A perennial plant like a flowering shrub can add beauty and color to your landscape. Listed below are a few of the best flowering shrubs for CO. Read on to learn more about each of them. If you have an existing shrub garden, you may consider planting one of them. If not, there are plenty of other flowering shrubs in CO that are just as stunning. These shrubs are also very hardy.
Rosa x ‘BAIset’ (PP 16,770)
The ‘Rumden Sunrise’ rose is one of the many varieties of the Parkland series. The medium-sized, double flowers have a yellow base and an orange tip. The rose’s foliage is medium-textured with an attractive sheen. It is a recurrent bloomer and has excellent disease resistance. Compared to the ‘Henry Kelsey’ rose, it blooms more frequently and has larger flowers.
‘Serviceberry, Autumn Brilliance’ is another variety of Sambucus canadensis. It requires low to moderate water and tolerates full sun to partial shade. This shrub blooms in early spring with showy, white flowers. In late summer, it produces dark purple berries that attract wildlife. It can be grown as a single stem tree or as a multi-stemmed shrub.
This hardy evergreen shrub thrives in full to part shade and low to moderate water. It has dense mounding growth habits and emerald green new growth in the spring. The bright red berries follow the yellow flowers. It is a good choice for border planting and bonsai. It also tolerates salt and drought. The leaves turn red in autumn.
The ‘Nanho Purple’ variety of this flowering shrub grows in a wide range of conditions. It produces long tapering flowers in late spring and early summer and tolerates low to moderate water. The flowers remain fragrant after they die off, and the plant will bloom again next year. The leaves are slightly aromatic and have a peppery, spicy smell.
Serviceberry
In Colorado, there are several native trees and shrubs that grow well in our climate. Some of the best flowering shrubs for Colorado are native species. The most popular are the Apache Plume, an underused but attractive shrub that grows to 3 feet in height and produces attractive pink or red plumes. Its glossy leaves can tolerate dry soil, but it must have good drainage. In addition, it may tolerate snow dumps.
Many flowering shrubs can be grown in full sun, but you should keep in mind that some varieties require full sunlight. In addition, you should amend the soil before planting shrubs and trees in the landscape. This is the first step when establishing a new garden in Colorado. Many junipers are also good choices for full sun gardens, but be sure to avoid planting them in areas with too much shade. Some of these shrubs can grow massive and cause major problems when they reach the full sun.
Buckthorn, Columnaris (Rhamnus frangula) is another great choice. This densely-branched shrub grows low and is a great groundcover plant. It produces showy white flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall. Its water needs are moderate and it can tolerate full sun or some shade. For additional privacy, you can plant a few trees in a row.
Diablo Ninebark
Known for its deep purple and pinkish white flowers, Diablo Ninebark is one of the most attractive and useful flowering shrubs for Colorado. The foliage of this perennial grows to three to four feet tall, and the flowers appear in late spring and early summer. These flowering shrubs are hardy in zones 3 through 7.
The flowers of this flowering shrub contrast beautifully with the foliage, which is a deep purple color in spring. The foliage of Diablo Ninebark also turns an outstanding red in the fall. The flowers last until the leaves fall, providing interesting color after the leaves fade. Its bark is also exfoliating, and it looks attractive even when it’s covered in leaves. The Diablo Ninebark is a great plant for any part of the Colorado landscape.
The shrub is easy to grow in most types of soils, and is suitable for any part of the state. It grows to about eight to 10 feet tall at maturity, and has a low canopy. If planted under power lines, it won’t overshadow them. It grows at a medium rate, and it can live for up to 30 years. If you’re thinking about purchasing Diablo Ninebark as a shrub for your landscape, consider the following factors before buying it.
Pruning Diablo Ninebark is relatively easy, but it needs to be done in a specific season. Ideally, you should prune it in early summer or after it blooms. However, this will depend on your climate, so it’s best to avoid pruning it at the wrong time. Just remember that the ninebark shrub goes into dormancy after midsummer. This could potentially cause damage.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’
A hardy, flowering shrub, Physocarpus opulofolius ‘Center Glow’ grows to about 8 feet tall and wide and features striking foliage. In spring, the leaves emerge a bright rosy red with a golden green base. In summer, the plant produces clusters of white flowers and its foliage turns red-burgundy. The flowers are followed by bright red fruit in fall. Center Glow is a fast-growing shrub that is easy to grow and will give you years of enjoyment.
Center Glow is a deciduous flowering shrub with glossy maroon foliage. The flowers are cup-shaped and pink-flushed. Fruits are red in color and emerge from the stems. The Center Glow flowering shrub is drought-resistant and will grow in zones 3 through 8. It requires full sun and well-drained soil.
The Center Glow is a cross between two ninebark varieties, Dart’s Gold and Diablo. This hybrid has compact branching and blooms in spring through October. It has a high level of tolerance for urban pollution and can thrive in the city. The Center Glow flowering shrub matures to about six feet in height and 8 feet wide.
Japanese maple grows best in moist, well-drained soil. It grows well in full or partial shade and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’ flowering shrub
Junipers
There are some great flowering shrubs in Colorado that do well in the state’s climate, but not all are suitable for the state’s high elevations. Consider the following selections to create a beautiful flowering border in your yard. The spirea family is responsible for several hardy shrubs that can grow well in Colorado. However, some species thrive better than others, and some can even thrive in arid conditions. For example, the Rock spirea, which is native to western U.S., has a traditional bloom.
The Wine and Roses Weigela is a perennial that grows well in most areas of Colorado, but is only suitable in parts where the soil is regularly moist. It has purple-burgundy leaves and pink flowers. For best results, prune the plant before winter, as next year’s blooms will be on older wood. The Wine and Roses Weigela is a wonderful choice for covering lawn sprinklers, because it tolerates low to moderate moisture conditions.
The ‘Pawnee Buttes’ Sand Cherry, also known as the ‘Pawnee Butte’, is another excellent choice. This dwarf shrub is native to the Southwest and produces a dense canopy of green foliage. Its small yellow flowers appear before it blooms. The tiny fruit is eaten by birds. This shrub’s glossy blond bark adds visual interest to the multi-stemmed tree.
Spiraea cineria ‘Grefsheim’
Spiraea x cinerea ‘Grefsheim’ is a compact, dense shrub that bears small, white flowers. Its grey-green foliage and fern-like habit make it an ideal choice for gardens and other areas where a contrast between green and yellow is desired. It can grow well in shade and does not require special care.
Spiraea cineria is frost-resistant, and tolerant of long dry periods. Plants planted in late summer should receive regular watering, but if temperatures are extremely cold, protect them with a blanket of fleece. Light snow can be gently brushed off the wide branches of the shrubs during periods of heavy snow, but light snow does not harm them.
Another spirea variety that will thrive in Colorado is ‘Rock spirea’, which is native to the western United States. The traditional bloom of this species makes it a great choice for a rocky slope. In addition, it can handle drought-like conditions, and is often drought-tolerant once established. It is easy to grow, and is a great choice for gardens in Colorado.
Spiraea cineria Grefsheim’ is one of the best flowering shrubs for Colorado gardens. It needs regular care and pruning after flowering and has attractive pink fruit. The plant attracts butterflies and is not a deer magnet. There are no major drawbacks with this species, as long as you know what you’re doing.
