Native Shrubs - Audubon Rockies

Native Shrubsfor Colorado LandscapesFact Sheet No. 7.422Gardening Series Trees and Shrubsby J. Klett, B. Fahey and R. Cox*Why Grow Native Shrubs?There are many benefits to usingColorado native shrubs for home andcommercial landscapes. Colorado nativeshrubs are naturally adapted to their specificColorado climate, soils, and environmentalconditions. When correctly sited, they canbe ideal plants for a sustainable landscapethat requires reduced external inputs such aswatering, fertilizing, and pruning. In orderto realize these benefits, the planting sitemust approximate the natural environmentalconditions of the plant in its native habitat.Another benefit of using Colorado nativesin landscapes is that they may attract a widevariety of wildlife including mammals, birds,and butterflies. Rapid urbanization in thestate is reducing biodiversity as habitat isremoved for building and road construction.Landscaping with natives on a large or smallscale can maintain biodiversity that otherwisecould be lost to development.The shrubs listed in Table 1 are grown bysome Colorado nurseries and are becomingmore available in the commercial sector.However, not all shrubs listed are availableat all nurseries, so it may be necessary tocontact a number of commercial outlets tofind a specific plant. If a shrub is not soldin the trade, asking for it may help increaseits availability. Native shrubs should not becollected from the wild because this reducesbiodiversity and causes a disturbed area thatmay be invaded by weeds.Most of the shrubs listed in Table 1 areavailable as container-grown plants. Nativeshrubs often do not have as great a visualimpact in the container or immediatelyafter planting as do traditional horticulturalspecies. Over time, they will reward thehomeowner with their natural beauty andother benefits.J. Klett, Colorado State University Extension landscapeand horticulture specialist; B. Fahey, Jefferson CountyExtension natural resources/horticulture agent; and R.Cox, Arapahoe County Extension horticulture agent. 7/08*Quick Facts A Colorado native shrub canbe described as existing inColorado prior to Europeansettlement.Figure 1: Mountain-mahogany fruit(Cerocarpus montanus )Where To GrowNative ShrubsThere are several factors to considerin designing a native landscape. Due toColorado’s wide variation of elevation andtopography, native plants are found in avariety of habitats. In order to maximizesurvival with minimal external inputs, plantsshould be selected to match the site’s lifezone and the plant’s moisture, light, andsoil requirements. Even if a plant is listedfor a particular life zone, the aspect (north,south, east or west facing) of the proposedsite should match the moisture requirement.For example, a red twig dogwood, which hasa high moisture requirement, should not besited with plants of dissimilar water needs.Similarly, a red twig dogwood should notbe planted on a south-facing slope, where asignificant amount of additional moisturewould be required.Growing native shrubs does not excludethe use of adapted non-native plants. Thereare many non-native plants that are adaptedto Colorado’s climate and can be used in anative landscape as long as moisture, light,and soil requirements are similar. Even if asite has a non-native landscape that requiresadditional inputs (such as an irrigatedlandscape on the plains), dry land nativeplants can be used in non-irrigated pockets Native plant communitiesmake Colorado visuallydistinct from the eastern,southern or western UnitedStates. Native plant gardens arewildlife habitats and eachplant contributes to thebiodiversity of the state. Landscaping with natives ona large or small scale canmaintain biodiversity thatotherwise would be lost todevelopment. Colorado State UniversityExtension. 6/02. Reviewed 7/08.www.ext.colostate.edu

discover any regulations that may affectyour design.Life Zones of ColoradoFigure 2: Golden currant (Ribes aureum)Figure 3: Twinberry fruit (Lonicera involucrata)Figure 4: Red-berried elder (Sambucusracemosa)Colorado can be divided into five lifezones that are broadly defined by the plantcommunities that occur at the approximateelevations described below. The Plainslife zone, 3,500 to 5,500 feet, is locatedin eastern Colorado where the majorityof Colorado’s population resides. It isdominated by grasslands and streamsidecottonwoods. In western Colorado, theUpper Sonoran life zone is located ataltitudes below 7,000 feet, and in the SanLuis Valley, below 8,000 feet. This zone ischaracterized by semidesert shrublandsand piñon pine-juniper woodlands at itsupper limit.The Foothills life zone occurs from5,500 to 8,000 feet and is dominated bydry land shrubs such as Gambel oak andmountain-mahogany, and, in southernand western Colorado, piñon-juniperwoodlands and sagebrush. The Montanezone consists of ponderosa pine, Douglasfir, lodgepole pine, and aspen woodlandsat elevations of 8,000 to 9,500 feet. Denseforests of Subalpine fir and Engelmannspruce dominate the Subalpine zone at9,500 to 11,500 feet. The Alpine zone above11,500 feet is a treeless zone made up ofgrasslands called tundra. Species requiringmedium to high moisture occur alongwatercourses throughout all zones.Figure 6: Western chokecherry (Prunusvirginiana melanocarpa)Figure 7: Wax currant (Ribes cereum)Culture and MaintenanceFigure 5: Wild rose (Rosa woodsii)within the non-native landscape. Thesenative “pocket gardens” can be locatedin areas such as parkways and next tohardscapes that are difficult to irrigate.Some communities regulate landscapeappearance or the type of plants which maybe used. So before completing a landscapedesign, check with local authorities,including homeowner’s associations, toSuccessful establishment of nativeshrubs may require supplemental moistureafter planting. Once established, thewatering frequency can be reduced or eveneliminated if the plant was sited in its nativeenvironmental conditions. Containergrown shrubs can be planted at any timeduring the growing season. Containergrown native shrubs are often grown ina soiless mixture of peat and bark, so theplanting site should be amended with someorganic material.Using native shrubs offers many benefitsin addition to reduced maintenance.Natives are part of our natural heritageand the ecosystems of Colorado. Nativeplant communities make Coloradovisually distinct from the eastern, southernor western United States. Native plantgardens are wildlife habitats and each plantcontributes to the biodiversity of the state.Figure 8: Waxflower (Jamesia americana)Figure 9: Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Table 1. Native shrubs for Colorado landscapes.PlantingCommonAltitudeScientific Name1Name(s)in feet2NativeColoradoEvergreen/Life Zone3Moisture4 Deciduous Comments5Large shrubs (6 - 10 ft when mature)Acer glabrumRocky5,000 - 10,500Foothills L-MDSmall, rounded tree to large shrub; usuallyMountainMontanemulti-stemmed; smooth, gray branches withmaplered buds; fall foliage yellow; shade tolerant.Amelanchier alnifoliaserviceberry5,000 - 10,000Foothills L-MDUpright to spreading branches; small,Subalpinerounded leaves; clusters of small whiteflowers; blue-black fruit attractive to wildlife;orange to red fall color.Cercocarpuscurl-leaf4,500 - 9,000UpperL-METhick, dark evergreen leaves curl duringledifoliusmountain-Sonoran3adrought conditions; feathery, attractive seedmahoganyheads; irregular growth habit; large shrub tosmall tree.Cercocarpusmountain4,000 - 8,500Foothills L-MDOpen growth habit; feathery, attractive seedmontanusmahoganyMontaneheads; wedge-shaped leaves.Cornus sericeared twig4,500 - 10,000Plains M-HDRed stems in winter; flat, white flower clustersCornus stoloniferadogwood;Montanefollowed by white to blue fruits attractive tored-osierbirds; yellow to red fall color; streamsidedogwoodunderstory plant; shade tolerant.ForestieraNew Mexico4,500 - 7,500UpperLDLarge shrub to small tree; dense, grayishneomexicanaprivetSonoran3agreen foliage; yellow flowers before leaves;blue-black fruit on females; light tan bark;yellow fall color; good for screening.Fraxinus anomalasingle-leaf4,500 - 6,000UpperL-MDLarge shrub or small tree, often multi-ashSonoran3astemmed; found in dry canyons in southwestCO; yellow fall color; less available.Prunus americanaAmerican4,500 - 8,500Plains L-MDThicket-forming; white flowers before leaves;plum,Foothillsfruit good for preserves; attracts wildlife; coldwild plumand drought tolerant; yellow to red fall color;found along canyons and slope bottoms.Prunus pensylvanicapin cherry5,000 - 8,000Foothills3bMDLarge shrub to small tree; thicket-forming;shiny, green leaves; red, edible fruit; shadetolerant; white flowers; red fall color.Prunus virginianaWestern4,500 - 8,500Plains MDIrregular, branching shrub with shiny, darkmelanocarpachokecherryMontane, Uppergreen leaves and elongated flower clusters;Sonoransuckers to form thickets; dark purple fruitexcellent for preserves; reddish-orange toyyellow fall color.Ptelea trifoliatahop tree,4,000 - 6,500Plains M-HDShrub or small tree with three-partedwafer-ashFoothills3bfoliage; drought and shade tolerant; small,fragrant flowers; yellow fall color; persistenthop-like fruit.Quercus undulatawavyleaf oak4,000 - 6,500Foothills3bLD-EBlue-green, leathery leaves with wavy edges;leaves persist in winter; coarse bark; nativeto southeast CO; less available.Rhamnus smithiiSmith5,000 - 7,500Foothills3aL-MDUpright habit with dark green, shinyleaves;buckthornblack fruit in late summer on female plants;yellow fall color; good screen plant; PlantSelect 5a.Rhus glabrasmooth sumac 4,000 - 8,000Plains L-MDOpen, rounded thicket-forming shrub; brightFoothills, Uppergreen leaves; pyramidal clusters of yellowSonoranflowers produce fuzzy, dark red fruits in fallthat persist into winter; outstanding yellow-orange-red fall color.Salix exiguasandbar4,000 - 9,000Plains HDThicket-forming; gray-green narrow leaves;willowFoothills, Uppersalinity tolerant; yellowish-gray catkinsSonoranbefore leaves; yellow fall color.Salix monticolaRocky6,000 - 10,500MontaneHDBroad, rounded shrub; narrow, deepMountaingreen leaves, yellow fall color; archingwillow, yellowyellow twigs attractive in winter; commonmountain willowstreamside willow found in mountain areas.Shepherdiasilver4,500 - 7,500Plains L-MDMedium shrub to small tree; thicket-forming;argenteabuffaloberryFoothills, Uppersilver, rounded leaves; golden to red, edible,Sonoranbitter fruits on females; attracts wildlife.Sorbus scopulinanative6,000 - 10,000Foothills MDLarge shrub to small tree with divided leaves;mountain-ashSubalpinewhite flower clusters followed by orange fruit;attractive to wildlife; orange to red fall color;found in moist sites on slopes in rockycanyons.