Best Colorado Perennials for a Colorful Spring Garden

Colorado spring can be rough, with snow, rain, heavy winds, freezing temperatures, and even hail! But it is also an exciting time for plant lovers. As the birds begin chirping, plants begin emerging, and we get those first few pops of color in the garden. Designing for spring color is an absolute must. We all need a spark of hope that summer is on its way, as well as a little inspiration to get us through those last few snowstorms.

I want to share some of my absolute favorite spring perennials with you, culled from over 20 years of designing, installing, and maintaining gardens in Colorado. From the first Lenten Rose and Crocus blooms in February to the Creeping Phlox of late May, these plants will give you something to enjoy in your garden throughout the early season’s often unpredictable weather.

10 Best Spring Perennials for Colorado

10 Best Spring Perennials for Colorado

Colorful Colorado Spring Perennials for Sun

1. Creeping Phlox- (Phlox subulata)

Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Low/xeric
Creeping Phlox and Basket of Gold (listed below) are two of the showiest spring perennials in Colorado. Creeping Phlox comes in a variety of colors. The blooms are bright and eye-catching when the rest of the landscape is just starting to turn green. Phlox acts as a ground cover and spreads well once established in the garden. This makes it an ideal perennial for rock gardens and walls. If you have a full sun garden that needs a pop of color in spring Creeping Phlox is an absolute must!

2. Basket of Gold- (Aurenia saxatilis)

Hardiness: Zone 3-7
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Low/Xeric
Bright gold blooms cascade from this gorgeous, low-growing perennial. Plant behind a wall for a waterfall effect or put it by the front door to draw the eye of passers-by. Pair it with Creeping Phlox in full sun for a classic and gorgeous colorful spring garden.

3. Rock Cress/Aubretia- (Aubrieta deltoidei)

Hardiness: Zones 3-7
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Requirements: Low/ Xeric
Another bright ground cover, this plant is similar to creeping phlox and just as eye-catching. Aubretia, otherwise known as Rockcress, requires very little water to thrive and comes in a bright purple variety that I absolutely adore. Throw this plant into your rock garden for a low maintenance burst of spring color.

4. Pasqueflower- (Pulsatilla vulgaris or Pulsatilla patens-native to Colorado)

Hardiness: Zone 3-7
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Water Requirements: Low/xeric
Oh, Pasqueflower. I can’t say enough about how much I love this little spring beauty. With it’s gorgeous white, purple and red blooms, and fuzzy leaves and seed pods, I can’t get enough of this perennial. Just look at those Dr. Seuss seed pods and tell me you don’t want this in your garden! The bees love it for its early season nectar, too.

5. Crocus- (Crocus sp)

Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Sun Requirements: Sun/Part Sun
Water Requirements: Low/Xeric
One of the first plants to emerge in spring, Crocus comes in yellow, purple, white, spotted, and striped varieties. Make sure you buy spring blooming Crocus instead of fall blooming if you want early season color. I love to mix those varieties up for a longer bloom time and an assortment of color. Crocus also look great naturalized. One way to achieve this look is to throw the bulbs in the air. Plant them where they land for a random and natural pattern.

6. Cushion Spurge- (Euphorbia polychroma)

Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Sun Requrements: Full Sun
Water Requirements: Low/Xeric
Not to be confused with Myrtle Spurge, which is considered a noxious weed along the Front Range of Colorado, Cushion Spurge is a great addition to xeric gardens. The fluorescent yellow blooms are sure to stand out against any backdrop. This perennial is extremely drought tolerant and low maintenance. However, it does not sprawl as readily as Creeping Phlox, Basket of Gold, or Rockcress. In fact, its habit is to grow in a nice tidy little ball, like a pin cushion, hence the name Cushion Spurge. This is an often overlooked perennial in the Colorado landscape, probably because it is confused with the invasive species. I think it’s time to change that!

Colorful Colorado Spring Perennials for Shade

7. Lenten Rose- (Helleborus orientalis)

Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Sun Requirements: Full shade
Water Requirements: Does best in consistently moist soil
Lenten Rose is one of the first plants to bloom in late winter, making the pale blossoms that much more exciting! You might start to see it flower as early as February, and even January, in the perfect spot. It is a woodland plant that loves shade, moist soil, and cool spaces. The bloom is elegant, but not extremely bright. Flowers range from white and pale green, to purple, pink and almost black. It is truly unique, and is stunning in cut flower arrangements. Plant among other woodland perennials for an early season bloom in the spring.

8. Bugloss, False Forget-Me-Not- (Brunnera macrophylla)

Recommended Varieties ‘Jack Frost’, ‘Variegata’
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Sun Requirements: Full Shade to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Does best in consistently moist soil
I LOVE Brunerra! This early season plant produces true-blue, delicate blooms in early spring. It comes in several variegated varieties that add foliage color to the garden even after the blooms have faded. Brunerra is another great plant to naturalize. Plant them in groups of 7 or more for a swath of gorgeous color in the spring. Brunerra likes shade, and goes dormant in the hot summer sun, so plant around the base of a tree or in a shady nook to protect it from intense heat.

9. Bleeding heart-( Dicentra spectabilis)

Hardiness: Zone 3-9
Sun Requirements: Full Shade to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Does best in consistently moist soil
Bleeding heart produces a dainty and magical pink and white bloom in early spring. It makes me stop and smile when I see it emerge in the garden. The blooms are showy, but somewhat small. For that reason, it is a great idea to plant this perennial close to paths, front entries, and areas that you see on a regular basis. This is another plant that goes dormant in the summer heat. Plant among Hostas, Ferns, Lamium or other shade plants that will fill the garden space later in the season. You might even get a second bloom from this perennial in the fall if conditions are right!

10. Pulmonaria- (Pulmonaria saccharate)

Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Sun Requirements: Full Shade to Part Shade
Water Requirements: Does best in consistently moist soil
This sweet little shade perennial has interesting foliage, texture, shape, and color, as well as beautiful blooms. The flowers range from pale pink to dark purple…often on one plant! Put Pulmonaria with Brunerra, Lenten Rose, and Bleeding Heart for an unforgettable spring shade garden.

Still looking for ideas to create color in your garden? You might want to check out my free plant guide for year round color.

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See examples of completed projects in the gallery.