🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Denver, Colorado

📍 Denver, CO 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b/6a 🌱 331+ compatible plants

Gardening in Denver

Denver falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b/6a, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the −10°F to 0°F range. The 331+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Denver

Blazing Star
Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Vibrant purple blooms burst in late summer, creating stunning vertical spikes that brighten any garden. This drought-tolerant perennial attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
June Hosta
June Hosta
Hosta 'June'
Lush, variegated leaves with creamy yellow centers brighten shady gardens from spring to summer. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Vibrant pink and white blooms from June to September add striking color to any sunny garden with evergreen foliage year-round. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Serviceberry
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Delicate white spring blooms and vibrant fall foliage make this shrub a seasonal standout. Thrives in USDA zones 4-9, it's low maintenance and attracts pollinators year-round.
Zone 4–8🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
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
View care guide →
Crocosmia
Crocosmia
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Fiery red blooms burst from arching stems in summer, creating a vibrant, eye-catching display. This deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and attracts pollinators with ease.
Zone 5–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Clematis
Clematis
Clematis spp.
Vibrant, star-shaped blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white light up summer and fall gardens with stunning color. This vigorous climber thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while being deer resistant.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Daylily Stella de Oro
Daylily Stella de Oro
Hemerocallis Stella de Oro
Vibrant golden-yellow blooms brighten gardens from late spring to fall, offering nonstop color and charm. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Fine Fescue
Fine Fescue
Festuca rubra
The best lawn grass for shade and poor soil. Fine, delicate texture with excellent drought tolerance. Ideal for low-maintenance lawns under trees.
Zone 3–7🐾 Pet-Friendly†
View care guide →
Juniper Blue Star
Juniper Blue Star
Juniperus squamata Blue Star
Silvery-blue, star-shaped foliage adds striking color and texture year-round to any landscape. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant
View care guide →
Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
Striking large leaves and delicate pink and white blooms from June to September make this Elephant Ear a standout in any garden. Thriving in zones 4-9 with low maintenance needs, it attracts pollinators and grows well in full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →
Bobo Panicle Hydrangea
Bobo Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo'
Showy pink and white blooms brighten summer from June to September, adding vibrant color to any garden. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators while tolerating full sun to part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
View care guide →

Get a Personalized Plant List for Denver

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/6a.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 5b/6a

Chicago, IL Columbus, OH Indianapolis, IN Louisville, KY Kansas City, MO Cleveland, OH Wichita, KS St. Louis, MO

Browse All 331+ Plants for Zone 5b/6a

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

View All Zone 6 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.