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.
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
Height: 3-6’
Width: 3-6’
Growth Rate: Medium to Fast
Elevation: 8500’
Bloom: White
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
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
Broom, Lydia Bangle
Height: 2’
Width: 2-3’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 7000’
Bloom: Yellow
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Deer Resistant
Broom, Spanish
Height: 6-15’
Width: 9-12’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 7000’
Bloom: Yellow
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Deer Resistant
Buffaloberry, Silver
Height: 8-14’
Width: 6-10’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8000’
Bloom: Lavender
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
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
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
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
Juniper, Blue Chip
Height: 8-12”
Width: 8’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Juniper, Blue Star
Height: 3’
Width: 4’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 7000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Half Day
Note: Deer Resistant, Shade Tolerant
Juniper, Broadmoor
Height: 1-2’
Width: 6-8’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Juniper, Buffalo
Height: 1.5’
Width: 8’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
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
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
Juniper, Prince of Wales
Height: 6”
Width: 8-10’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 7000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Juniper, Sea Green
Height: 8’
Width: 10’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 7500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Juniper, Tammy
Height: 3-4’
Width: 5-7’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Juniper, Wiltonii Blue Rug
Height: 4-10'’
Width: 6-8’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 8000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
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
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
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
Mountain Mahogany
Height: 6-8’
Width: 4-6’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 9500’
Bloom: Yellow-White
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Native
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/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
Height: 3’
Width: 3’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 8500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Part to Full
Note: Shade Tolerant
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
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
Oak, Gambel
Height: 8-20’
Width: 6-12’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 9000’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Native
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sagebrush, Silver
Height: 4-6’
Width: 4-6’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 8500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Native, Deer Resistant
Sagebrush, Western
Height: 4-10’
Width: 3-6’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 9500’
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Note: Native
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
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
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
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, 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
Yucca, Bright Edge
Height: 3-4’
Width: 2-3’
Growth Rate: Medium
Elevation: 7500’
Bloom: White
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full
Yucca, Soaptree
Height: 6-20’
Width: 10’
Growth Rate: Slow
Elevation: 7500’
Bloom: White
Water: Moderate Until Established
Sun: Full