Native Colorado Flowering Shrubs

Apache plume produces white, rose-like flowers followed by distinctive feathery pink seed heads. It performs well in sunny, dry locations with good drainage and works effectively in naturalistic beds, slopes, and water-wise landscapes.

Give it enough room to develop its loose, irregular form. It is generally better suited to informal planting than tightly clipped foundation beds.

Mountain mahogany is a durable native shrub with small flowers followed by curled, feathery seed tails. Its dense branching can provide screening, structure, wildlife value, and year-round texture.

It is best placed where its eventual size is an advantage. Frequent shearing can destroy its natural form and create unnecessary maintenance.

Golden currant produces fragrant yellow flowers in spring followed by dark edible berries when pollination and growing conditions are suitable. It can tolerate a range of light conditions and is useful in mixed borders, wildlife gardens, and informal screens.

It may spread by suckering, so allow room for a colony-forming habit or manage new shoots where a tighter footprint is required.

Wax currant has small pinkish-white tubular flowers, rounded leaves, and translucent berries. It fits well in foothill-inspired landscapes and can tolerate drier sites once established.

Afternoon protection may be beneficial in especially hot, reflected locations, depending on elevation and irrigation.

Shrubby cinquefoil provides a long flowering season and a compact growth habit. Yellow-flowered forms are common, while cultivated selections may offer white, pink, or orange flowers.

It works well along walkways, in mixed shrub beds, and where a smaller flowering shrub is needed. Avoid excessive water and heavy shearing.

Rabbitbrush produces bright yellow flowers late in the season when many other plants have stopped blooming. It performs especially well in dry, exposed areas and supports pollinators.

Its informal form and late-season seed production make it better suited to naturalistic or xeric landscapes than highly manicured beds.

New Mexico privet is a large, durable shrub or small multi-stem tree. Its small early flowers are followed by blue-black fruit on female plants when a compatible male plant is nearby.

It is useful for screening, wind protection, habitat, and larger property borders. Confirm adequate space before planting near structures.

Western sand cherry produces white spring flowers followed by dark fruit. It prefers well-drained soil and can serve as a medium-sized accent or informal hedge.

Cultivated purple-leaf forms are widely sold, but not every ornamental cultivar should be treated as equivalent to the native regional form.