--- {} --- # Xeriscape spreaders Plants used in dry gardens that may spread beyond their allotted space. This group includes Colorado natives and introduced ornamentals. 14 plants in this view; 154 profiles and 462 photographs in the guide. [Biggest concerns](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/biggest-concerns/) · [Coverage: all 82 state-list entries](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/coverage/) · [Exposure and safety guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/) · [Learn to use this guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/) ## Xeriscape spreaders - [Big sagebrush](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/big-sagebrush/) — *Artemisia tridentata*. **Valuable native habitat; subspecies and pet evidence need care**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/big-sagebrush/index.md). ![Mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana) shrub with upright reproductive shoots beside a mountain pond.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/big-sagebrush.webp) Photo: Matt Lavin; CC BY-SA 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/big-sagebrush/). - [Blanketflower](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/blanketflower/) — *Gaillardia aristata*. **Contact dermatitis possible**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/blanketflower/index.md). ![Open yellow-rayed blanketflower heads with orange-yellow central disks and a reddish inner ring.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/blanketflower.webp) Photo: NPS / Jacob W. Frank; Public domain. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/blanketflower/). - [Catmint](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/catmint/) — *Nepeta × faassenii*. **Spreading clumps; pet evidence gap**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/catmint/index.md). ![Macro view of violet-blue, two-lipped flowers with darker spotting and hairy calyces.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/catmint.webp) Photo: Didier Descouens; CC BY-SA 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/catmint/). - [Common yarrow](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/common-yarrow/) — *Achillea millefolium*. **Toxic to pets · Skin irritation**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/common-yarrow/index.md). ![White flower-head cluster viewed from above, with individual ray and disk florets visible.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/common-yarrow.webp) Photo: Petar Milošević; CC BY-SA 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/common-yarrow/). - [Fernleaf yarrow](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fernleaf-yarrow/) — *Achillea filipendulina*. **Spreads; pet toxicity unresolved**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fernleaf-yarrow/index.md). ![Macro view of a domed-to-flat cluster of small golden-yellow flower heads.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/fernleaf-yarrow.webp) Photo: Yerpo; CC BY-SA 3.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fernleaf-yarrow/). - [Fringed sage](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fringed-sage/) — *Artemisia frigida*. **Spreading growth; pet evidence gap**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fringed-sage/index.md). ![Low basal shoots with compact clusters of finely divided silvery-green leaves among dry vegetation.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/fringed-sage.webp) Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA; CC BY-SA 2.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/fringed-sage/). - [Lamb’s-ear](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lambs-ear/) — *Stachys byzantina*. **Can spread; pet evidence gap**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lambs-ear/index.md). ![Magnified lamb's-ear leaf tip densely covered in silvery hairs, with a 10 mm scale.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/lambs-ear.webp) Photo: Stefan.lefnaer; CC BY-SA 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lambs-ear/). - [Lewis blue flax](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lewis-blue-flax/) — *Linum lewisii*. **Ingestion and contact concerns**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lewis-blue-flax/index.md). ![Close view of slender narrow leaves along a green flax stem.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/lewis-blue-flax.webp) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk); CC BY-SA 3.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/lewis-blue-flax/). - [Plains pricklypear](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/plains-pricklypear/) — *Opuntia polyacantha*. **Sharp spines around paws, mouths and eyes**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/plains-pricklypear/index.md). ![Low cluster of plains pricklypear pads covered with long pale spines on dry ground.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/plains-pricklypear.webp) Photo: eigenmotion; CC BY 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/plains-pricklypear/). - [Red valerian](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/red-valerian/) — *Centranthus ruber*. **Self-seeds beyond garden beds**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/red-valerian/index.md). ![Upright stem with opposite smooth leaves and several pink-red flower clusters on a rocky slope.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/red-valerian.webp) Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust; CC BY 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/red-valerian/). - [Rubber rabbitbrush](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/rubber-rabbitbrush/) — *Ericameria nauseosa*. **A native low-water shrub that can spread readily**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/rubber-rabbitbrush/index.md). ![Rubber rabbitbrush shrub with yellow flowering tips and pale branching stems in grassland.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/rubber-rabbitbrush.webp) Photo: Ian Adams; CC BY 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/rubber-rabbitbrush/). - [Russian sage](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/) — *Salvia yangii*. **Spreads by suckers; pet evidence unresolved**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/index.md). ![Salvia yangii: Gray-green deeply divided leaves arranged in opposite pairs on a pale stem.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/russian-sage.webp) Photo: Doronenko; CC BY 2.5. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/russian-sage/). - [Snow-in-summer](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/snow-in-summer/) — *Cerastium tomentosum*. **Spreading habit · Safety gap**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/snow-in-summer/index.md). ![Several white flowers with deeply notched petals above gray-green foliage.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/snow-in-summer.webp) Photo: Salicyna; CC BY-SA 4.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/snow-in-summer/). - [Soapweed yucca](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/) — *Yucca glauca*. **Sharp leaves · Toxic to pets**. [Full Markdown profile](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/index.md). ![Vertical stalk with pendulous cream-colored bell-shaped flowers and unopened buds.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/thumbs/soapweed-yucca.webp) Photo: Alvesgaspar; CC BY-SA 3.0. [Photo credits and sources](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/). # Appendix for agents Category membership is editorial navigation. Native plants can also be xeriscape plants; noxious-list class is separate from toxicity. Follow the individual profiles for claim scope, caveats, and photo attribution. This is a selected catalog, not the entire Colorado flora. --- Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/xeriscape/ Content revised: 2026-09-21T19:48:00Z Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/xeriscape/index.md Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/xeriscape/index.md.txt Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json