Perennials Colorado: Discover the Best Perennials for Your Colorado Garden at Nick’s Garden Center

Nick’s Garden Center & Farmers Market has helped Denver and Aurora gardeners grow thriving perennial gardens for over 30 years. Our family-owned garden center is your go-to source for the best perennials for Colorado. We offer a wide range of flowers, grasses, groundcovers, and expert support so you achieve your gardening goals in any season. Whether you are starting fresh or expanding your beds, our team shares your passion for plants and gardening success.

Why Choose Perennials for Colorado Gardens?

Perennials add color, interest, and life to your garden year after year. Once established, these plants return from their roots every spring. Choosing perennials suited to Colorado means less replanting, lower maintenance, and stronger resilience to local weather. Perennials adapt well to Colorado’s temperature swings and short growing season. Many are drought-tolerant, making them ideal for waterwise gardening. By planting perennials, you support sustainability, reduce your garden’s water use, and create lasting beauty with minimal effort.

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Drought-Tolerant, Low Maintenance & Waterwise: Perennials Perfect for Colorado’s Climate

Colorado’s arid climate, low humidity, and frequent droughts demand waterwise gardening choices. Drought-tolerant perennials thrive on less water, helping you meet local water restrictions and conserve resources. At Nick’s, we offer a wide selection of Colorado xeriscape plants, from ornamental grasses to rugged flowering perennials. Some top choices include Russian sage, blanket flower, yarrow, and blue flax. These plants deliver color and texture while thriving in dry soil. Adding mulch and grouping low water perennials together will boost their performance and keep your beds looking vibrant.

Native Colorado Perennials: Beauty, Biodiversity, and Pollinator Support

Native Colorado perennials are perfectly adapted to our soils, altitude, and climate extremes. These plants play a key role in supporting local ecosystems. Native perennials provide habitat and food for bees, butterflies, and birds, promoting pollinator health and biodiversity. Popular options from the Colorado native plant database include Rocky Mountain penstemon, prairie coneflower, blanket flower, and showy milkweed. Many native perennials handle high altitude and poor soils with ease, making them reliable picks for sustainable gardens. By choosing natives, you help preserve Colorado’s natural beauty and support wildlife.

Best Perennials for Colorado Full Sun: Nick’s Top Picks

Nick’s Garden Center offers hundreds of perennial varieties for every garden style and condition, including hardy flowering perennials for tough Colorado conditions. Here are some of our most reliable and striking choices:

Yarrow ‘White Wildflower’ (Achillea): Drought-tolerant, thrives in full sun, grows 18–24 inches tall, blooms summer to fall, attracts pollinators
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia): Native, long bloom period, bright red and yellow flowers
Russian Sage (Perovskia): Silvery foliage, purple blooms, excellent for xeriscaping
Penstemon (Beardtongue): Eaton’s firecracker penstemon offers scarlet trumpets for hummingbirds and a long bloom season
Coneflower (Echinacea): Tough, upright, purple or pink flowers, wildlife friendly
Blue Flax (Linum): Sky blue flowers, blooms spring to summer, low water needs
Claret Cup Cactus: Fiery red flowers each spring for bold color in dry landscapes
Chocolate Flower: Yellow daisies from June until frost for extended seasonal interest
Ornamental Grasses: Switchgrass, blue fescue, and little bluestem for movement and structure
Sedum (Stonecrop): Succulent, drought-tolerant, late season color
Chrysanthemum: Classic fall bloomer, multiple colors, hardy in Colorado soil
Our plant experts help match the right perennials to your garden’s sun, soil, and style.

Our plant experts help match the right perennials to your garden’s sun, soil, and style.

