Perennial Bloom Calendar: Colorado Springs

Create a beautiful garden that blooms all season long.

The elevation and climate in Colorado Springs result in an adjusted growing season and bloom time for most flowers. Even though spring technically starts in late March, spring in Colorado Springs is around mid-May because that’s when our average last freeze day happens.

The first freeze happens around October which marks the end of flower blooming season for most varieties.

Our short growing season paired with our late spring freeze and early fall freeze makes planning a flower garden that blooms all season long a challenge. Our flower experts at Timberline Landscaping and at Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm put together this Perennial Bloom Guide Calendar for Colorado Springs to help you select flowers that not only do well in our climate but also select flowers to have a full and beautiful garden that is blooming spring to fall.

These are the common flower varieties available at Heidrich’s and are some Timberline favorites that we commonly use when planting with our personal gardening services as well as in landscape designs and installations.

The bar above each flower indicates the period in which that flower is in bloom and also indicates the color of that perennial.

Since the freeze dates adjust our blooming seasons, these perennial flowers are separated into seasons based on these months:

Spring: May-June
Summer: End of June-August
Fall: End of August-October

We also have a flowers by season guide that goes more in-depth on when to plant flowers in Colorado Springs that pairs well with this bloom guide.

Spring Blooming Perennials in Colorado Springs

Summit Alyssum (Basket of Gold):

Bloom Period: Early spring, lasts 4-6 weeks
Description: A basket of bright golden yellow flowers with grey-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full, direct sun
Height and Spread: Anywhere from 6-12” tall and a 12-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off deer

Alpine Aster (Blue Alpine Daisy):

Bloom Period: Late spring/early summer. Lasts several weeks, and can return for years
Description: Can bloom pink, blue, or purple daisy-like flowers, has a low carpet of green leaves with long, hardy stems
Sun Requirements: Full, direct sun
Height and Spread: 6-12” height and spread
Special Details:
- Very hardy
- Drought tolerant

Scarlet Beardtongue (Scarlet Penstemon):

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Tall, lanky grower with orange-reddish, tubular-shaped flowers with thick reddish-brown stems and sparse pads of green leaves
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 5-6’ tall, 14-16” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Red Rocks Beardtongue (Penstemon):

Bloom Period: Late spring/early summer
Description: Glossy narrow foliage with stunning spikes of rose-pink and white flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 18” tall, 15” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off rabbits

Birch Hybrid Bellflower (Campanula):

Bloom Period: Late spring to late summer
Description: Violet-blue bell-shaped flowers atop a trailing mound of fresh green leaves
Sun Requirements: Full sun to mostly shady
Height and Spread: 6” tall, 12” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off rabbits

Snowflake Candytuft:

Bloom Period: Mid spring to early summer
Description: Larger snowy white flowers and deep evergreen foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun, partial sun/shade
Height and Spread: 12” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Rock garden plant
- Dwarf plant

Little Trudy Catmint:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early fall
Description: Compact catmint with warm purple flowers on long evergreen stems
Sun Requirements: Full sun, morning sun and afternoon shade
Height and Spread: 8-10” tall, 12-16” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Wards off rabbits and deer
- Low maintenance and easy care

Walker’s Low Catmint:

Bloom Period: Late spring to late summer
Description: Dark lavender-blue flowers on aromatic grey-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 18-24” tall and 18” spread
Special Details:
- Bee friendly
- Wards off deer and rabbits
- Extensive bloom times (greater than 4 weeks)

Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Blue and white flowers on rich green foliage
Sun Requirements: Morning sun, afternoon shade, full shade
Height and Spread: 18” tall and 15” wide
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds and birds
- Wards off deer and rabbits
- Native to CO

Firefly Coral Bells:

Bloom Period: Late spring to summer
Description: Red flowering spikes on scalloped green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun, morning sun, and afternoon shade
Height and Spread: 18” tall and 15” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
- Native plant

Johnson’s Blue Cranesbill:

Bloom Period: Late spring to mid-summer
Description: Geranium with large, true blue flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 14-16” tall and 18-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Bee-friendly

Vision Violet Cranesbill:

Bloom Period: Spring to summer
Description: Bright reddish-purple flowers on long green stems
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 12-15” tall, 1-2’ spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer

False Indigo (Baptisia):

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Grows very tall, blooms purple, lupine-like flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Height and Spread: 3-4’ tall, 3-4’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off rabbits
- Drought-resistant

red fox spirea (astilbe)

Bloom Period: Spring to summer
Description: Plume-like flowers in shades of white, pink, and red atop stiff stalks of airy foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Height and Spread: 6-24” tall, 6”-5’ spread
Special Details:
- Drought tolerant

Camelot Mix Foxglove:

