Native Annuals and Biennials for Rocky Mountain Gardens

These plants need less maintenance than traditional annuals and are perfectly adapted to our region

Over the last decennary or so , the swelling interest group in ecological gardening , specially in the use ofnativerather than introduce plant life species , has proven itself one of the most substantial forces changingRocky Mountainsgardeners ’ ornamental flora pallet . It ’s been a welcome change for people , plant , and fauna likewise , and one that those of us work in horticulture do n’t see being knocked out anytime soon . If anything , interest in this arena is only produce , thanks at least in part to the practiced show that these species put on , not to bring up theirecological benefits . Yet whilenative perennialsandwoody plantshave all made their way into the ring , native yearly andbiennialsremain largely sidelined . I routinely use these plants to add vibrance and fullness to young planting , to lighten rough spots in the G that I have n’t had the time to plant , or to bridge a visually slow period in the garden . Here are a few of the most spectacular native annuals and biennial to spice up your garden this yr .

Fourpoint evening primrose

Oenothera rhombipetala , Zones 4–9

Growing as an unassuming rosette of pointed leaves during its first year , this biennial ball over garden - goers with tall , tentacle - similar stems in its second year . get up quickly to 3 or more feet , these candelabrum - similar plants coat themselves in luminescent , four - petaled flowers for six weeks or more in mid to late summer . I enjoy using this plant en masse shot , where its spectacular flowered video display acts as a beacon light for hummingbird moths and human race alike . Hardy to at least Zone 4 , it grows best in mesic gardens .

Snow-on-the-mountain

Euphorbiamarginata , annual

Snow - on - the - stack can be found in nature across the ironical mellow plain and foothills of our part . As much of a delight in garden as its incursive Eurasiatic full cousin leafy spurge ( Euphorbia esula , Zones 3–9 ) is a menace , this plant is one of the most - demand - about species in my garden beds . Starting slowly , umbrella - similar corymb rise from a exclusive chaff on these plants , fan out to 18 inch across with maturity . Flowers are minute and , gratefully , are n’t the tip ; the numerous green - and - white bract that surround them make an heart - catching mosaic from all the way across the yard . These annual plants are highly attractive to pocket-sized worm , and while they sow around a bite , they pull easy and do not compete that much with other garden plants .

Scarlet gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata , Zones 3–9

Those in raft communities should consider adding cherry-red gilia to their gardens . yield thatipomopsisis Greek for “ striking appearance , ” this biennial is a no - brainer gain for high - elevation garden search an intense makeweight . In their first year , industrial plant rise as 2 - inch rosettes of dark green , feathery leaves . In their second , a single flush shuck appears in early summer , present numerous gentle pink to bright carmine , five - petaled flower . The kickshaw look of this plant misrepresent its tough nature ; it excels in icy Zone 3 and 4 winter and in gravelly , thin grease . For richer soil ( like clay ) , judge stand up cypress ( Ipomopsis rubra , zona 6–9 ) , a Southern Plains repeated full cousin of scarlet gilia that is a scrap more substantial , reaching almost 3 foot marvellous in a honorable yr .

Winged pigweed

Cycloloma atriplicifolium , one-year

If the botanically bizarre is to your taste , hunting down winged wild spinach is worth the effort . This plant is every bit as odd as its common name would suggest . Winged pigweed form bright - green , alright - textured spheres of foliage in barren area across the cardinal Intermountain West and Southwest . I ’ve been impressed by this plant ’s tolerance for my railway yard ’s lowering Henry Clay , give that it usually grows in sandy soils in nature . I have enjoyed the otherworldly calibre its Marimo moss ball - comparable coming into court gives my dwelling house hayfield . While most soma of this plant have white efflorescence , some forms have flowers that become a ample merlot . I ’m tempted to pick out the red form just to slap the name ‘ When Pigs Fly ’ on the cultivar , which feels especially appropriate consider these plants twist into Salsola kali tenuifolia and take off across the landscape with some wind . There ’s truly nothing like winged pigweed .

Sources and sowing guidelines

I typically purchase seed for these works online , doing so in bulk fromWestern Native SeedandPawnee Buttes Seed . I corrupt smaller quantity of more strange material fromAlplains Seed Catalog , among others . Direct sown in winter , these works are a cinch to grow . I break up their come with abandon on patches of barren dirt before or after a C in my gardens with dependable resultant role .

When we compete with all the challenges our region has to offer , admit a few durable , reliable flying hitters in our garden should be part of our scheme . Far well adapted than the pinnace perennials people so often grow as annual in our region , these plant provide exquisite color and form , and they do so with far fewer resources ( fertiliser , H2O , pot up , etc . ) than conventionally grown annuals and biennial .

For more exciting annuals , suss out outAll About Growing Annual Plants .

— Bryan Fischer is the curator of plant collections for the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .

Photos , except where note : Bryan Fischer

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