Drought Tolerant Shrubs

We live in a high desert alpine environment characterized by little yearly moisture, high winds, and a lot of sunshine. This environment can be very harsh on plants. Fortunately, there is a huge variety of drought-tolerant shrubs that can live, indeed thrive, in and around Chaffee County. Once established, these shrubs do not require a lot of water to suvive. Up to this point, though, they do require enough water to get their root systems firmly established. Drought-tolerant plants are excellent choices for xeriscaping—landscape designs using plants require little water other than what falls from the sky. Drought-tolerant plants range in height from less than foot to over over 15 feet with widths that vary similarly. This category of plants include those with incredibly beautiful blooms, needled evergreens, and shrubs with vibrant fall colors.

Armur Maple Shrub.jpg

Amur Maple Shrub

Height: 6-10’

Width:6-8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Apache Plume.jpg

Apache Plume

Height: 3-6’

Width: 3-6’

Growth Rate: Medium to Fast

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

All Gold Broom .jpg

Broom, All Gold

Height: 5-6’

Width: 5-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Lydia Bangle.jpg

Broom, Lydia Bangle

Height: 2’

Width: 2-3’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Spanish Broom.jpg

Broom, Spanish

Height: 6-15’

Width: 9-12’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Buffalo Berry.jpg

Buffaloberry, Silver

Height: 8-14’

Width: 6-10’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Lavender

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Silver Fountain.jpg

Butterfly Bush, Silver Fountain

Height: 10-15’

Width: 10-12’

Growth Rate: Medium-Fast

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Lavender

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Butterfly Bush, Vanilla Treat

Height: 3-5’

Width: 3-5’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Carol mackie Daphne.JPG

Carol Mackie Daphne

Height: 3’

Width: 4’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Euonymus, Winter Creeper

Height: 1-2’

Width: 4-5’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Fernbush.jpg

Fernbush

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Flowering Almond, Pink

Height: 6-10’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Flowering Almond, Russian

Height: 3-5’

Width: 2-4’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Forsythia, Lynnwood Gold

Height: 6-8’

Width: 8-10’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Holly, Oregon Grape

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 6500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate

Sun: Full

Blue Chip.jpg

Juniper, Blue Chip

Height: 8-12”

Width: 8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Blue Star.jpg

Juniper, Blue Star

Height: 3’

Width: 4’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Half Day

Note: Deer Resistant, Shade Tolerant

Broadmoor.jpg

Juniper, Broadmoor

Height: 1-2’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Buffalo Juni.jpg

Juniper, Buffalo

Height: 1.5’

Width: 8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Green Mound.jpg

Juniper, Green Mound

Height: 8-14”

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Holbert Juniper.jpg

Juniper, Holbert

Height: 2-3’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Juniper, Old Gold

Height: 4’

Width: 6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Prince of Wales.jpg

Juniper, Prince of Wales

Height: 6”

Width: 8-10’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Sea Green.jpg

Juniper, Sea Green

Height: 8’

Width: 10’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Tammy.jpg

Juniper, Tammy

Height: 3-4’

Width: 5-7’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Wiltoni Blue Rug.jpg

Juniper, Wiltonii Blue Rug

Height: 4-10'’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Chieftan KNK.jpg

Kinnikinick, Chieftain

Height: 3-4’

Width: 8-10’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom Color: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Panchito KNK.jpg

Kinnikinick, Panchito

Height: 1-2’

Width: 3-5’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Pink-White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Lilac, Canadian Pink

Height: 6-10’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Lilac, Donald Wyman

Height: 8-10’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: Pink-Purple

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: High Elevation

Madame LeMoine.jpg

Lilac, Madame Lemoine

Height: 8-12’

Width: 8-10’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Leadplant

Height: 2-4’

Width: 2-4’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Purple

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Locust, New Mexico

Height: 15’

Width: 12’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Mtn Mahogany.jpg

Mountain Mahogany

Height: 6-8’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 9500’

Bloom: Yellow-White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native

Curly Leaf.jpg

Mountain Mahogany, Curly Leaf

Height: 10-20’

Width: 10-20’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native

Mugo, Columnaris

Height: 8-10’

Width: 4-5’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Mugo Dwarf.jpg

Mugo, Dwarf/Puhilo

Height: 5-6’

