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After getting great feedback on my 20 Best Xeriscape Plants for Colorado post, which included a few follow-up requests, I have decided to publish a list of the best high altitude plants for landscaping.
The Challenges of High Elevations
When landscaping at higher elevations, there are many challenges to consider. The plants themselves are often limited in how cold of winter temperature they can withstand. And there are also the challenging microclimates, wind, and levels of moisture that can occur at high altitudes.
Grazing deer and elk are also a common problem at higher elevations. All of these factors should be carefully considered in the design of the landscape. Consult the USDA Plant Hardiness zones for your local area, and consider working with an experienced landscape architect or garden designer.
It would be a great idea to do some nature walks in your local area to observe the native plants that are thriving naturally, and are well adapted to the various microclimates that can be found in your area.
I have decided to limit the list to plants that I feel will do well above 8,000 ft. There are several plants that are advertised to do well above 7,500 ft, but I am not comfortable recommending all of them, so lets go with 8,000.
Deciduous Trees
- Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
- Canada Red Cherry Prunus virginiana ‘Canada Red’
- Russian Hawthorne Crataegus ambigua
- Ginnala Maple Acer ginnala
- Apple and Crabbaple Malus (several types)
- Alder Alnus tenuifolia
- Tartarian Maple Acer tartaricum
- Birch Betula (several types)
- Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia
- English Oak Quercus robur
Evergreen Trees
- Southwestern White Pine Pinus strobiformis
- Ponderosa Pine Pinus ponderosa
- Colorado Blue Spruce Picea pungens
- Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca
- White Fir Abies concolor
- Limber Pine Pinus flexilis
- Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata
Deciduous Shrubs
- Burning Bush Euonymus ‘Turkstanica Nana’
- Peking Cotoneaster Cotoneaster lucidus
- American Cranberry Viburnum trilobum
- Currant Ribes (several types)
- Lilac Syringa (several types)
- Potentilla Potentilla (several types)
- Siberean Peashrub Caragana arborescens
- Snowball Viburnum Viburnum opulus
- Rock Spirea Holodiscus dumosus
- Sumac Rhus (several types)
- Willow Salix (several types)
- Sand Sage Artemesia filifolia
- Serviceberry Amelanchier (several types)
- Barberry Berberis (several types)
Evergreen Shrubs
- Juniper Juniperus (several types)
- Mugo Pine Pinus mugo
- Dwarf Alberta Spruce Picea glauca
- Blue Globe Spruce Picea pungen ‘Globosa’
- Weeping Norway Spruce Picea abies ‘Pendula’
- Yucca Yucca (several types)
- Euonymus Euonymus (several types)
Ornamental Grasses
- Blue Oat Grass Helictotrichon sempervirens
- Blue Fescue Festuca glauca
- Ravenna Grass Erianthus ravennae
Perennials
- Aster Aster (several types)
- Columbine Aqueiegia
- Blue Flax Linum perenne
- Snow in Summer Cerastium tomentosum
- Wild Strawberry Waldsteninia ternata
- Kinnikinnick Actostaphylos uva-ursi
- Painted Daisy Tanacetum coccineum
- Delphinium Delphinium (several types)
- Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis
- Oregon Grape Holly Mahonia repens
- Yarrow Achillea (several types)
- Lupine Lupinus (several types)
- Sedum Sedum (several types)
- Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida
- Windflower Anemone canadensis
- Serbia Iris Iris sibirica
So, what do you think of this list? I am sure that others reading this blog (myself included) would love to hear about your own experiences gardening at high altitude with any of these plants.
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Thanks for the help! I’m going to definitely come back to this page as soon as spring arrives! Got to do landscape 13 acres and had no idea where to start. Now I have a good idea what kind of plants are best for this area.
Thanks for the comment Erica. For that many acres, you may want to look at some mountain seed mixes too.
Hi, can’t seem to keep a tree growing in Black forest except pines. Mt Ash and regular Ash are alive but no growth. Husband says not enough warm time to grow at over 7800ft. Any suggestions ?
Hi Pam,
That elevation is tough- You might try some large shrubs such as Utah Serviceberry or Mountain Mahogany which you can sometimes find at a tall size at planting. Have you tried any Oaks? You might also check out this CSU extension resource: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/07421.html I hope this was helpful- good luck and let us know how whatever you plant does!
I just found this site so this may have been covered at some time but do you have a list for over 10,000 feet?
Hi Margy,
Some of these will be OK at that elevation, but you are going to be pretty limited in your choices. I don’t know where you are writing from, but a good route is to always check local. By local I mean 1) are there any small garden centers or garden clubs in your area with first-hand knowledge of what grows well in your area?, and 2) take a hike (or drive) around your local area and observe what plants are growing native- those will always be your safest bet! Good luck, and please let us know what you find out!