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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Colorado Springs, Colorado

📍 Colorado Springs, CO 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b 🌱 320+ compatible plants

Gardening in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs 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 320+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Colorado Springs

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
Goat's Beard
Goat's Beard
Aruncus dioicus
Feathery white plumes bloom in early summer, adding airy elegance to shady garden spots. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Dianthus
Dianthus
Dianthus deltoides
Vibrant pink blooms with a sweet fragrance light up late spring gardens, adding charm and color. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Wild Hydrangea
Wild Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Clusters of creamy white blooms light up summer gardens with a soft, elegant charm. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and adapts well to shade or sun.
Zone 3–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Boltonia
Boltonia
Boltonia asteroides
Delicate daisy-like white blooms light up late summer through fall, adding graceful elegance to any garden. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts butterflies with ease.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Contender Peach Tree
Contender Peach Tree
Prunus persica 'Contender'
Vibrant pink blossoms burst in early spring, heralding juicy, sweet peaches by mid-summer. This cold-hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and resists many common pests.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Halcyon Hosta
Halcyon Hosta
Hosta 'Halcyon'
Striking blue-green leaves with a smooth texture create a calming, attractive focal point all summer long. This shade-tolerant, low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Quaking Aspen
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Delicate yellow-green blooms in spring add a shimmering beauty to landscapes from zones 4-9. This low-maintenance, medium-water tree attracts pollinators and thrives in full sun.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Showy pink and white blooms from June to September make this shrub a stunning summer standout. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it thrives in zones 4-9 while attracting pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Prairie Blazing Star
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
Vibrant purple flower spikes burst into bloom in late summer, creating a stunning vertical accent in any garden. This prairie native thrives in USDA zones 3-9, attracts pollinators, and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Arborvitae Emerald Green
Arborvitae Emerald Green
Thuja occidentalis Emerald Green
Vibrant emerald-green foliage provides year-round color and a sleek, narrow silhouette that brightens any landscape. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant evergreen thrives in USDA zones 3-7.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Siberian Iris
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica
Vibrant blue-purple blooms brighten late spring gardens with graceful, grass-like foliage adding elegant texture. This hardy perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while being deer resistant.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Colorado Springs

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 320+ 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.