Plant Guide

Best Plants for Denver, Colorado

๐Ÿ“ Denver, CO ๐ŸŒก๏ธ USDA Zone 5b/6a ๐ŸŒฑ 328+ 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 โˆ’10ยฐF to 0ยฐF range. The 328+ plants below are proven performers for your zone โ€” including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Denver

Red Oak
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Majestic red oaks boast stunning red foliage in fall, creating vibrant seasonal color from summer through autumn. This hardy tree thrives in USDA zones 3-8 and is deer resistant with low maintenance needs.
Zone 3โ€“8๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿ Pollinator
Rugosa Rose
Rugosa Rose
Rosa rugosa
Fragrant, vibrant pink blooms light up summer with a charming, old-fashioned appeal. Rugosa Rose thrives in USDA zones 3-7, offering deer resistance and salt tolerance.
Zone 2โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿ Pollinator
Russian Sage
Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Sky-blue blooms from July to October create airy, vibrant spikes that brighten any full sun garden. This deer-resistant beauty thrives in zones 4-9 and attracts buzzing pollinators all season long.
Zone 4โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator
Spiderwort
Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Vibrant blue-purple blooms brighten late spring to early summer, creating a stunning, naturalized look. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 4โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator
Astilbe
Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Feathery plumes of pink, red, white, or purple bloom from June to August, brightening shady garden spots with vibrant color. Thriving in USDA zones 3-8, this low-maintenance beauty is shade tolerant and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4โ€“8๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator
Iris
Iris
Iris germanica
Striking blooms in vibrant purple, blue, or white grace late spring gardens with their intricate patterns and sword-like foliage. This low-maintenance iris thrives in USDA zones 3-9 and attracts pollinators while resisting deer damage.
Zone 3โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿ Pollinator
Camassia
Camassia
Camassia leichtlinii
Striking spikes of star-shaped blue flowers bloom in late spring, creating a stunning display from USDA zones 4-9. This low-maintenance bulb attracts pollinators and thrives in moist, well-drained soil.
Zone 4โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator
Mahonia
Mahonia
Mahonia aquifolium
Clusters of bright yellow flowers bloom in early spring, adding vibrant color after winterโ€™s dullness. This deer-resistant shrub thrives in USDA zones 5-9 and attracts early pollinators.
Zone 5โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿ Pollinator
Sweetshrub
Sweetshrub
Calycanthus floridus
Fragrant, deep red blooms appear in late spring, filling gardens with a spicy-sweet scent that delights the senses. This low-maintenance shrub is deer resistant and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿ Pollinator
Star Magnolia
Star Magnolia
Magnolia stellata
Fragrant white star-shaped blooms light up early spring, creating a stunning floral display. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4โ€“9๐ŸฆŒ Deer-Resistant๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator
Creeping Bentgrass
Creeping Bentgrass
Agrostis stolonifera
The ultra-fine-bladed grass of championship golf greens. Creeping Bentgrass forms a velvety, dense carpet when mowed very low, but requires intensive maintenance and can escape into natural areas.
Zone 3โ€“8๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ 
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 4โ€“9๐Ÿพ Pet-Friendlyโ€ ๐Ÿ Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Denver

Answer 4 quick questions about your yard โ€” sun, soil, deer pressure, and pet situation โ€” and get a custom list of plants that will thrive in Zone 5b/6a.

Start the Plant Advisor โ†’

Browse All 328+ 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 โ†’

โ€  "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.