Plants Suited to El Paso County's Climate
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is working closely with Colorado Springs Utilities and their Conservation and Environmental Center to provide water-wise landscaping options for our new homeowners. We offer choices from trees, shrubs, and flowers that require minimal water and are acclimated to this climate, many of which can be seen on display in their demonstration gardens.
Trees
Our homeowners can choose from these options:
Images of Russian hawthorn courtesy of Colorado Springs Utilities
Shrubs
Our homeowners can choose from these options:
Images of leadplant courtesy of Colorado Springs Utilities
Flowers
Our homeowners can choose from these options:
- Moonshine yarrow
- Sunset hyssop
- Table Mountain iceplant
- Common gaillardia
- Maximilian sunflower
- Red hesperaloe
- Dotted blazing star
- Colorado four o’clock
- Little Trudy catmint
- Rocky Mountain penstemon
- May night sage
- Partridge feather
Photo of Rocky Mountain penstemon courtesy of Colorado Springs Utilities
Grass
We're working with Colorado Springs Utilities and a local nursery to install Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass on the lawns of our new homes. Bermudagrass takes less water than the bluegrass and fescue that are commonly used in this climate, and unlike most Bermudagrass, the Tahoma 31 strain can survive at elevations in El Paso County.
Other Features
To reduce the amount of water used to grow grass, we also rely heavily on rock, gravel, and mulch in our ground cover. The mulch is generously donated to us by ScottsMiracle-Gro and is the same mulch found in local hardware stores.
Colorado Springs Utilities has kindly provided a Watering Schedule (PDF) for homeowners with newly installed plants!
Read More
- Colorado Springs Utilities and Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity Install Smart, Affordable Landscaping (KRDO Newschannel 13, May 20)
- Colorado Springs Utilities Partners with Pikes Peak Habitat for Water-wise Landscaping (Pikes Peak Habitat blog, June 5)