25 Straight Species Native Plants From Plant Select

“Does Plant Select have straight species native plants?”

Yes, Plant Select has a variety of straight species native plants in its program. These plants occur naturally in the wild and are grown from seed.

Scroll down to see 25 of our favorites!

Helpful tips:

• You may find these plants for purchase as seeds or young plants.
  
• Common names for plants can vary. When buying these native plants, it’s best to look for the botanical names.
  
• If you’d like to support our non-profit’s efforts to bring more native plants to market, please look for Plant Select on the label when buying the straight species native plants below. You’ll support growers who are committed to the Plant Select program and are passionate about bringing waterwise plants to market that are inspired by the Rocky Mountain region.
  
• Plant Select also has many “selections” of native plants in its program—plants that are found naturally in the wild and were selected for a unique characteristic. One example is Gold on Blue prairie zinnia (Zinnia grandiflora ‘Gold on Blue’). We’ll save these plants for a different article.

Plant Select straight species perennials

Bridges’ Penstemon
Penstemon rostriflorus
Learn about Bridges’ penstemon
See its native range

Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Learn about chocolate flower
See its native range

Colorado Desert Bluestar
Amsonia jonesii
Learn about Colorado desert bluestar
See its native range

DENVER GOLD® Columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha
Learn about DENVER GOLD® columbine
See its native range

Desert Beardtongue
Penstemon pseudospectabilis
Learn about desert beardtongue
See its native range

Englemann’s Daisy
Engelmannia peristenia
Learn about Englemann’s daisy
See its native range

Giant Sacaton
Sporobolus wrightii
Learn about giant sacaton grass
See its native range

Grand Mesa Beardtongue
Penstemon mensarum
Learn about Grand Mesa beardtongue
See its native range
Grand Mesa beardtongue can be hard to find, so buy it when you see it!

Meadow Blazing Star Gayfeather / Rocky Mountain Blazing Star
Liatris ligulistylis
Learn about blazing star liatris
See its native range

Mojave Sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Learn about mojave sage
See its native range

Red Birds in a Tree
Scrophularia macrantha
Learn about red birds in a tree
See its native range

Red Yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora
Learn about red yucca
See its native range

Sandia Coral Bells
Heuchera pulchella
Learn about Sandia coral bells
See its native range

Sunset Hyssop
Agastache rupestris
Learn about sunset hyssop
See its native range

Tennessee Purple Coneflower
Echinacea tennesseensis
Learn about Tennessee Purple Coneflower
See its native range
Tennessee Purple Coneflower is native to Tennesssee and was removed from the federal endangered species list not too long ago. It thrives in the intermountain west.

Tushar Bluemat Penstemon
Penstemon xylus
Learn about Tushar bluemat penstemon
See its native range

Wild Thing Sage
Salvia greggii
Learn about Wild Thing sage
See its native range

Winecups / Purple Poppy Mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
Learn about winecups
See its native range

Plant Select straight species shrubs and trees

Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Learn about apache plume
See its native range

Fernbush
Chamaebatiaria millefolium
Learn about fernbush
See its native range

Dwarf Leadplant
Amorpha nana
Learn about dwarf leadplant
See its native range

Dwarf Rabbitbrush / Baby Blue Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosus var. nauseosus
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Learn about dwarf rabbitbrush
See its native range

Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany
Cercocarpus intricatus
Learn about littleleaf mountain mahogany
See its native range

Mountain Lover
Paxistima canbyi
Learn about mountain lover
See its native range
Mountain lover is native to the Allegheny Mountains in the eastern United States, but it’s an awesome problem solver for the intermountain west. It’s adaptable to dry or moist shade conditions. This is the one plant on this list of straight species native plants that is grown from a cutting, rather than a seed.

Smith’s Buckthorn
Rhamnus smithii
Learn about Smith’s buckthorn
See its native range
Smith’s buckthorn can be hard to find, so buy it when you see it!

Waxflower
Jamesia americana
Learn about waxflower
See its native range

Where to buy Plant Select plants

Plant Select plants are available from independent garden centers, online retailers and wholesalers. Look for one near you!