Colorado Plants
Herbs
- Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow)
- This herb is located in the foothills in high elevations. This herb can be made into medicinal teas to help fight colds and other ailments.
- Mentha Arvensis (Wild Mint)
- This herb is located in streams and moist areas at high elevations. The smell of this herb is similar to spearmint. This herb is used to make spices and tea.
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint)
- This herb is located in moist areas such as streams. This herb makes a good tea flavor and spices like mint.
- Ephedra Viridis (Mormon Tea)
- This herb is located in high desert areas. This plant is inedible with a green color. This shrub can grow up to four feet tall and is a stimulant used by Native Americans. The FDA banned the sale of this herb in medicines in 2004 since there were many deaths associated with it.
- Marrubium Vulgare (Horehound)
- This herb is located in dry low elevations. This is a light green color and is a member of the mint family. This herb has been used to make cough drops, candy and beer.
- Artemisia Bigelovii (Dwarf Sagebrush)
- This herb is located in dry hillsides up to 8000 feet. The smell of this herb is sage and this is actually inedible. The seeds of the sagebrush can been ground into a flower.
- Monarda Fistulosa (Bergamot, Oregona de la Sierra)
- This herb is located in 7000 to 8000 feet in elevation in dry hillsides. The smell of this herb is citrus oregano. This herb makes teas and spices for meat.
Cacti
- Opuntia Phaeacantha (Prickly Pear)
- The Opuntia Phaeacantha habitat is located in dry rocky areas at lower elevations. This cacti is very similar to the Opuntia Polyacantha.
- Opuntia Polyacantha (Plains Prickly Pair)
- The Opuntia Polyacantha habitat is located in dry rocky areas at lower elevations. This cacti is usually a desert plant. This cactus yields edible pedals and fruits. The fruits or tunas need to be removed from the spines and sliced in half with the seeds removed. The rest of the fruit and tuna can be eaten.
- Cylindropuntia Acanthocarpa (Cholla)
- The Cylindropuntia Acanthocarpa habitat is located in dry rocky hillsides. The color of this cacti is green and yellow. This cactus produces fruits in the summer season.
- Escobaria Vivipara (Beehive Cactus)
- The Escobaria Vivipara habitat is located in dry areas at lower elevations. The color of this cacti is green with red hues.
Wildflowers
- Aquilega Coerulea (Colorado Columbine, Rocky Mountain Columbine)
- The Aquilega Coerulea habitat is located in subalpine areas of the mountains. This flower is poisonous when eaten. The color of the Aquilega Coerulea is blue, white and yellow. This flower is special to Colorado seeing as it is the state's flower.
- Yucca Glauca (Yucca)
- The Yucca Glauca habitat is located in dry hillsides from deserts, and plains in the foothills. The color of this flower is green and is an edible plant. The roots of this plant can be used to make soap.
- Iris Missouriensis (Western Blue Flag)
- The Iris Missouriensis habitat is located in mountain meadows. The petals of this flower of a light purple. This flower is poisonous if eaten.
- Cicuta Douglasii (Water Hemlock)
- The Cicuta Douglasii habitat is located in moist areas or in streams. The color of this flower is green and is very poisonous. The leaves of this flower are similar to those of a Cannabis.
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower)
- The Helianthus Annuus habitat is located in open fields and roadsides. This is a green and yellow plant that is edible. Sunflower seeds are commonly eaten coming from this plant.
- Apocynum Androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane)
- The Apocynum Androsaemifolium habitat is located on dry hillsides in the foothills. This flower has white petals and is a poisonous plant. The fibers of this plant are used for making thread, cords and rope.
- Asclepias Speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
- The Asclepias Speciosa habitat is located at lower elevations in fields near rivers and streams. This flower is edible but can be toxic if not cooked first.
- Trifolium Pratense (Red Clover)
- The Trifolium Pratense habitat is located in almost any elevation. The color of this flower is pink.
- Chrysothamnus Nauseosus (Rabbit Brush)
- The Chrysothamnus Nauseosus habitat is located in open dry areas and hillsides. This flower has green and yellow petals.
- Thermopsis Rhombifolia (Prairie Goldenbean)
- The Thermopsis Rhombifolia habitat is located in mountain meadows. The color of this flower is yellow and is also poisonous.