Bloom Period: Late spring to mid-summer
Description: Tubular flowers that grow upwards on sturdy, green stalks that have a unique, formal look
Sun Requirements: Full sun, half sun, half shade
Height and Spread: 36-48” tall, 12-18” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer and rabbits
- Attracts hummingbirds and other birds
- Bee-friendly

Himalayan Border Jewel:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Tall spikes of white-pink flowers above green foliage. Foliage changes color to brick red in fall
Sun Requirements: Half sun, half shade
Height and Spread: 12” tall, 15” spread
Special Details:
- Suitable for containers
- Attracts hummingbirds

Assorted Variety, Bearded Iris:

Bloom Period: Late spring to summer (2 weeks)
Description: Beautiful flowers of varying colors
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 6”-4’ tall, 6”-2’ spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer, rabbits, and gophers

Red Valerian Jupiter’s Beard:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Clusters of small, dark red flowers atop deep green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 24-36” tall, 30” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Gallery Blue Lupine:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Sweet pea-shaped blossoms of lavender and white atop bright green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 18-24” tall, 18-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer and rabbits

May Night Meadow Sage:

Bloom Period: Late spring to late summer
Description: Blooms spears of deep purple-blue flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 15-18” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Peony:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer (7-10 days)
Description: Purple, pink, white, and red flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun, partial sun
Height and Spread: Various
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Bowles Periwinkle:

Bloom Period: Late spring to mid-summer
Description: Deep lilac-colored flowers on glossy green, veined foliage
Sun Requirements: Mostly sun to full shade
Height and Spread: 6” tall, 2-3’ spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer
- Evergreen
- Dry shade tolerant

Alpine Poppy:

Bloom Period: Late spring and early summer
Description: Orange, yellow, pink, and white varieties of flowers atop green foliage.
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 4-12” tall, 8” spread
Special Details:
- Drought tolerant
- Wards off deer

Allegro Oriental Poppy:

Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer
Description: Red/orange flowers atop greyish-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 12-18” tall, 12-18” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer

Ozark Sundrop Primrose:

Bloom Period: Late spring to fall
Description: Bright yellow flowers on a bed of bright green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 6”-1’ tall, 1-2’ spread
Special Details:
- Drought and rocky soil resistant

Sweet Woodruff:

Bloom Period: April and May, late spring to early summer
Description: Clusters of white, star-shaped flowers on a bed of vibrant green foliage
Sun Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Height and Spread: 6-12” tall, 9-18” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off rabbits and deer

Summer Blooming Perennials in Colorado Springs

Button Bachelor (Cornflower):

Bloom Period: Summer
Description: Fluffy yet trim, round flowers with sparse, long, and narrow grey-green leaves
Sun Requirements: Full sun, likes some afternoon shade
Height and Spread: 1-3’ tall, 1-2’ spread
Special Details:
- Very hardy
- Drought resistant

Alert Aster (New York Aster/ Michaelmas Daisy):

Bloom Period: Late summer/early fall
Description: Vibrant red flowers with yellow centers that stem from green bush-like foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun, half-sun/half-shade
Height and Spread: 10-12” tall and 12-16” wide
Special Details:
- Hardy
- Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees
- Wards off deer

Assorted Variety Bee Balm:

Bloom Period: Summer, lasts 1-2 months
Description: Large central stem system of dark green that blooms pink, purple, red, and white flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 2-4’ tall, 2-4’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts birds and butterflies

Scottish Bluebells:

Bloom Period: Summer
Description: Numerous nodding, blue, bell-shaped flowers over bright green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full morning sun, afternoon shade
Height and Spread: 12” tall, 15” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer

Butterfly Weed:

Bloom Period: Mid-summer to early fall
Description: Yellow orange to bright orange flower clusters atop stiff, lance-shaped green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 1-2’ tall, 1-3’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Wards off deer

Creeping Hummingbird Trumpet:

Bloom Period: Summer
Description: Bright orange trumpet-shaped flowered ground cover
Sun Requirements: Morning sun, afternoon shade, full shade
Height and Spread: 4-6” tall, 15-18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Wards off deer
- Evergreen

Assorted Variety Shasta Daisy:

Bloom Period: Summer to fall
Description: Bright white flowers with yellow centers on top of grey-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 3-4’ tall, 2-3’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies

Crimson Shadows Daylily:

Bloom Period: Late July to early August
Description: Crimson with a darker eye zone and green throat
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to partial shade
Height and Spread: Up to 30” tall and 20” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off rabbits

Prairie Blue Eyes Daylily:

Bloom Period: Mid-summer
Description: Lilac flowers with a darker eye zone and green throat
Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Height and Spread: 25-27” tall, 18-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies

Stella De Oro Daylily:

Bloom Period: Early to mid-summer, and again in late summer
Description: Golden yellow standing on long, rich green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun to half sun/half shade
Height and Spread: 10-12” tall 10-12” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off rabbits

Purple Gayfeather (Liatris):

