Evergreen Landscape & Design Plantings for Elk & Altitude and Plant Care Guide

Plantings for Elk and Altitude

Beautiful as they may be, deer and elk provide yet another challenge to the high country gardener. Whether you intend on growing only one tree or flower, or an extensive landscape, you will most likely be visited (on a regular basis!) by deer and/or elk that assume you’ve created a salad bar just for them.

The plants that deer and elk eat will vary between seasons and is influenced by the density of their population, the availability of native forage, and weather conditions. At the end of particularly dry or cold winters, and during hot and dry summers, animals will eat just about anything. Also, they may eat a plant they ordinarily wouldn’t like if it has been recently planted or if it has an abundance of tender, new growth caused by over-watering or heavy fertilization. Sometimes plants eaten to the ground in one area by one group of animals may be ignored in another area by other animals. Some individuals may love to eat all you have, while others may be more particular. Even plants they generally don’t like may be nibbled by many as they are testing the palatability of them. Spring and late summer/early autumn typically sees the most damage to plants, but most all unprotected plants are susceptible at all times.

Beyond the munching, a bull elk or buck can cause great damage to valued trees with their antlers during rutting season in fall. Trees that may be relatively safe from eating can be their favorites to “practice fight” with. Commonly used trees include Colorado Blue Spruce, Bristlecone Pines and Sandbar Willows. In addition, bark damage is seen in spring when they’re rubbing the “velvet” off their antlers. Elk are also known to snap branches of trees and shrubs, pull plants out of the ground, and step on others. The only way to protect plants from this type of damage is to fence off the plant/s entirely. This can be done individually for specimen plants, or collectively for an extended area. Fencing is also a carefree way to protect flowerbeds or vegetable gardens en masse.

If fencing is not an option for you, there is a variety of deterrents that are effective to minimize munching. Please ask us about the choices available. The use of a spray deterrent on newly installed “deer/elk resistant plants” can help prevent the experimental nibbling that may occur just because there’s a new ingredient at the “salad bar.” There are plants that deer and elk tend to avoid, and a very few that we have never seen them eat (but that list is getting smaller each year!)

Key to the Plant List

Botanical Name – The first name listed is the genus; a group of closely related plants. The second name, if given, is the species, which further narrows the choice. If no species is listed, the abbreviation “spp.” will indicate that most species in that genus are deer/elk resistant.

Maximum Elevation Guidelines – The information given is intended as an approximate guide and should not be considered to be definitive.

Definitions:

Deciduous – a plant that drops its leaves in the fall or winter and grows new leaves each growing season.

Evergreen – a plant that retains its leaves for more than one annual cycle of growth.

Semi-evergreen – a plant that retains at least some green foliage well into winter, sometimes shedding leaves only in cold climates.

The following plants are generally not preferred by deer or elk:

