When you provide habitat essentials (food, cover, water, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening practices) and plant native in your community, you support all kinds of wildlife species!

Unfortunately, most yards don’t feature a diversity of plant species at all and instead only consist of turf grass, a non-native plant that provides next to nothing in terms of food or shelter for local wildlife. Planting native is key to support your local wildlife as many rely heavily on native plant species as their food source. For example, 96% of terrestrial bird species rely on insects like caterpillars to feed their chicks during nesting season, which means that fewer caterpillars will result in fewer birds (Renusch, 2024). The types of plants you choose for your yard matter to wildlife!

Certify your garden!

CWF partners in Colorado with National Wildlife Federation to participate in NWF’s acclaimed certified wildlife habitat/garden program. You can help protect pollinator populations and other species by creating a wildlife habitat garden – for pollinators, birds, etc. The program provides official recognition for gardens that provide these five key elements: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices. The NWF can recognize a garden in your yard or balcony container garden. You will be helping to replenish resources for pollinators and other wildlife in Colorado. Certify today!

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Cheatgrass

Bromus tectorum

Invasive

Cheatgrass

Bromus tectorum

For anyone who is unfamiliar with cheatgrass, here is a photo so you can identify this invasive scourge that spreads quickly and ruins native habitat. It now has spread to 100 million acres in western states. If you see it in a small patch and seeds have not disbursed, pull it out by it shallow roots.

Daffodils

Narcissus poeticus

Daffodils

Narcissus poeticus

Daffodils are a perennial flower that may be planted in the fall, noteworthy for their being resistant to digging squirrels. They provide crucial pollen for bees and other pollinators, and provide classical beauty to any garden.

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Milkweed is a native Colorado plant and a crucial ingredient in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly: milkweed is the only type of plant monarch caterpillars can eat.

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Blanketflowers are native to Colorado and are known for thriving in the state’s dry, sunny climate. Their vibrant red-and-gold blooms attract pollinators and add long-lasting color to the state’s countryside and gardens alike.

White-Lined Sphinx Moth

Hyles lineata

White-Lined Sphinx Moth

Hyles lineata

This Colorado native moth is commonly seen across the state’s plains, foothills, and mountain towns. Often mistaken for a hummingbird, this fast-moving pollinator plays an important role in supporting Colorado’s wildflowers and garden plants.

Woodhouse’s Toad

Anaxyrus woodhousii

Woodhouse’s Toad

Bromus tectorum

Woodhouse’s toad is native to Colorado and is commonly found in grasslands, river corridors, and suburban areas across the state. Known for its distinctive call, it helps control insect populations in many of the state’s ecosystems.

Garden-Building Resources