Colorado has complex topography. While half of Colorado is flat land, some parts of the state are mountains and deserts. This is why the climate varies from one region to another, but in general, Colorado has a dry climate. This means you’ll need to find drought resistant flowers for Colorado.
Colorado’s position far inland and great distance from any large bodies of water give low precipitation, hot summers, and low humidity in all regions of the state. Not only that, but Colorado has a thick clay soil type that lacks the organic matter needed to supply nutrients to the plant.
Yes, gardening is quite difficult in Colorado, but this doesn’t mean having fragrant and colorful flowers in the summer is impossible. You just have to find native perennials or drought-resistant flowering plants that you can add to your garden. Native perennials are already accustomed to the dry and hot climate of Colorado. Drought-resistant flowering plants will survive even with minimal water in arid and sunny areas.
Drought Resistant Flowers Colorado
Looking for drought resistant flowers in Colorado? Consider your search done! Below are the top 8 flowering plants that can survive Colorado’s climate.
1. Aromatic Aster
Violet flowers look good in a garden full of greens. If you want flowers in the summer that aren’t too bright, plant some Aromatic Aster. This plant has blue-purple daisy-like flowers that bloom from late summer to fall. Aromatic Aster is not only drought-tolerant but also requires only a little maintenance for it to thrive and bloom. It also attracts butterflies because the flowers are a great source of nectar. Aromatic Aster can also tolerate poor soil, so the clay soil type in Colorado is not a problem.
2. Chocolate Daisy
If you want your garden to smell like sweet chocolate in the summer, then chocolate daisy is the drought-resistant flower you should go for. The flowers of the chocolate daisy resemble those of sunflowers. The petals are yellow in color, and at the center of the flower is a dark brown disk that produces a sweet, chocolatey smell. This flower is also resistant to cold, allowing them to survive in areas of Colorado that experience harsh winters. The chocolate daisy is native to the Rocky Mountain Range.
3. Red Sulfur Buckwheat
The flowers of red sulfur buckwheat will add more color and life to your garden. This plant is a shrub that blooms with red flowers in the summer. They are easy to grow and are drought-tolerant, ensuring that they thrive even in the hot summers of Colorado. Red sulfur buckwheat loves the sun, so plant them in an area where they can get lots of morning sun. They grow even in soil with low fertility levels. The yellow flowers will bloom in spring and will turn dark red in the late summer.
4. Rocky Mountain Penstemon
The Rocky Mountain penstemon is popular for its bright blue flowers and evergreen foliage. This plant can grow up to 1 to 2 feet when planted in a sunny location. Rocky Mountain Penstemon is easy to grow in Colorado since it’s a native plant. It requires little irrigation and can tolerate the clay soil type in the region. These plants are also good for erosion control. They attract hummingbirds, bees, and birds when they bloom in spring.
5. Yellow Columbine
Drought-resistant flowers can help you save money on water bills. Even though these plants only need a little water to survive, they still bloom flowers that are beautiful, healthy, and fragrant. Yellow Columbine is a drought-resistant flower that can tolerate the dry climate of Colorado because it is a native plant. In fact, the state flower of Colorado is the blue columbine, which is protected by law, so picking is not encouraged. Just go with the yellow columbines because they too are easy to grow and can survive the climate of Colorado.
6. Lavender
The scent of lavender has a calming effect on people. This is why the flowers of lavenders are widely used as an aromatherapy agent. So, if you want a garden that can give you peace of mind during the summer, lavender is a drought-resistant plant you can grow. Since lavender has a Mediterranean origin, it thrives the most in sunny areas with dry soil. Lavender hates overwatering and too much shade. This is why Colorado is the perfect place for lavender to thrive. The blooming time for lavenders is from June to August.
7. Apache Sunset Hyssop
Apache Sunset Hyssop is a very drought-tolerant flowering plant. When this plant blooms in the summer, its salmon-orange flower spikes and silvery-gray leaves seem to sparkle when the rays of the sun hit them. Apache sunset hyssop is low maintenance. You just have to provide them with lots of sunlight for them to grow. They can also tolerate low fertility soil types. Your garden will smell like licorice and mint with the apache sunset hyssop. Lastly, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
8. Deep Red Oriental Poppy
Last on this list is the deep red oriental poppy. If you think your garden needs some bright flowers, the deep red flowers of the oriental poppy will complete your drought-tolerant garden. Poppies are grown from seeds and are best planted in spring or fall. They bloom with beautiful flowers that are deep red in the summer. Deep red oriental poppy is hardy in Zones 3 to 9, which is where Colorado falls under. This plant loves sunlight and is drought-tolerant once established.
Drought Resistant Flowers Colorado: Final Thoughts
There are lots of beautiful flowers that love the dry and hot climate of Colorado. The eight flowers that are mentioned above are just some of the drought-resistant flowering plants for Colorado.
Take note that there are several factors affecting the capability of plants to tolerate drought, namely soil type, competition for soil nutrients, sun exposure, and geographic location. One of these can be the reason why, although a plant is considered drought-tolerant, it still did not survive in your region. To conclude, despite the dry climate of Colorado, with drought-resistant flowers, you can still get to enjoy the wonderful sight of different flowers when summer comes.
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