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Plant Guide

Best Plants for Denver, Colorado

📍 Denver, CO 🌡️ USDA Zone 5b/6a 🌱 329+ 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 329+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Denver

Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Graceful arching stems showcase creamy white, bell-shaped blooms in spring, adding elegant charm to shaded gardens. This shade-tolerant perennial is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Knock Out Rose
Knock Out Rose
Rosa 'Knock Out'
Vibrant pink and white blooms dazzle from June to September, brightening gardens with nonstop color. Low-maintenance and pollinator-friendly, this deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Black Gum
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Brilliant scarlet and orange foliage lights up fall, creating stunning seasonal color. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts vital pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Bergenia
Bergenia
Bergenia cordifolia
Bold clusters of deep pink blooms brighten early spring, creating vibrant garden interest. This hardy, deer-resistant perennial thrives in USDA zones 3-8 with minimal care.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Southern Magnolia
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Glossy evergreen leaves and large, fragrant white blooms in summer make this Southern Magnolia a stunning garden centerpiece. It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and thrives in USDA zones 7-9.
Zone 6–10🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Smoke Tree
Smoke Tree
Cotinus coggygria
Fluffy, smoky pink-purple blooms in summer create a stunning, cloud-like effect that captivates any garden. This drought-tolerant shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and is deer resistant.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Hayscented Fern
Hayscented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Delicate, bright green fronds of this native fern add a soft, airy texture to shaded gardens from spring through fall. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance, deer resistant, and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca
Silvery-blue, fine-textured foliage adds striking color and texture year-round, especially vibrant in spring and summer. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass thrives in USDA zones 4-8 and resists deer browsing.
Zone 4–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
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
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
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'
Tall, graceful plumes of golden beige bloom from late spring to summer, adding elegant movement to any garden. This low-maintenance, deer-resistant grass thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts beneficial pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Chokeberry
Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Brilliant clusters of white spring blooms turn to vibrant red berries and fiery fall foliage, lighting up the garden from USDA zones 3-8. This low-maintenance shrub is deer resistant and attracts pollinators, enhancing wildlife habitat effortlessly.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

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.

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Other Cities in Zone 5b/6a

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Browse All 329+ 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.