Edge of the Rockies Native Seeds
Native seeds from the Rocky Mountains to the Colorado Plateau

Cross Reference Latin / Common name cross reference  Learn more about: Climate Sowing Methods Soils Watering Stratification

Shrubs This selection of shrubs offers the best of the Southwest. Although somewhat slow to start, these shrubs are more than satisfying once established. Serviceberry Artemesia frigida Fringed Sage   Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain Maple   Berberis fendleri Fendler's Barberry  Out of Stock Cercocarpus montanus Mountain Mahogany  Out of stock Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rubber Rabbitbrush   Distegia involucrata Twinberry   Fendlera rupicola Fendlerbush  Limited supply Mahonia repens Creeping Mahonia  Limited supply Peraphyllum ramosissimum Squaw Apple  Limited supply Rhus aromatica Squawbush   Rhus glabra Smooth Sumac   Sambucus canadensis Black Elderberry   Sambucus microbotrys Red Elderberry   Yucca baccata Spanish Bayonet   Yucca glauca Soapweed Yucca   Artemesia frigida Fringed Sage  top of page orderform Characteristics: A small woody perennial. Grows in a clump, 4-16" tall, with dense, finely divided, silvery leaves that are soft to the touch and heavenly aromatic. Grows in dry, open sunny sites, abundantly on south faces in the foothills zone and common in sunny, dry meadows. Cultural Tips: Grow in a dry, sunny site, little water needed once estblished. Reseeds easily. Seeds per packet:  300 Stratification: none Price: $2.50 Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain Maple  top of page orderform Characteristics: A deciduous shrub or small tree. Grows in clumps having grayish bark and red branches. Yellow, orange to crimson in fall. Grows naturally along shady streambeds and drainages as well as open sunny sites from foothills to upper montane throughout the Rocky Mountains. Cultural Tips: Offer well-drained soil, full to partial sun. Seeds per packet:  30 Stratification: 6 months Price: $2.50 Berberis fendleri Fendler's Barberry  top of page orderform Characteristics: A small shrub growing in thickets. Graceful, prickly stems grow 2-4 feet on average. Oblong, bright red berries occur in late summer. Found in valley bottoms throughout southwest Colorado. Cultural Tips: Fairly drought tolerant plant, grows in well drained soil with full to partial sun. Seeds per packet:  30 Stratification: 6 months Price: $2.50 Cercocarpus montanus Mountain Mahogany  top of page orderform Characteristics: A small to medium sized shrub with small, fan-shaped leaves. In mid summer the seeds mature to white, fuzzy, spiraled plumes. Native to foothills from South Dakota and Montana south to New Mexico and Arizona at 4,000 to 8,500 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun; well-drained soil. Do not overwater. Seeds per packet:  50 Stratification:  2 months Price: $2.50 Chrysothamnus nauseous Rubber Rabbitbrush  top of page orderform Characteristics: A full, fan-shaped, 36-60" shrub. Golden-yellow blooms in fall. Very useful for borders or areas where dense vegetation is desired. Can be pruned back to promote a thick, neat form. Native to plains and hills from southern Canada to New Mexico and Arizona. Found in Colorado at 5,000 to 8,000 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun in dry soils. Easy and fast growing. Seeds per packet:  300 Stratification: none Price: $2.50 Distegia involucrata [Lonicera] Twinberry  top of page orderform Characteristics: A dense 36-80" shrub with large, dark green, oval leaves. June flowers followed in July by two black berries enveloped by red cupped bracts. Native to forest openings over most of the western two-thirds of North America. Found in Colorado at 7,000-11,500 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best partial sun in rich, moist soil. Seeds per packet:  50 Stratification: 3 months Price: $2.50 Fendlera rupicola Fendlerbush    top of page orderform Characteristics:Tall, narrow shrub in the Hydrangea family. Leaves are small, linear and thick. In the Spring, Fendlerbush becomes a massive show of large, white, four-petaled flowers. Found in Southwest Colorado on rocky hillsides among Pinyon, Juniper and Gambel Oak. