Native plants · Colorado
Native plants of Montezuma County
401 plant species are recorded as native to Colorado in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Montezuma County by USDA PLANTS. 249 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Montezuma County, Colorado
- Native species
- 401 Typical Colorado county: 237 (median of 63 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 249 Typical Colorado county: 148
- Share by type (all 401 native species)
-
Percent of the 401 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (57%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (17%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 249
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alderleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| alpine mountainsorrel Oxyria digyna | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| alpine timothy Phleum alpinum | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| American alpine speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| American bistort Polygonum bistortoides | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American red raspberry Rubus idaeus | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| American speedwell Veronica americana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| banana yucca Yucca baccata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7a |
| basin wildrye Leymus cinereus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| big bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2b |
| big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Tree | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| bigtooth maple Acer grandidentatum | Tree | 38 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black sagebrush Artemisia nova | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| blue grama Bouteloua gracilis | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadbeard beardtongue Penstemon angustifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| bud sagebrush Picrothamnus desertorum | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| cerro hawthorn Crataegus erythropoda | Tree | 16 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| Chamisso arnica Arnica chamissonis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| cliff fendlerbush Fendlera rupicola | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| Colorado blue columbine Aquilegia coerulea | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| Colorado rush Juncus confusus | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris | Fern | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common reed Phragmites australis | Shrub | 13 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common selfheal Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common spikerush Eleocharis palustris | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| creeping barberry Mahonia repens | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| crested pricklypoppy Argemone polyanthemos | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| desert centaury Centaurium exaltatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| dewystem willow Salix irrorata | Shrub | 6 ft | — | — | Zone 2a |
| diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Tree | 200 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's rush Juncus drummondii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's willow Salix drummondiana | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| dwarf bilberry Vaccinium cespitosum | Shrub | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| Eaton's fleabane Erigeron eatonii | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| fireweed Chamerion angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| foothill deathcamas Zigadenus paniculatus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata | Grass or grass-like | 5.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| fringed grass of Parnassus Parnassia fimbriata | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Gardner's saltbush Atriplex gardneri | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Geyer's sedge Carex geyeri | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| golden currant Ribes aureum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| gooseberry currant Ribes montigenum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| gray alder Alnus incana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| gray aster Eurybia glauca | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| green molly Bassia americana | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| hairy arnica Arnica mollis | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| hairy false goldenaster Heterotheca villosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Shrub | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| knotted rush Juncus nodosus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| largeflower triteleia Triteleia grandiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Lewis flax Linum lewisii | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| limber pine Pinus flexilis | Tree | 66 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| littleseed ricegrass Piptatheropsis micrantha | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| lodgepole pine Pinus contorta | Tree | 99 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 1a |
| longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| longstalk clover Trifolium longipes | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8a |
| longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| longstyle rush Juncus longistylis | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Macoun's buttercup Ranunculus macounii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Mertens' rush Juncus mertensianus | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Modoc hawksbeard Crepis modocensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| mormon tea Ephedra viridis | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5b |
| mountain brome Bromus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| mountain pepperweed Lepidium montanum | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| muttongrass Poa fendleriana | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| narrowleaf water plantain Alisma gramineum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| narrowleaf willow Salix exigua | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| needle and thread Hesperostipa comata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| Nootka rose Rosa nutkana | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| Nuttall's alkaligrass Puccinellia nuttalliana | Grass or grass-like | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii | Wildflower (forb) | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| old man's whiskers Geum triflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pale agoseris Agoseris glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pale desert-thorn Lycium pallidum | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| pale evening primrose Oenothera pallida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus | Grass or grass-like | 5.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| park willow Salix monticola | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| pine dropseed Blepharoneuron tricholepis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5a |
| plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| plantainleaf buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie sagewort Artemisia frigida | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| purple threeawn Aristida purpurea | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Tree | 65 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| red elderberry Sambucus racemosa | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain beeplant Cleome serrulata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Rocky Mountain goldenrod Solidago multiradiata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum | Tree | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Ross' avens Geum rossii | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 10a |
| rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| Rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| sagebrush buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| salt spring checkerbloom Sidalcea neomexicana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| shadscale saltbush Atriplex confertifolia | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| singleleaf ash Fraxinus anomala | Tree | 20 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 2a |
| slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| smallwing sedge Carex microptera | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum | Fern | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| southwestern showy sedge Carex bella | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum | Grass or grass-like | 1.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| squirreltail Elymus elymoides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| tanseyleaf tansyaster Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| tapertip onion Allium acuminatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum | Vine | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| thrift mock goldenweed Stenotus armerioides | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| timber oatgrass Danthonia intermedia | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| toad rush Juncus bufonius | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi | Grass or grass-like | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| twoneedle pinyon Pinus edulis | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| umbrella starwort Stellaria umbellata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Wildflower (forb) | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma | Tree | 26 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Utah sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| water birch Betula occidentalis | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| western sweetroot Osmorhiza occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Whipple's penstemon Penstemon whippleanus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white fir Abies concolor | Tree | 120 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| white prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| Woods' rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| Wright's deervetch Lotus wrightii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 7a |
| yellow evening primrose Oenothera flava | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 152
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- alpine bluegrass Poa alpina
- alpine fescue Festuca brachyphylla
- alpine lewisia Lewisia pygmaea
- alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
- American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
- American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
- American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
- American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
- Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- ballhead ipomopsis Ipomopsis congesta
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
- Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
- bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
- bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
- carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
- Carolina draba Draba reptans
- Carruth's sagewort Artemisia carruthii
- clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- cutleaf nightshade Solanum triflorum
- desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- Drummond's campion Silene drummondii
- Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
- elkweed Frasera speciosa
- false buffalograss Munroa squarrosa
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- fleshy starwort Stellaria crassifolia
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
- hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
- hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- Hopi tea greenthread Thelesperma megapotamicum
- Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
- ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
- knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
- lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
- lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
- lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
- lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
- longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
- Louisiana broomrape Orobanche ludoviciana
- Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
- male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
- mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
- meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
- Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
- milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
- Missouri foxtail cactus Escobaria missouriensis
- Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
- moss campion Silene acaulis
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
- mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
- narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
- narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
- narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
- narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- nodding buckwheat Eriogonum cernuum
- nodding onion Allium cernuum
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
- painted milkvetch Astragalus ceramicus
- pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
- pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
- plains springparsley Cymopterus acaulis
- Porter brome Bromus porteri
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
- prairie plantain Plantago elongata
- prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
- red baneberry Actaea rubra
- Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- roughfruit fairybells Prosartes trachycarpa
- rusty lupine Lupinus pusillus
- sand sagebrush Artemisia filifolia
- sanddune cryptantha Cryptantha fendleri
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
- shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
- shy wallflower Erysimum inconspicuum
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
- single delight Moneses uniflora
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- skeletonleaf bur ragweed Ambrosia tomentosa
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
- slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
- spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
- spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
- spinystar Escobaria vivipara
- spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
- spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
- spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stemless Townsend daisy Townsendia exscapa
- stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
- stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
- stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
- threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
- tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
- tobacco root Valeriana edulis
- trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
- tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
- velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- water mudwort Limosella aquatica
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
- western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
- western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
- western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
- whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
- wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
- woolly tidestromia Tidestromia lanuginosa
Also listed as native and introduced here 3
PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.
- biennial wormwoodArtemisia biennis
- claspleaf twistedstalkStreptopus amplexifolius
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Compared with Colorado
The typical county is the median of the 63 Colorado counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.
| Measure | Montezuma County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 401 | 237 | 1,119 |
| Garden-ready natives | 249 | 148 | 585 |
| Tree | 36 | — | 66 |
| Shrub | 49 | — | 92 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 230 | — | 626 |
| Grass or grass-like | 68 | — | 278 |
| Vine | 9 | — | 20 |
| Fern | 9 | — | 37 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Montezuma County.
- Dolores County, CO 131 garden-ready
- La Plata County, CO 174 garden-ready
Source & data date
- Source
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
- Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
- USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
- Citation
- USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
- Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
- Data date
- Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
- Zones
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
- Scope
- Montezuma County (county FIPS 08083), Colorado. 401 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
- Method
- A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources