(Callirhoe) This native thrives at the front of the border, in the wild garden and Xeriscape where it enjoys the full sun, blooming with hot pink flowers most of the season. Drought tolerant once established.
Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Frost
(Berlandiera) Ever blooming native wildflower from the Southwest that produces a continuous succession of dark-eyed, yellow daisies over a compact rosette of foliage. The flowers exude a rich chocolate aroma in the morning hours. Best with minimal water once established. Can reseed. Perennial. Xeriscape.
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Time: June to Frost
Chocolate Flower: 12″-20″H x 12″-20″W. A Plant Select Perennial. More Info Here.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) is a showy perennial with large flowers. It enjoys a sunny location and well-drained soil. It is one of the more drought tolerant perennials in Colorado. It also offers a long bloom time from early summer to early fall.
Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall.
Threadleaf type Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, might be slow to wake up in Spring but it puts on a long-lived show once the heat of summer comes along. Dainty yellow flowers are the traditional type. Though many new hybrids range into pinks and reds. They all have a long bloom time and smother the plant in color. The foliage is light and airy and forms a nice mound. Blends with just about any color in the garden. Does best in well-drained soil.
Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: Summer
Big Bang Mercury Rising: a unique threadleaf type that offers deep burgundy blooms all summer long. Zone 5
Early Sunrise: a lance-leaf type with golden yellow semi-double flowers. Size is smaller than the threadleaf types at about 12″H x 12″W. Blooms in early summer.
Moonbeam: 18″-24″ H x 18″-24″W. Light yellow flowers adorn this threadleaf type. Long bloom time.
Bergenia, also known as Pig Squeak, is a hardy perennial grown for its thick leaves that are green in summer and deeper tones in fall. Magenta flower spikes appear in Spring. Though these plants are short, the flowers are showy. Very pretty when paired with other late spring bloomers (geum, icelandic poppies, turkish veronica, golden creeping jenny).
Exposure: Sun to Part Sun
Bloom Time: Spring
This perennial practically blooms all season long. It forms a small bush at maturity and is LOVED by all kinds of pollinators….butterflies, bees, hummingbirds. Not for high altitude locations but a wonderful perennial for the Colorado Springs area.
Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
What would a shady garden be without hostas? Their leaves add color and texture. As a bonus, they flower in Summer with bell-shaped blossoms held above their foliage and are a nectar source for hummingbirds.
Exposure: Shade to Morning Sun
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is a low growing perennial for shady or morning sun locations. It delivers a big splash of color both from it’s leaves and iridescent flowers.
Exposure: Shade to Morning Sun
Bloom Time: Spring to Early Summer
Lisa Marie
Roy Davidson
Upright sedum varieties bloom in late summer thru Fall. They are a great choice for a hot, dry place as they are very drought tolerant. Their succulent leaves add texture and often change color in cooler temps. Many types are also loved by pollinators.
Creeping types stay low to the ground and often spread to fill in an area. Provide full to part sun and well drained soil.
Exposure: Sun, Part Sun
Bloom Time: Summer
Upright Types:
Autumn Joy: 18″-24″ in height with pink flowers that deepen in color as weather cools
Creeping Types: These lower growing types make great groundcovers for a sunny spot. Varieties such as: Angelina, Bertram Anderson, Dragon’s Blood, Kamschatka green leaf, Kamschatka variegated leaf, Tricolor
Autumn Joy
Lamium forms a bushy groundcover and offers colorful leaves and spring blooms for a deep shade or morning sun location. It is also a lovely addition to shady containers or hanging baskets. Just plant it in the ground in late Summer or early Fall if you would like to overwinter it. Regular watering will help it establish quickly.
Exposure: Shade, Morning Sun
Bloom Time: Spring
Shell Pink: heart shaped leaves have a white stripe down the center. Blooms are pale pink.
…and other assorted varieties