Width: 5-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Mugo Mops.jpg

Mugo, Mops

Height: 3’

Width: 3’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Snowmound Dwarf Mugo.jpg

Mugo, Slowmound (Dwarf)

Height: 2-4’

Width: 2’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Shade Tolerant

Swiss Mountain.jpg

Mugo, Swiss Mountain

Height: 15-20’

Width: 10-15’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Part to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Ninebark, Dwarf Green

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

Gambels.jpg

Oak, Gambel

Height: 8-20’

Width: 6-12’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native

Pygmy Peashrub.jpg

Peashrub, Pygmy Dwarf

Height: 3-4’

Width: 4-5’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Peashrub, Russian Globe

Height: 3-4’

Width: 3-4’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Siberian Peashrub.jpg

Peashrub, Siberian

Height: 10-15’

Width: 8-12’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 10,000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Hillside Creeper.jpg

Pine, Hillside Creeper

(Pinus Sylvestris)

Height: 3-5’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 7500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Shade Tolerant

HF Pink Potentilla.jpg

Potentilla, HF Pink Paradise

Height: 2-3’

Width: 2-3’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Pink

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Partial to Full

Note: Deer Resistant, Shade Tolerant

Potentilla, Kobolt

Height: 1-2’

Width: 1-2’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Privet, New Mexico

Height: 8-15’

Width: 8’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Dwarf Rabbbit Brush.jpg

Rabbit Bush, Dwarf Blue

Height: 2-4’

Width: 2-5’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Tall Blue Rabbit Brush.jpg

Rabbit Bush, Tall Blue

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-5’

Growth Rate: Medium-Fast

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Deer Resistant

Tall Green Rabbit Brush.jpg

Rabbit Bush, Tall Green

Height: 2-6’

Width: 2-6’

Growth Rate: Medium-Fast

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Deer Resistant

Russian Sage.jpg

Russian Sage

Height: 3-4’

Width: 3’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: Blue

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Russian Sage, Lacey Blue

Height: 2’

Width: 2’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Blue

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Russian Sage, Little Spire

Height: 2-3’

Width: 2-3’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Blue

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

Sagebrush, Sand

Height: 2-3’

Width: 2-3’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Deer Resistant

Silver Sagebrush.jpg

Sagebrush, Silver

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 8500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Deer Resistant

Western Sage.jpg

Sagebrush, Western

Height: 4-10’

Width: 3-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 9500’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native

Pawnee Butte Sandcherry.jpg

Sandcherry, Pawnee Butte

(Prunus bessyii)

Height: 2’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: White

Taste: Semi-Sweet to Tart

Pollination: Self-Pollinator

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Edible Berries

Sandcherry, Western

(Prunus bessyii)

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: White

Taste: Semi-Sweet to Tart

Pollination: Self-Pollinator

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Edible Berries

Golden Spirt Smokebush.jpg

Smokebush, Golden Spirit

Height: 8-10’

Width: 8-10’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: Smokey

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Spruce, Roundabout

Height: 3’

Width: 3’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 9,000’

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: High Elevation, Evergreen

Sumac, Autumn Amber

Height: 12’

Width: 6’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Sumac, Gro-Low

Height: 2-3’

Width: 6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Deer Resistant

3-leaf sumac.jpg

Sumac, Three-Leaf

Height: 4-6’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 9000’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native, Deer Resistant

Tiger Eyes Sumac.jpg

Sumac, Tiger Eyes

Height: 6-8’

Width: 6-8’

Growth Rate: Fast

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Sweet Fern

Height: 3-5’

Width: 3’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 8500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Yucca Colorguard.jpg

Yucca, Adams Needle

(Color Guard)

Height: 3’

Width: 6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: Yellow

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Note: Native

Yucca, Banana

Height: 15-18’’

Width: 4-6’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7000’

Bloom: White with Reddish-Purple Edges

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Brightedge Yucca.JPG

Yucca, Bright Edge

Height: 3-4’

Width: 2-3’

Growth Rate: Medium

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full

Yucca soaptree.jpg

Yucca, Soaptree

Height: 6-20’

Width: 10’

Growth Rate: Slow

Elevation: 7500’

Bloom: White

Water: Moderate Until Established

Sun: Full