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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Aurora, Colorado

📍 Aurora, CO 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b 🌱 319+ compatible plants

Gardening in Aurora

Aurora falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the −20°F to −10°F range. The 319+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Aurora

Yucca
Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Striking white, bell-shaped blooms appear in summer, creating a dramatic focal point with spiky, architectural foliage. Extremely drought-tolerant and deer resistant, this tough beauty thrives in USDA zones 4-10.
Zone 4–11🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Hellebore
Hellebore
Helleborus orientalis
Early spring brings stunning, nodding blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple that brighten shady spots. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and requires minimal care.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Persimmon
Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Bright orange persimmon fruits ripen in fall, adding vibrant color and edible appeal to your landscape. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts wildlife while being deer resistant.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Mimosa Tree
Mimosa Tree
Albizia julibrissin
Delicate pink and white blooms light up summer from June to September, creating a stunning, airy display. This low-maintenance tree attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with full sun.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Invincibelle Spirit Smooth Hydrangea
Invincibelle Spirit Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit'
Showy pink-to-white blooms from June to September light up gardens with vibrant color and texture. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators, thrives in zones 4-9, and tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Lets Dance Can Do Bigleaf Hydrangea
Lets Dance Can Do Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lets Dance Can Do'
Bright pink and white blooms dazzle from June to September, adding vibrant color to your garden through summer. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Gatsby Gal Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Gal'
Showcasing stunning pink and white blooms from June to September, this Oakleaf Hydrangea adds vibrant color and texture to your garden. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Leucothoe Rainbow
Leucothoe Rainbow
Leucothoe fontanesiana Rainbow
Vibrant red, orange, and pink foliage in spring and fall adds stunning seasonal color to any garden. This shade-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and resists deer damage.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Brilliant orange and red foliage lights up fall, creating stunning seasonal color from late September to October. This hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and provides shade while being low maintenance and deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Verbena
Verbena
Verbena x hybrida
Vibrant pink and white blooms light up summer gardens from June to September, adding cheerful color and charm. This low-maintenance annual thrives in full sun, attracts pollinators, and is safe for dogs and cats in zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Agastache
Agastache
Agastache foeniculum
Vibrant spikes of lavender-purple blooms light up summer gardens with a delightful minty fragrance that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 5-10, making it a low-maintenance pollinator magnet.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Rhododendron PJM
Rhododendron PJM
Rhododendron 'PJM'
Vibrant lavender-pink blooms light up early spring, brightening gardens with a burst of color. This hardy shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant and low maintenance.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Aurora

Answer 4 quick questions about your yard — sun, soil, deer pressure, and pet situation — and get a custom list of plants that will thrive in Zone 5b.

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Other Cities in Zone 5b

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Browse All 319+ Plants for Zone 5b

The 12 picks above are a sample. Use the full directory to filter by sun, water, deer resistance, and more.

View All Zone 5 Plants →

† "Pet-friendly" means not listed as toxic by ASPCA for dogs and/or cats. Always supervise pets around plants. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.