PERENNIALS

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height (inches)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Achillea spp.	Yarrow	12”-30”	S	Low	9,000’	Easy, some spread aggressively
Aconitum spp.	Monkshood	24”-36”	Sh-PtS	High	9,000’	Poisonous; roots, leaves and seeds
Agastache spp.	Agastache	24”	S	Low	8,000’	Attracts hummingbirds
Alchemilla spp.	Lady’s Mantle	12”-18”	S-PtSh	Mod	9,000’	Blooms July-August
Alyssum saxatile	Basket-of-gold	12”-18”	S	Low	8,000’	Cut back after bloom
Armeria spp.	Thrift or Sea Pinks	6”-12”	S	Mod	9,000’	Use in rock gardens, deadhead
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly Weed	18”-30”	S	Low	8,000’	Lean, sandy soil
Astilbe spp.	Astilbe or False Spirea	18”-36”	Sh-PtS	Mod-High	8,000’	Late season blooms
Berlandiera lyrata	Chocolate Flower	8”-12”	S	Low	7,500’	Long bloom
Centaurea montana	Bachelor Buttons or Mountain Bluets	24”	S	Low	8,500’	Long bloom
Centranthus ruber	Red Valerian or Jupiter’s Beard	18”-36”	S	Low	9,000’	Long bloom, can reseed
Cerastium tomentosum	Snow-in-summer	6”-12”	S	Low	10,000’	Mow or shear after bloom
Convallaria majalis	Lily of the Valley	6”-9”	Sh-PtS	Mod	9,000’	Poisonous
Dicentra spp.	Bleeding Heart	12”-36”	Sh-PtS	Mod	9,000’	Easy; dwarf form is long blooming
Digitalis spp.	Foxglove	18”-48”	Sh-PtS	Mod	8,000’	Poisonous
Echinacea spp.	Coneflower	18”-36”	S-PtSh	Low	7,500’	Long, late season bloom
Echinops spp.	Globe Thistle	30”-36”	S	Low	7,000’	Interesting plant
Eryngium spp.	Sea Holly	24”-30”	S	Low	7,000’	Late bloom, reseeds, good accent to color
Euphorbia characias	Cushion Spurge	18”-24”	S	Low	9,000’	Reseeds, great fall color
Galium odoratum	Sweet Woodruff	6”-10”	Sh-PtS	Mod	9,500’	Nice groundcover
Iberis sempervirens	Candytuft	6”-12”	S-PtSh	Mod	8,500’	Bright white, spring blooms
Kniphofia spp.	Red Hot Poker	24”-36”	S	Low	7,500’	Bright colors
Lamium spp.	Dead Nettle	4”-6”	Sh-PtS	Mod	8,500’	Great groundcover
Lavandula angustifolia	Lavender	12”-18”	S	Low	8,500’	Dries well
Levisticum officinale	Lovage	60”	S-PtSh	Mod	8,000’	Easy celery substitute
Liatris spp.	Gayfeather	18”-36”	S	Mod	8,000’	Easy, late blooming
Limonium latifolium	Sea Lavender	12”-24”	S	Low	7,500’	Late blooming, dries well
Linum perenne	Blue Flax	12”-24”	S-PtSh	Low	9,500’	N is L. lewisii; reseeds, best in swaths
Lupinus spp.	Lupine	18”-30”	S-PtSh	Mod	9,000’	Showy spring blooms
Mentha spp.	Mint	12”-24”	S-PtSh	Mod	7,500’	Aggressive spreader, attracts bees
Monarda spp.	Bee Balm	12”-48”	S-PtSh	Mod	9,000’	Attracts hummingbirds
Nepeta spp.	Catmint	12”-36”	S-PtSh	Low	7,500’	Aggressive spreader, attracts bees
Paeonia officinalis	Peony	24”-36”	S	Mod	9,000’	Long lived, takes several years to mature
Perovskia atriciplifolia	Russian Sage	36”-60”	S	Low	7,500’	Shear low in spring
Phlox subdulata	Creeping Phlox	4”-6”	S	Low	8,500’	Semi-evergreen groundcover
Polemonium spp.	Jacob’s Ladder	12”-36”	Sh-PtS	Mod	8,500’	Fern-like foliage
Potentilla verna	Cinquefoil, Creeping	2”-4”	S	Low	8,500’	Spreading groundcover
Pulmonaria spp.	Lungwort	8”-18”	Sh	Mod	8,000’	Very early bloom, nice leaves
Ratibida columnifera	Mexican Hat or Prairie Coneflower	18”-24”	S	Low	7,500’	N; good for natural gardens
Rheum spp.	Rhubarb	30”-48”	S	Mod	8,500’	Likes rich soil, stalks are edible leaves are poisonous
Rudbeckia hirta	Black-Eyed Susan	6”-48”	S	Low	8,000’	N; prolific blooms
Salvia spp.	Sage	15”-30”	S	Low	8,500’	Many varieties
Santolina chamaecyparissus	Lavender Cotton (silver-gray, not green species)	18”-24”	S	Very Low	7,500’	Semi-evergreen
Solidago spp.	Goldenrod	12”-48”	S	Very Low	7,500’	Late blooming
Stachys byzantina	Lamb’s Ear	6”-18”	S-PtSh	Low	7,500’	Trim in December, reseeds
Tanecetum spp.	Tansy	12”-36”	S-PtSh	Low	8,500’	Covered in blooms
Thymus spp.	Thyme	1”-12”	S	Low	8,500’	Many varieties
Veronica spicata	Speedwell	10”-18”	S-PtSh	Moderate	8,500’	Upright spikes of blooms
Veronica spp.	Creeping Veronica	1”-3”	S-PtSh	Low	8,500’	Great low groundcover
(many)	Ferns, Hardy	12”-48”	Sh	Mod-High	9,000’	Some native