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun. Seeds per packet:  50 Stratification: none; offer sandy growing medium Price: $2.50 Mahonia repens Creeping Mahonia  top of page orderform Characteristics: Small sub-shrub, blooms yellow in Spring followed by purple, edible berries. Leaves are leathery and spiney, holly-like appearance offering reddish/purple fall and winter leaf color. Found in Southwest Colorado on dry slopes from foothills to upper montane zones (6,000 to 9,500 ft.) Cultural Tips: An excellent groundcover under evergreens. Will also tolerate full sun situations. Performs best with a well-drained soil. Seeds per packet:  30 Stratification: 3 months; offer sandy growing medium Price: $2.50 Peraphyllum ramosissimum Squaw Apple  top of page orderform Characteristics: Densely branched, often reaching 72" in height and breadth. Profusion of white, sweet smelling flowers in spring. Tiny, bitter apples mature in summer and in fall, the leaves turn to orange. Native to hills from Oregon to Colorado. Found in southwestern Colorado at 5,500 to 8,000 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun, though young seedlings should be partially shaded. Well drained, rocky soils are preferred. Do not overwater. Seeds per packet:  30 Stratification:  6 weeks Price: $2.50 Rhus aromatica [R. trilobata] Three Leaf Sumac  top of page orderform Characteristics: A dense shrub, 36-96" tall and wide, with dark, three-lobed leaves that turn brilliant red in the fall. Useful for borders and similar areas where dense vegetation is desired. Produces numerous reddish fruits that attract birds. Native to foothills and plains of western North America from Alberta south. Found in Colorado at 3,500 to 9,000 Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun with well-drained soil. Do not overwater. * Cover seed with boiling water and soak for 12 hours prior to stratifying or fall sowing. Seeds per packet:  100 Stratification: 2 months* Price: $2.50 Rhus glabra Smooth Sumac  top of page orderform Characteristics: Deciduous shrub grows 1-3 ft. or larger and spreads by underground rhizomes. Leaves are large, pinnately divided and offer intense red foliage in Fall. Cream flowers occur in a dense terminal cluster and give way to persistent red fruit. Winter food source for birds and small mammals. Widely distributed throughout the U.S. from 2,700 to 7,500 ft. Thrives in dry soils from plains to foothills throughout the Rocky Mountains. Cultural Tips: Grows in full to partial sun. * Cover seed with boiling water and soak for 12 hours prior to stratifying or fall sowing. Seeds per packet:  150 Stratification: 2 months * Price: $2.50 Sambucus microbotrys [S.racemosa or S. canadensis] Red or Black Elderberry  top of page orderform Characteristics: A mid to high elevation shrub. Large, bright green, dissected leaves occur on knobby canes, followed by large clusters of white flowers in June. These mature into a multitude of tiny red or black berries, relished by numerous wildlife species. Native to moist mountain meadows and forests throughout the country. Found in Colorado at 7500-12,000 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in well drained, moist soil. Great for Northern Exposures. Seeds per packet: 100 Stratification: 3 months Price: $2.50 *Please note Red or Black when ordering Yucca baccata Spanish Bayonet  top of page orderform Characteristics: A stout yucca with thick, evergreen leaves, edged with narrow white fibers. In June, huge spikes of large, cream-colored, bell-flowers arise. Native to dry plains and foothills from Colorado to Texas, west to the coast. Found in southwestern Colorado at 5,500- 7,500 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun in sandy or well-drained soils. Seeds per packet:  20 Stratification: 2 months Price: $2.50 Yucca glauca Soapweed Yucca  top of page orderform Characteristics: A small yucca 20-24" with narrow, blue-green leaves, edged with narrow white fibers. Tall spikes of large, cream-colored, bell-flowers in spring. Evergreen plant, flowers are edible. Native from dry plains and foothills from Montana to Texas. Found in southwestern Colorado at 5,500- 7,500 ft. Cultural Tips: Grows best in full sun in sandy or well-drained soils. Seeds per packet:  20 Stratification: 2 months Price: $2.50

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Edge of the Rockies
616 ford dr · durango, colorado · 81301· usa