Rocky Mountain Columbine
Late spring to midsummer is Rocky Mountain columbine season in high-country gardens. These rugged wildflowers add a graceful touch of blue to the landscape and require almost no maintenance. They are also deer-resistant and make excellent cut flowers.
Plant Name: Aquilegia caerulea
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide
Grow It With: Lily-of-the-valley
Zones: 3-8
Liatris
Liatris, also known as blazing star, produces tall flower spikes that add vertical interest to summer gardens. These low-maintenance plants are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. They also attract birds and butterflies.
Plant Name: Liatris spicata
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Grow It With: Coneflower
Zones: 3-9
Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflower is a tough, low-maintenance perennial that grows well in sunny locations. It blooms throughout summer and fall and works well with a variety of garden styles.
Plant Name: Echinacea purpurea
Growing Conditions: Rich soil and full sun; tolerates some shade
Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide
Grow It With: Yellow yarrow
Zones: 3-9
Sedum
Sedums are versatile, tough garden plants that tolerate heat, drought, and other challenging conditions. They are available in many colors and textures, making them useful for creating varied plantings.
Plant Name: Sedum selections
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide
Grow It With: Hens and chicks
Zones: 3-10
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a vigorous plant that produces fragrant foliage and attractive late-summer to early-autumn flowers. Its silver and lavender colors add interest to sunny landscapes with dry soil.
Plant Name: Perovskia atriplicifolia
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide
Grow It With: Blanket flowers
Zones: 4-9
Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisy is a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance perennial with abundant blooms in late spring and early summer. Its sturdy stems also make it an excellent cut flower.
Plant Name: Leucanthemum x superbum
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Grow It With: Meadow buttercup
Zones: 4-9
Fireweed
Fireweed produces spikes of bright pink flowers from midsummer to early fall. It spreads quickly, so it should be given enough room to grow.
Plant Name: Epilobium angustifolium
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 5 feet tall and 1 foot wide
Grow It With: Burning bush
Zones: 3-7
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Rocky Mountain penstemon is a low-maintenance perennial that produces purple-blue flower spikes and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. It slowly spreads and eventually forms impressive clumps.
Plant Name: Penstemon strictus
Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Grow It With: Poppy mallow
Zones: 3-9
Dianthus
Dianthus, also called pinks, includes hundreds of varieties that differ in color, texture, and size. These plants provide fragrant flowers with little to no maintenance and can bloom throughout spring and summer.
Plant Name: Dianthus
Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained, neutral soil
Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide
Grow It With: Liatris
Zones: 3-10
Poppy Mallow
Poppy mallow tolerates hot, dry conditions and produces colorful blooms from spring into summer. Its pink, purple, and white flowers resemble miniature hibiscus, making it an attractive groundcover for difficult areas.
Plant Name: Callirhoe
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Up to 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide
Grow It With: Daylilies
Zones: 4-9
When planning a garden in Rocky Mountain states or similar regions, choose native perennials adapted to local sun, soil, and altitude conditions. Match each plant to the conditions it prefers, such as rocky slopes, dry soil, or shady areas, to create a naturally thriving, low-maintenance garden.