Designing Your Dream Perennial Garden: Expert Tips & Inspiration

A successful Colorado perennial garden starts with the right plan for your perennial beds and borders. Mix heights, textures, and bloom seasons for year-round interest. Pair tall grasses with low-growing groundcovers to add layers. Group perennials with similar water and sun needs together for easy care, keeping in mind that most Colorado perennials thrive in full sun with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. In Denver, perennials generally perform best with well-draining soil and full sun exposure. In Colorado, south and west exposures tend to be hottest and driest, so choose the right plant for each spot, while east and north beds can suit plants that prefer less intense sunshine, shade, or part shade. Use rocks or mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds. For pollinator-friendly gardens, combine natives like coneflower and penstemon with long-blooming favorites such as yarrow. Visit Nick’s or consult our team for personalized design advice.

Planting & Caring for Perennials in Colorado: Step-by-Step Guide

Site Preparation: Choose a location with suitable sun and good drainage. Remove weeds and loosen the soil in the ground to at least 12 inches deep.
Soil Amendments: Colorado soils are often clay-heavy or sandy. Mix in organic compost to improve structure and fertility while boosting aeration and drainage for Colorado soils.
Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Place the plant, backfill with amended soil, and press gently.
Watering: Water thoroughly after planting. Keep soil moist for the first few weeks until established, then water deeply but infrequently. Early morning watering prevents disease.
Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of mulch to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
Seasonal Care: Cut back dead stems in early spring. Divide perennials every few years for vigor. Fertilize in spring if needed.

High altitude gardens might require wind protection and extra mulch in winter. Nick’s supplies bulk soil, mulch, and expert guidance for every step.

Ongoing Maintenance, Pest Management & Seasonal Care

Healthy perennials need regular care. Remove faded flowers to encourage more blooms, since deadheading promotes re-blooming in varieties like Salvia. Watch for pests like aphids, spider mites, and fungal diseases. If you spot trouble, bring a sample to Nick’s for diagnosis and solution recommendations. Check soil moisture during hot, dry spells, and adjust watering as needed, though native perennials usually need less irrigation once established in Colorado. Regular deadheading and dividing overcrowded clumps help maintain perennial vigor. In fall, clean up dead plant material to prevent disease, but leave some seed stalks if you want plants to set seeds, add winter interest, or bring a softer air to the garden. Our staff offers ongoing support and plant care tips to keep your perennials thriving.

Nick’s Garden Center Difference: Family-Owned, Community-Rooted Excellence

Nick’s Garden Center stands apart through decades of local experience, quality plants, and friendly service. Our family-owned business has served the Denver Metro region since 1987. We host seasonal events, offer unique local produce, and provide comprehensive gardening resources. Our knowledgeable team helps you succeed, whether you need plant identification, pest help, or garden design support. We are committed to your gardening success and to strengthening our local community.

Nick’s Rich Gardening Resources

Ready to take your gardening skills to the next level? Connect with our experts at Nick’s for gardening tips and check out our blog for more planting resources.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Perennials, Planting, and Support

Which perennials are best for Colorado’s dry climate?

Drought-tolerant choices like Russian sage, yarrow, blanket flower, and blue flax perform well in low water gardens, especially in Denver’s semi-arid climate with intense sunshine and weather swings.

When should I plant perennials in Colorado?

Spring is usually the best time to plant perennials in Colorado, though early fall also works well for root establishment before winter in the plains landscape or a home yard.

How do I prepare Colorado soil for perennials?

Amend with compost to improve drainage and fertility, especially since Colorado soil is often clay-heavy and alkaline, whether you are working in heavier beds or sandy soils.

Do you offer delivery and planting services?

Yes, Nick’s delivers bulk materials and offers planting help for trees, shrubs, and large perennials.

Where can I get help with plant or pest problems?

Bring samples to Nick’s for expert diagnosis and care recommendations. Our staff is always happy to help.

Start Your Perennial Garden Journey with Nick’s: Visit, Shop, or Get Expert Advice

Ready to start or expand your Colorado perennial garden? Visit Nick’s Garden Center & Farmers Market in Aurora for the best selection of perennials, expert advice, and community events. Shop in-store or online, consult with our friendly staff, and sign up for our gardening newsletter for tips and specials. Let Nick’s help you grow a garden that thrives year after year.