Fort Collins' Native Plants
What Are Native Plants?
Plants native to Fort Collins are adapted to our rainfall, temperatures, and soil types. In landscaped areas, native plants generally use less water, are heartier, and are more disease resistant than species native to other regions of Colorado, the United States, or other countries. Planting native species encourages the presence of native insects and microorganisms that benefit the plants and keep them healthy without the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
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Why Plant Natives?
Re-establishing native species in the urban environment adds food, cover, and nesting sites for native wildlife. These urban plantings also offer refuges and seed banks for native plants, promoting the spread of these species to natural areas (versus promoting the spread of introduced plants, some of which can seriously impact natural areas). A backyard composed primarily of native plants becomes an interacting changing landscape that offers a glimpse into the complexities of the natural world and a haven for native songbirds and other wildlife.
For more information, see the City of Fort Collins Natural Resources Department brochure, Fort Collins Native Plants. (PDF format, 185k)
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