native plant collection

The Native Plant collection is subdivided into the following sub-collections.

Colorado Native Collection: 
Defined as those plants which are known to occur naturally (pre-European settlement) within the borders of Colorado, but not necessarily exclusive to Colorado.

Western North American Native Collection:
Defined as those plants native (pre-European settlement) to other regions of Western North America, but not found naturally within the borders of Colorado.

The table below shows the families with the most genera, species and subspecies represented from Colorado and Western North America (not Colorado).

Family
Colorado
Western North America
Genera
Species and Subspecies
Genera
Species and Subspecies
Agavaceae    
6
115
Alliaceae    
4
20
Apiaceae
4
5
    
Asclepiadaceae
1
9
    
Asteraceae
49
124
49
103
Boraginaceae
4
6
    
Brassicaceae
5
17
8
19
Cactaceae
6
31
16
170
Caryophyllaceae
4
6
    
Crassulaceae    
4
14
Cuppressaceae    
5
15
Cyperaceae
4
12
3
14
Ericaceae    
4
14
Fabaceae
16
48
17
54
Fagaceae    
1
31
Junaceae
2
6
    
Lamiaceae
5
9
9
39
Liliaceae
4
6
4
15
Onagraceae
5
18
5
22
Pinaceae
4
11
4
16
Poaceae
32
51
9
19
Polemoniaceae
6
13
    
Ploygonaceae
4
18
3
39
Portulacaceae    
4
18
Rananculaceae
7
21
5
16
Rosaceae
18
38
18
34
Salicaceae
2
11
    
Scrophulariaceae
6
65
14
124

 

The Native Plant Collection is displayed in a broad range of garden styles with diverse content for visitors to experience, from Alpines to plants of the low deserts. Collections of Penstemon, Yucca, Quercus, Pinus, and the families Cactaceae and Poaceae are especially strong.