of about 100 species of goldenrod and contrary to what many believe, Solidago doesn’t cause allergies; its pollen is sticky, not windblown, and is moved from plant to plant by pollinators.

  • Botanical Name: Solidago canadensis
  • Grows in Zones 4-8
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun to light shade
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Grows well in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils but also tolerates poor, dry soils and clay
  • Grows 18 inches tall
  • Loved by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees
  • Perennial

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#9 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

This spectacular ornamental grass is a low maintenance show stopper that adds tons of texture to your garden and adds tons of interest to fall and winter gardens with its pretty, tawny seed heads.

Feather Reed Grass has a wonderful upright growth habit with lovely tall, feathery plumes that emerge in early summer and ripen to handsome wheat-colored seed heads in the autumn

  • Botanical Name: Calamagrostis
  • Grows in Zones 4-9
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Grows well in a wide range of soils
  • Karl Foerster Reed Grass grows 48-60 inches tall
  • Decorative Grass
  • Perennial

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#10 Best High Altitude Plants for Colorado – Partridge Feather

This uncommon, beautiful ground cover is so interesting and unique. The lovely silver green feathers, or rather the leaves of this plant boast amazing curb appeal.

The leaves do look like fancy partridge feathers, and are quite distinctive from other plants. They cluster on slightly fuzzy stems that form a frilly mound that smothers grass and weeds.

Clusters of small yellow button-like flowers appear in late June and early July and create an appealing contrast particularly in a large area of plants.

Deer may taste this plant early in the season but usually spit it out and move on. A lovely, neat elegant plant for your high altitude mountain garden.

  • Botanical Name: Tanacetum densum
  • Grows in Zones 4-9
  • Blooms in late June early July
  • Deer resistant / Rabbit resistant
  • Grows best in full sun or part shade
  • Drought tolerant – does not need much water once established
  • Grows well in a wide range of well drained soils
  • Grows 3-6 inches tall
  • Ground Cover
  • Perennial

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See Also: Best Tools for Colorado Gardens


Comments

We hope you found this article about the best high altitude plants for Colorado helpful.

We have touched on some of our favorite high altitude plants but we would love to know your favorites in the comments below.

In addition, we diligently research all information for our articles but still we are probably leaving out something important or circumstances may have changed since publishing so please provide any tips or info that you feel others should know.

We would love to hear your thoughts, comments and stories.



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  • Great, informative post!! I live in Utah and it took me a few years to get the right plants for the high altitude. I love clematis, they are a beautiful vine and if planted correctly will grow beautifully and bring a lot of color to your yard and garden. They do have sensitive roots, that do not like the heat, I found putting a rock or some kind of ground cover over where you plant the roots help keep them cool and allow them to grow better.

    I still have problems growing watermelon in my garden each summer, one of these years I will get it right. 

  • Loved, loved, loved this article about High Altitude Plants for Colorado.  I moved to Breckenridge CO, two years ago from Connecticut and love it, however, all the plants that I am use to growing back east do not do well here.  Everything gets eaten by the deer or they just don't thrive.  I have had SUCH a hard time finding things that grow here.  Your list is JUST what I needed.  I am going to buy the Partridge Feather, the Clematis and the Carl Forester Tall Grass and plant it this fall so it will be ready next summer.  Next year I will look into Lupine and Snow-in-Summer are my favorites.Thank you for the information on high altitude plants, with my home sitting at 8,200 ft. this is just the guide I needed..

    • Hi Christine, I am so happy that you found this post "10 High Altitude Plants for Colorado" helpful.  I know just what you mean, I struggled for years to find plants that grew well at altitude, where the oxygen is low and the sun is super intense.  All of the plants you chose should do great, just remember for the first 2-years to give them more water.  Everyone will tell you, one year, but at elevation, it just takes longer for them to become established.  Feel free to buy your plants directly from this post but because they are seasonal items they might not be available and I recommend, if possible, to buy them from a nursery near your home, so the plants can get conditioned before you even buy them. Good luck and have fun with these easy to grow plants!

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