Native Shrubs That Do It All in the Mountain West

Skip new perennials in favor of these woodies, which have year-round appeal and wildlife value

A trend I see among many gardeners is experimenting with “ new ” perennial , either new cultivars from breeders or older mixed bag that the plantsperson in question has never grown . Most of our budgets can accommodate trying a few new perennials each class , and it ’s easy to understand why gardener may go for these exciting option over native shrubs . tacky , flowering perennials are much more eye - pick up on a nursery ledge than woody plants begging to get out of their # 1 baby’s room dope .

I believe there is a miss opportunity here , though . As far as impact goes , a unmarried shrub leverage can go far than a purchase of perennials for the same price . This is honest for visual impact in our gardens as well as for value to wildlife . If investing in a garden with year - one shot appealingness and wildlife value is high on your priority tilt , regard native shrubs to round out your end - of - spring purchases .

One works that should definitely be on this list is Colorado barberry ( Berberis fendleri ) , and you will chance the visibility I wrote on that industrial plant inFine Gardening # 213,which will be published in August . Below , you ’ll find three more aboriginal shrubs with comparable solicitation to both people and wildlife that should be easy to find at your local nursery .

Golden currant (Ribes aureum; photo above)

Zones:3–8

Size:4 to 6 substructure tall and 4 to 6 foot wide

Conditions : Partial to full spook ; moist to dry soil

The native reach alone of golden currant bush should be a summit - off that it ’s one of the most adaptable shrubs around . It can be found in the mixed forest of the Midwest , across much of the Great Plains , throughout the Mountain West , and across the Great Basin to the Sierras . tell this shrub is soft might be an understatement . Called fortunate for its bunch of starry , fragrant flowers , this industrial plant make a strong former - time of year show , blooming in late April or former May in my Colorado garden . While the most vulgar cultivar of the nursery trade present with fruits that mature to black , aboriginal plant in my area often marginal jewel - like , amber fruits that beam when sidelit in the morning or the eventide . Regardless of their color , they are beloved by songbirds and make for great eating sweet off the bush or cooked down into sauce and jelly , thanks to their high-pitched pectin mental object . Come fall , these plants reward the gardener with a third round of interest in the form of blazing red autumn color . Thornless , unlike many of their relative , these plant life surpass in full sun and with moderate wet but conform to most sites ( temperate - wet to dry and gay to fond shade ) without fuss .

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Zones:2–8

Size:4 to 12 foot magniloquent and 4 to 12 foot wide

experimental condition : Full sun to partial shade ; moderately wet to moderately juiceless soil

This native shrub is widely uncommitted at greenhouse and is a cinch to produce . Actually , it might be easy to draw where it wo n’t develop than where it will : deep shadiness and sites that are bone wry and very live . Otherwise , these adaptable native provide a horde of benefits , range from delicate - bet , five - petaled peak in spring to wench - give berries in summer and authentic fall color before leaf senescence . Like many native woody member of the rose family , serviceberry is a unusually worthful host plant , feast twelve of aboriginal caterpillars . When shop for this mintage , look out greenhouse tags carefully , as mature size vary wildly by cultivar . Some plants stay bush , while others attain arboresque sizing . Some are even columnlike ! In my experience , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree forms will sucker if stress , either by drought or other stresses . Gardeners in the dry portions of our realm should view the cousinAmelanchier utahensis(Utah saskatoon ) , a more xeric - friendly lookalike . Both plants expose attractive , rounded leaves and edible berry love by critters with two leg or more .

Boulder raspberry (Rubus deliciosus)

Zones:4–8

My main complaint with this plant is the downright misleading epithet ofdeliciosus ; it ’s a Chuck Berry only a bird ( or maybe a bear ) could make out . Dry and mealy , these berries are n’t worth exhaust , as I bring out as a shaver — to my great letdown . gratefully , I ’ve moved past that brief offence . As an adult , I consider these plants marvellous native plus to well - rounded landscape . With tawny , exfoliate bark , plants render off - season pursuit and cloak themselves in large , attractive rugose leaves during the maturate time of year . In late spring , look for a flush of mammoth , white , five - petaled flowers , each with an eye - catch , bleary - looking center . I get this plant like I get service tree , including it as an understory plant in partial - specter sites in more - mature garden distance where its unusual , tender - toned barque and striking foliage add interest to such understated spaces . flora postulate irrigation in areas with hot summers to hold back their good luck charm but are well suited to rocky and gravelly soils .

See more gardening advice for the Mountain West

Bryan Fischer lives and gardens at the intersection of the Great Plains and the Rockies . He is a horticulturist and the conservator of works collections for a local botanical garden .

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