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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Colorado Springs, Colorado

📍 Colorado Springs, CO 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b 🌱 319+ 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 319+ 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

Kousa Dogwood
Kousa Dogwood
Cornus kousa
Showy white blooms in late spring transform into vibrant red berries and striking fall foliage, making this tree a seasonal standout. Highly deer resistant and adaptable to USDA zones 5-8, it thrives in sun or partial shade with low maintenance needs.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Dryopteris Wood Fern
Dryopteris Wood Fern
Dryopteris spp.
Lush, arching fronds create a vibrant green backdrop in part shade from spring through fall, adding texture and depth to any garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant fern thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while being safe for pets.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Rattlesnake Master
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Spiky white blooms with a unique spherical shape dazzle from midsummer to fall, adding striking texture to any garden. This drought-tolerant native thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bee Balm
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Vibrant red blooms light up summer gardens, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with their rich nectar. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is low maintenance.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Stewartia
Stewartia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Showcasing stunning white camellia-like blooms in summer, Stewartia pseudocamellia adds year-round interest with its exfoliating bark and vibrant fall color. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 5-8 and is highly resistant to deer, making it a reliable landscape standout.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Panicle Hydrangea
Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
Showy panicles of pink and white blooms light up your garden from June to September with vibrant, long-lasting color. This low-maintenance shrub attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Smooth Hydrangea Annabelle
Smooth Hydrangea Annabelle
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Showy white blooms from June to September create a stunning display on this smooth hydrangea. Low-maintenance and deer-resistant, it attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Pagoda Dogwood
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Delicate white blooms cascade in late spring, creating a stunning layered effect with elegant horizontal branches. This shade-tolerant tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer damage.
Zone 3–7🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Bright yellow blooms in early spring add cheerful color while attracting pollinators to your garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 with medium water needs.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Quick Fire Fab Panicle Hydrangea
Quick Fire Fab Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Quick Fire Fab'
Showcasing stunning pink-to-white blooms from June to September, this hydrangea adds vibrant summer color to any garden. Low-maintenance and deer resistant, it thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts valuable pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
New Jersey Tea
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Delicate clusters of creamy white flowers bloom in early summer, adding soft beauty and fragrance to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Anemone
Anemone
Anemone spp.
Delicate pink and white blooms grace the garden from June to September, adding vibrant color through summer and early fall. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in zones 4-9, attracts pollinators, and tolerates full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator

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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.