Bloom Period: July to August
Description: Purple fuzzy blooms atop tall stiff bright green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 2-4’ tall, 1’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees

Patriot Hosta:

Bloom Period: Late summer
Description: Deep green leaves are bordered by white margins throughout the year and lavender flowers shoot up from tall scapes in late summer.
Sun Requirements: Half Sun Half Shade/ Full Shade
Height and Spread: 12-24” tall, 24-36” spread
Special Details:
- Hardy
- Low maintenance

Blue Fortune Hyssop:

Bloom Period: All summer
Description: Powder blue flower spikes
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 36” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Coronado Hyssop (Hummingbird Magnet):

Bloom Period: Summer to fall
Description: Bright, fragrant, orange-yellow flowers rise above silver-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Partial sun, full sun
Height and Spread: 12-15” tall, 12-15” spread
Special Details:
- Suitable for containers
- Attracts hummingbirds

Red Coronado Hyssop:

Bloom Period: All summer
Description: Crimson red flowers on silver-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 24-30” tall, 15-18” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer and rabbits
- Attracts hummingbirds

Sunset Hyssop:

Bloom Period: Early summer to fall
Description: Smokey orange flowers, ringed with lavender sepals
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 36-42” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Table Mountain Ice Plant:

Bloom Period: Early summer to fall
Description: Ground cover with vibrant purple, sun-shaped flowers with yellow centers
Sun Requirements: Full to partial sun
Height and Spread: 1-2” tall, 16-20” spread
Special Details:
- Low maintenance
- Cold-resistant

White Japanese Windflower:

Bloom Period: Late summer to mid fall
Description: Elegant white flowers surrounding frilly stamens
Sun Requirements: Full sun, half sun/half shade
Height and Spread: 3-4’ tall, 20” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Larkspur Magic Fountain:

Bloom Period: Early to mid-summer
Description: Elegant spears of blue, lavender, and white flowers on deep green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 28-36” tall, 14-18” spread
Special Details: Wards off deer

Phenomenal Lavender:

Bloom Period: Mid-summer to early fall
Description: Mound shaped bushes that grow purple flowers on tall stems
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 30-32” tall, 24-32” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer
- Cold-resistant

Lucifer Montbretia:

Bloom Period: Mid to late summer (5-8 weeks)
Description: Pleated leaves with wands of fiery red tubular flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun, partial sun
Height and Spread: 2-4’ tall, 1-2’ spread
Special Details:
- Attracts birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- wards off deer and rabbits
- Salt and drought resistant

Red Birds In A Tree:

Bloom Period: Early summer to mid fall
Description: Spires of small red, white-lipped flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun, morning sun, afternoon shade
Height and Spread: 36-48” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off rabbits

Furman’s Red Sage:

Bloom Period: Early summer to fall
Description: Bright red flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 24-36” tall, 18” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts birds and hummingbirds
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Bertram Anderson Stonecrop:

Bloom Period: Late summer to early fall
Description: Smokey-purple leaves on rosy-pink stems that bloom crimson pink flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun to mostly sun
Height and Spread: 5-6” tall, 18” spread
Special Details: Attracts butterflies, wards off rabbits

Rosea Threadleaf:

Bloom Period: Summer
Description: Daisy-like flowers that are yellow-orange to red-pink in color
Sun Requirements: Full sun, part shade
Height and Spread: 10-18” tall, 12-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts birds

Colorado Gold Treasure Flower:

Bloom Period: Early summer to mid fall
Description: Bright yellow daisy like flowers
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 4-6” tall, 10-12” spread
Special Details:
- Good for containers
- Extended bloom time (greater than 4 weeks)

Columbine Perennial Violet:

Bloom Period: Mid-summer to early fall
Description: Rich blue and white flowers
Sun Requirements: Half sun/half shade, full shade
Height and Spread: 6-10” tall, 6-8” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Wards off deer

Moonshine Yarrow:

Bloom Period: Early to late summer
Description: Lemon yellow, flat-topped flowers on silver-green foliage
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 18” tall, 24” spread
Special Details:
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Fall Blooming Perennials in Colorado Springs

Although some of the spring and summer flowers will continue to bloom into fall, it’s important to choose cold hardy plants as the weather cools down quickly. In the Planting for Fall Color Guide, we include plants that go beyond perennials to add beautiful variety to your fall landscape.

Autumn Joy Stonecrop:

Bloom Period: Fall
Description: Pink flowers that gradually turn rust red
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Height and Spread: 18-24” Tall, 18-24” spread
Special Details:
- Attracts butterflies
- Bee-friendly
- Wards off deer and rabbits

Use this bloom guide to keep your garden blooming all season long. Beautiful blooming gardens are great for pollinators and can even increase the value of your home.

If you’d rather enjoy your time in your beautiful outdoor space without the time requirement of maintaining it, our personal gardeners specialize in expertly maintained landscapes and create beautiful gardens. Learn more here.