Check out these xeric plants that will thrive even when your neighbor’s landscape is wilting under the heat!
Mountain Mahogany
These trees are native to Colorado. They are very hardy and have uniquely textured foliage, making it a point of interest in your landscaping. These trees can grow large, so make sure you have the appropriate space!
Texas Red Yucca
Indigenous people used this plant to make rope, cords, clothes, bedding mats and more! Its strong and fibrous stems make it ideal for such uses. In addition to this, this plant also has beautiful red flowers, making for a lovely display!
Sand Cherries
This plant makes for a lovely ornamental shrub or small tree. They are extremely hardy and produce a lovely display of white/pink flowers. Its reddish-purple foliage is a beautiful addition to any landscape, and provides a bit of color diversity.
Weeping Pea Shrub
This odd little tree is a nitrogen fixer, which means that its roots are colonized by a certain type of bacteria that specializes in extracting nitrogen from the air and converting it into a form of nitrogen that is readily usable by the plant itself. They make for great companion plants, are very hardy, and produce delicate yellow blooms early in the season.
Russian Sage
If you are looking for a bee friendly xeric plant to add to your landscape, search no more! Bees love Russian sage, not to mention it adds a beautiful burst of color with its long-lasting lavender blooms.
Big Tooth Maple
This tree is a Colorado native. It is a hardy, slow-growing tree that will make for a lovely addition to any yard. Providing shade in the summer and breath-taking colors in the fall, this tree is hard to pass up!
Russian Hawthorn
This tree is very hardy and exhibits beautiful white blooms in the spring, later followed by clusters of red berries. This tree has persistent berries, meaning the berries don’t fall off the tree on their own, so you don't have to worry about the mess! Russian hawthorns are great for attracting birds.
Penstemon
These lovely, seemingly delicate flowers are actually very durable and can thrive in a wide range of soils and environments. They are deer resistant and they attract bees. These plants do grow best in areas that receive full to partial sun.
Pincushion Flower
These interesting looking, long-lasting blooms provide a beautiful touch of color to any landscape. They like to be planted in full sun and will flower most in these conditions. They attract butterflies and make for lovely cut flowers.
Agastache
These flowers also have very unique and long-lasting blooms. They are very fragrant and attract hummingbirds as well! Being drought tolerant, they are perfect for any xeric landscape.
Iris
Irises come in many different colors and varieties. They are deer resistant and are harmful if eaten, so watch out for curious kids who like to stick things in their mouths! Their fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds and they also make for lovely cut flowers. Plant irises in full to partial sun for the best results!
Hollyhock
These big, ruffed blooms attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. They come in a large variety of colors, make for lovely cut flowers, and perform best when planted in areas that receive full sun. They are also self-seeding and will come back year after year!
Yarrow
These pretty little blooms attract butterflies while repelling deer and rabbits. They are very fragrant, prefer to be planted in full sun, and make for lovely cut flowers!