• Colorado has diverse weather and soil conditions. Though there are a near infinite variety of plants that can be chosen for the Colorado landscape, the best choice is of native plants. since they are well adapted to local growing conditions. Choosing Colorado native plants, including native trees, ensures that the plants will adapt to the weather diversity and display a higher level of resistance to plant pests and diseases common in the area.
  
  

Potentilla

• Potentilla (Potentialla fruticosa) is a native Colorado shrub used in landscapes. It also is referred to as shrubby potentilla and shrubby cinquefoil and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 2 to 7. The deciduous shrub has a slow growth rate and reaches a mature height of 1 to 3 feet with a spread of 2 to 4 feet. Potentilla has a bushy growth habit with thin branches and develops into a low, rounded mature form. The shrub blooms with 1 to 1-½ inch yellow flowers from summer and well into frost. Plant in areas of sun to light shade. Though the plant prefers a moist, well-drained ground, it also adapts to poor soils.
  
  

Chokeberry

• The Colorado State University Extension lists chokeberry (Aronia) as a native landscape shrub for Colorado. Chokeberry is a deciduous shrub hardy in zones 3 to 8 and grows to a mature height of 3 to 5 feet, with an equal spread. The plant is slow growing and well adapted to sun or partial shade. Chokeberry thrives in a variety of soils, including wet or dry. The medium-textured shrub has a spreading, open, upright growth and blooms with small white to pink flowers in spring, followed by black purple fruit. The alternate foliage is 1 to 3 inches and assumes a red fall color. Chokeberry is drought tolerant.
  
  

Hoptree

• Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliate) is a small, deciduous landscape tree for Colorado and is listed among the native trees of the state by the Colorado State University Extension. The tree has a moderate-to-slow growth rate and is hardy in zones 3 to 9. Hoptree develops a rounded, bushy, mature form with low-growing branches and does best in areas of sun or shade in well-drained soil. The tree grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet with a spread of 10 to 20 feet. It has alternate 2-½- to 5-inch-long foliage. The fragrant and small, greenish-white flowers appear in spring.