ANNUALS

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height (inches)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Ageratum houstonianun	Floss Flower	5”-24”	S-PtSh	Moderate	N/A	Mounding
Bracteantha bracteata	Straw Flower	12”	S	Low	N/A	Dries well
Centaurea cyanus	Bachelor’s Button	30”	S	Low	N/A	Long lasting cut flower
Cleome	Spider Flower	36”	S-PtSh	Low	N/A	Fast growing
Cosmos bipinnatus	Cosmos	36”	S	Low	N/A	Attracts butterflies
Lantana camara	Lantana	36”	S	Moderate	N/A	Colorful blooms
Limonium sinuatum	Statice	24”	S	Low	N/A	Dries well
Lobularia maritima	Sweet Alyssum	6”	S	Moderate	N/A	Mat forming
Nicotiana alata	Flowering Tobacco	24”	S-PtSh	Moderate	N/A	Wide assortment of colors
Salvia spp.	Annual Sage	24”	S	Moderate	N/A	Attracts hummingbirds
Scaevola	Fan Flower	12”	S	Moderate	N/A	Good for hanging baskets
Senecio cineraria	Dusty Miller	24”	S	Moderate	N/A	Great contrasting foliage for color
Tagetes spp.	Marigold (French)	8”-30”	S-PtSh	Moderate	N/A	Fast, easy color
Verbena x hybrida	Verbena	18”	S	Moderate	N/A	Prefers heavy fertilization

BULBS

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height (inches)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Allium spp.	Ornamental Onion	8”-36”	S-PtSh	Moderate	Varies	Wide variety available
Chionodoxa luciliae	Glory of the Snow	4”- 6”	S-PtSh	Moderate	8,500’	Early blooming, blue and white flowers
Colchicum spp.	Autumn Crocus	6”-12”	S-PtSh	Moderate	8,500’	Also called Meadow Saffron
Crocus spp.	Crocus	3”- 6”	S	Moderate	9,000’	Species and giant sizes available
Fritillaria imperialis	Crown Imperial	24”-36”	S	Low	7,500’	Showy “upside-down” blooms
Fritillaria meleagris	Checkered Lily	8”-12”	S-PtSh	Moderate	9,000’	Unique, delicate looking, but tough
Muscari armeniacum or M. botryoides	Grape Hyacinth	4”- 8”	S-PtSh	Low	9,000’	Many varieties available
Narcissus spp.	Daffodil	8”-20”	S	Low	9,000’	Many, many varieties available

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height x Width (feet)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Amorpha canescens	Leadplant	2-4’x 2-4’	S	Very Low	8,500’	N; erosion control, purple and orange flowers
Amorpha fruticosa	Indigo Bush	3-10’ x 3-10’	S	Very Low	8,500’	N; erosion control, purple and orange flowers, larger version of Leadplant
Artemisia tridentata	Big Western Sage	3-6’x 3-6’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; other native Sages will work also
Atriplex canescens	Four-wing Saltbush	5’x 5’	S	Very Low	8,000’	N; erosion control, tolerates poor soil
Berberis spp.	Barberry	2-6’x 2-6’	S	Moderate	8,000’	Colorful foliage, thorns
Caragana arborescens	Siberian Pea Shrub	10-15’ x 6-10’	S	Low	10,000’	Yellow spring flowers, good hedge
Caryopteris incana	Blue Mist Spirea	3’x 2’	S	Low	8,000’	Other cultivars available, late season blooms, attracts bees
Chamaebatieria millefolium	Fernbush	4-6’x 4-6’	S	Very Low	8,500’	Southwest US Native; white flower clusters
Chrysothamnus spp.	Rabbitbrush	2-6’x 2-6’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; late season blooms, tolerates poor soils
Cotoneaster spp.	Cotoneaster	1-6’x 2-10’	S	Moderate	Varies	Shiny leaves, fall berries, many varieties
Cytisus	Broom	1-5’x 1-5’	S	Low	8,000’	Unusual texture
Fallugia paradoxa	Apache Plume	3-5’x 3-5’	S	Very Low	8,500’	N; White rose-like flowers followed by “plume” seed heads
Genista	Woadwaxen	2’ x 2’	S	Very Low	8,000’	Covered in yellow blooms, long blooming
Holodiscus dumosus	Rock Spirea	3-5’x 3-5’	S-PtSh	Very Low	9,000’	N; Spring flower panicles
Potentilla spp. and all cultivars	Potentilla or Shrubby Cinquefoil	2-5’x 2-5’	S	Low	9,000’+	N; Many cultivars available
Shepherdia argentea	Silver Buffaloberry	3-12’ x 3-12’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; Great alternative to Russian Olive
Spiraea cultivars	Spirea	2-6’x 2-6’	S-PtSh	Moderate	8,500’	Many cultivars, various bloom and foliage colors

