Plants for High Elevations

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Compiled by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Inc.

 

KEYS TO FLOWER COLOR: B  Blue V  Violet/Purple
R  Red 0  Orange
G  Green W  White
P   Pink Y  Yellow
   
TREES
   
Abies concolor, White Fir to 10,000'  
Calocedrus decurrens, Incense Cedar   to 8,200'
Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud  P to 5,000’ (best with winter chill below 28°)
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Port Orford Cedar to 6.000’
Chilopsis linearis, Desert Willow P/W  to 5,000’ (high desert; tolerates 10°)
Cupressus nevadensis, Nevada Cypress to 6,000’
Lithocarpus densiflorus, Tanbark Oak  to 6,000’
Pinus coulteri, Coulter Pine  to 7,000’
Pinus jeffreyi, Jeffrey Pine to 9,000’
Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine  to 8,500’
Platanus racemosa, Western Sycamore to 6,500’
Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir to 6,500’
Quercus chrysolepis, Canyon Live Oak  to 7,800’
Quercus kelloggii, California Black Oak   to 8,000’
Quercus garryana, Oregon Oak   to 6,000’
Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow    to 7,500’
Sequoiadendron giganteum, Giant Sequoia  to 8,900’
Thuja plicata 'Emerald Cone', Canoe Cedar  to 6,000’
   
SHRUBS  
   
Amelanchier pallida, Western Serviceberry to 11,000’
Ceanothus cuneatus, Buckbrush  B to 6,000’
Cercocarpus betuloides, Mountain Mahogany W   to 6.500’
Cercocarpus ledifolius, Desert Mtn Mahogany W  to 10,500’ (high desert)
Cowania mexicana, Cliffrose W   to 8,500’ (high desert)
Dendromecon rigida, Bush Poppy  Y  to 5,500’
Epilobium canum latifolia, Calif. Mtn. Fuchsia  R  to 10,000’
Ericameria laricifolia, Turpentine Brush Y  to 6,000’
Eriogonum umbellatum, Sulfur Flower Y  to 9,000’
Fallugia paradoxa, Apache Plume  to 8,000’ (high desert)
Keckiella breviflora, Bush Penstemon  W/P to 8,000’
Potentilla fruticosa, Shrubby Cinquefoil  Y to 12,000’
Rhamnus californica, Coffeeberry  P  to 7,000’
Rhododendron occidentale, Western Azalea  W to 7,500’
Ribes menziesii, and Ribes nevadense, Currant(s)  P to 9,000’
Rosa californica and Rosa gymnocarpa, Roses P to 6,000’
Salvia apiana, White Sage  V/W   to 5,000’ (hardy to 20° or less)
Spiraea douglasii, Douglas Spiraea  W  to 6,000’
Yucca whipplei, Our Lord’s Candle    to 7,500’
   
WILDFLOWERS (ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS)
   
Achilllea millefolium, Yarrow   P, R, W to 10,000’
Aquilegia formosa, Scarlet Columbine  R to 10,000’
Erysimum capitatum, Western Wallflower  Y  to 8,000’- 12,000’
Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy to 6,000’ (or more grown as annual)
Iris innominata, Del Norte County Iris  Y  to 6,000’

Helenium bigelovii, Bigelow's Sneezeweed  Y       

to 8,500’
Lilium pardalinum  and Lilium lemonii, Lilies O, R, Y to 9,000’
Linum lewisii, Blue Flax B  to 10,000’
Mentha arvensis, Field Mint  V/W to 7,500’
Mimulus cardinalis, Scarlet Monkey Flower  R  to 7,500’
Mimulus guttatus, Creek Monkey Flower  to 7,500’
Oenethera hookeri, Hooker’s Evening Primrose  Y to 9,500’
Penstemon davidsonii, P. grinnellii, P. heterodoxus to 12,000’
Thalictrum fendleri, Mountain Meadow Rue  G/W to 9,500’
   
GRASSES  
   
Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama to 8,000’
Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer Grass to 7,000’
Sporobolus airoides, Alkali Sakaton to 6,500’
   
WATER-LOVING PLANTS  
   
          SEDGES  
   
Carex amplifolia  to 7,200’
Carex pachystachya  to 10,500’
Carex praegracilis  to 8,100’
   
          RUSHES  
   
Juncus patens, Spreading Rush  to 4,800’
Juncus xiphoides, Wiregrass to 6,300’

 

 
       HORSETAIL  
   
Equisetum hyemale, Horsetail   to 9,000’