United States regional guide · CO

Permaculture in Colorado

Colorado’s high plains, mountain valleys, and Western Slope create sharp changes in frost, wind, moisture, and season length. Sun is abundant, but elevation and dry air make water harvesting and protected microclimates especially valuable.

USDA span

3b–7b

Census region

West

Climate starting point

USDA hardiness zones in Colorado

Colorado includes USDA zones 3b–7b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.

Zone 3bZone 4aZone 4bZone 5aZone 5bZone 6aZone 6bZone 7aZone 7b

Regional plant starting points

Plants to explore for a Colorado design

These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Colorado. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.

01Zones 2–6

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

02Zones 3–9

Silver Buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

03Zones 1–6

Quaking Aspen

Populus tremuloides

Layer: Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

04Zones 6–8

Pinyon Pine

Pinus edulis

Layer: Canopy
Type: Evergreen Tree

05Zones 4–8

Golden Currant

Ribes aureum

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

06Zones 4–8

Yucca Soap

Yucca glauca

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

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