EVERGREEN SHRUBS

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height x Width (feet)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Kinnikinnick or Bearberry	¼’ x 5’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	10,000’	N; slow growing, transplants poorly from wild
Cercocarpus ledifolius	Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany	4-15’ x 4-12’	S	Very Low	8,500’	N; semi-evergreen, deer DO eat our local native Mtn. Mahogany, C. montanus
Daphne spp.	Daphne	2-4’x 2-4’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	8,000’	Early, prolific, fragrant, blooms
Mahonia aquifolium	Oregon Grape Holly	3-6’x 3-6’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	8,000’	Red/Bronze fall color, must winter water
Mahonia repens	Creeping Grape Holly	1-3’x 3’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	9,000’	N; Red winter color, slow to establish
Microbiota decussata	Russian Cypress	1’ x 4’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	9,000’	Soft foliage, bronze winter color
Opuntia compressa	Plains Prickly Pear	1’ x 4’	S	Very Low	8,500’	N; yellow blooms
Picea pungens cultivars	Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce	2-15’ x 2-10’	S or Sh	Moderate	9,500’	Cultivars of native, varying habits
Taxus x media	Taunton Yew	3’ x 5’	Sh	High	7,500’	Slow growing, poisonous berries
Yucca glauca	Yucca or Soapweed	2’ x 2’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; cream colored flower spikes

DECIDUOUS TREES

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height x Width (feet)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Aesculus glabra	Ohio Buckeye	25’ x 25’	S	Very Low	9,000’	Yellow/orange fall color
Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry	50’ x 50’	S	Low	8,500’	N; shrubby tree, edible fruit
Crataegus crus-galli	Cockspur Hawthorn	20’ x 20’	S	Low	8,000’	Good fall color, 1 ½” thorns, white spring flowers, persistent red “haws”
Crataegus ambigua	Russian Hawthorn	20’ x 20’	S	Low	8,500’	Interesting branch formations, white flowers, persistent red “haws”, yellow fall color
Gleditsia triacanthos	Honeylocust	Varies	S	Low	7,500’	Yellow fall color
Larix occidentalis	Western Larch or Tamarack	60’ x 30’	S	Mod-High	9,000’	Intolerant of pollution, deciduous conifer
Larix decidua	European Larch	80’ x 30’	S	Mod-High	9,000’	Deciduous conifer
Robinia neomexicana	New Mexico Locust	20’ x 15’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; thorns, fragrant pink flower panicles

EVERGREEN TREES

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height x Width (feet)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Abies concolor	White Fir	50’ x 30’	S-PtSh	Moderate	9,500’	N; soft needles, can have blue tint
Abies lasiocarpa	Subalpine Fir	80’ x 20’	Sh-PtS	Moderate	11,500’	N; narrow form
Juniperus scopulorum	Rocky Mountain Juniper	30’ x 20’	S	Very Low	9,000’	N; irregular form, varies by specimen
Picea pungens	Colorado Spruce	100’ x 30’	S-PtSh	Moderate	11,000’	N; color varies from green to blue
Pinus aristata	Bristlecone Pine	20’ x 20’	S	Very Low	11,500’	N; slow growing, irregular habit
Pinus contorta	Lodgepole Pine	60’ x 20’	S-PtSh	Low	11,500’	N; generally narrow
Pinus edulis	Pinyon Pine	15’ x 12’	S	Very Low	7,500’	N; fragrant, edible seeds
Pinus ponderosa	Ponderosa Pine	90’ x 40’	S	Low	9,000’	N; tends to shed lower branches with age
Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas Fir	100’ x 30’	S-PtSh	Moderate	9,000’	N; open pyramidal shape

VINES

Botanical Name	Common Name	Height / Length (feet)	Exposure	Water Needs	Max. Elev. (feet)	Comments (“N” = Colorado Native Plant)
Clematis spp.	Clematis	6’ - 12’	S-PtSh	Moderate	8,000’	Many varieties available
Polygonum aubertii	Silverlace Vine	20’ - 40’	S-PtSh	Very Low	8,000’	Very fast growing, fragrant white late summer flowers

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