COlorado Native Plants

Create Habitat for Birds

The best way to bring birds into your yard is with native plants and a water source.

We promote the establishment of Colorado native plants in yards, parks, and other public and private spaces to increase bird habitat and connectivity in urban and suburban areas.


Native plants, including trees, provide critical elements birds need for survival – shelter, food, nesting material and places to rest. Having a variety of native plant species ensures you have different types of food for different types of birds – from seeds and insects to nectar and berries.

Choose Native Plants for Birds

Bring birds to your yard today by landscaping with plants native to Colorado. Planting native plants, no matter how small the space, can help restore valuable habitat lost to human development in our urban and residential areas.


Growing native plants will attract and provide for birds while making your outdoor spaces beautiful, easier to care for, and better for the environment. We can change the landscape for birds one yard at a time!

Colorado Native Plant Resources

The following resources provide information and sources for plants and services that support Colorado birds and wildlife.

This is not a complete list. We do not endorse any businesses listed and provide this information only as a resource.


When shopping for Colorado native plants, use the scientific/botanical name. Common names vary from region to region and nursery to nursery and are sometimes also used for non-native ornamental plants of a different species. For example, North American Linum lewisii could be called Lewis flax, blue flax, or prairie flax, and there is a similar European species that is also called blue flax or prairie flax.

Native Plants for Denver Metro Landscapes

Plant Sales & Nurseries

Landscape Designers & Lawn/Garden Maintenance

  • All Beings Ecoscapes (design) – Can include Audubon Rockies Habitat Hero certification as part of the design
  • Earth Love Gardens (design) – Includes Audubon Rockies Habitat Hero certification as part of the design
  • The Green Fuse (design and eco friendly lawn/garden maintenance)

Click here for a printable version of our Native Plants for Birds Handout!

  • Are native plants hard to grow?

    Some native plants can be more difficult to get started, but once they are established they will need less attention and, most likely, less water to thrive. 


    Plan on watering newly-planted natives for the first season/year, especially during hot spells, to help them grow a strong root base. 

  • Can I grow native plants from seed?

    Yes! Many native plants can be grown from seed - research the right time and method to sow them for the best result. 


    Plan on watering or irrigating seeded areas the first season, especially during hot spells, to help the seedlings survive and get established.

  • What types of native plants are best for birds?

    Different bird species depend on different types of plants, so variety is best, including wildflowers, grasses, shrubs - some that produce seeds, some that provide nectar, and some that produce berries. Plants of different sizes and heights also add variety. If there is room, consider planting a tree, too!


    Native plants also provide nesting material. Plan to leave some dead plant material - such as leaf litter, twigs and pieces of bark - available for insects to overwinter in your yard and for birds to use as material to build their nests in Spring.

  • How do I manage pests?

    Native plants might attract fewer pests than ornamentals and can attract more beneficial insects to help manage them. Insects are an important source of food for many bird species, particularly when they are feeding hungry young, so please consider NOT using pesticides in your garden and yard. Let Nature do the work for you!