- Rosa Acicularis (Prickly Rose)
- The Rosa Acicularis habitat is located in the foothills of the mountains along streams or moist areas. This flower contains an excellent source of Vitamin C. This flower is a pink flower that is edible.
- Pulsatilla Patens (Pasque Flower)
- The Pulsatilla Patens habitat is located in dry rocky areas at low elevations. These are usually located at higher montaine areas. The color of this flower is lavender and is a poisonous plant.
- Scutellaria Galericulata (Marsh Skullcap)
- The Scutellaria Galericulata habitat is located in moist areas like streams or valleys. This flower has purple petals and is inedible. This plant was used to make medicine that could treat alcoholism and other ailments.
- Calochortus Gunnisonii (Mariposa Lily)
- The Calochortus Gunnisonii habitat is located in different parts of Colorado. This flower has white petals and is an edible plant. The leaves of this flower were often eaten by Native Americans.
- Castilleja (Indian Paintbrush)
- The Castilleja habitat is located in high mountain plains. This flower has a red and orange color. This flower is Wyoming's state flower but grows in several areas in Colorado.
- Maianthemum Racemosum (False Solomon’s Seal)
- The Maianthemum Racemosum habitat is located in montaine areas like under conifers. This flower is a green color and is edible as well.
- Erigeron (Daisy)
- The Erigeron habitat is located in grassy meadows and along forest edges. The color of this flower is white.
- Typha Latifolia (Common Cattail)
- The Typha Latifolia habitat is located in moist areas at a low elevation. These flowers usually grow along streams, ponds and lakes. These flowers are a green color and are edible as well.
- Clematis Occidentalis (Blue Clematis)
- The Clematis Occidentalis habitat is found in valleys near streams or rivers. This flower is poisonous if eaten. The color of this flower ranges from blue to purple.
- Rudbeckia Hirta (Black-eyed Susan)
- The Rudbeckia Hirta habitat is open areas in fields ranging from plains to mountain meadows. This flower is inedible with a yellow coloring. This flower has a special herb where the roots are used to make medicinal teas.
- Senecio Triangularis (Arrow-Leaved Groundsel)
- The Senecio Triangularis habitat is located in streams and moist meadows. This flower is inedible and has a green stem with yellow petals. This wildflower is four feet tall.
Weeds
- Lactuca Serriola (Wild Lettuce)
- This weed is located in all regions of Colorado. This weed is bitter and related to the lettuce family.
- Cirsium Arvense (Thistle)
- This is located in many different regions including forestry. This weed is also a part of the sunflower family.
- Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane)
- This weed is located in gardens and lawns. This weed is mostly eaten in other countries and goes back centuries.
- Bassia Scoparia (Ragweed, Fireweed)
- This weed is grown in dry ground. This plant was naturalized in Europe and the Japanese use the seeds as a food source.
- Cirsium Hookerianum (White Thistle)
- This weed is found in open areas in the mountains. This plant is related to the artichoke and the roots are very edible.
- Convolvulus Arvensis (Field Bindweed)
- This weed is located in fields and lawns at lower elevations. This weed is hard to control and once the roots are deep in the ground, the cannot be pulled out.
- Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion)
- This weed is found in lawns and moist areas. This plant is both green and yellow.
- Malva Neglecta (Common Mallow, Buttonweed)
- This weed is grown in lawns or open areas. This plant was originated in Europe and Asia. The seeds are edible and resemble round cheese.
- Amaranthus Retroflexus (Redroot Pigweed)
- This weed is located in lawns and fields. This is an edible plant that is green with a pink root.
Berries
- Fragaria Vesca (Wood Strawberry)
- This berry plant is grown in the woods in shady areas. Like the wild strawberry it is a great source of vitamin C.
- Fragaria Virginiana (Wild Strawberry)
- This berry plant is grown in shady areas. This berry is a great source of vitamin C.
- Rubus Parviflorus (Thimbleberry)
- This berry plant is located in mountain areas along streams. This berry is in close relations to the raspberry and blackberry.
- Actaea Rubra (Red Baneberry)
- This berry plant is grown in the forest at elevations of 8000 feet. This plant is very poisonous. This berry is one of the most poisonous berries to cause dizziness, nausea and increased pulse rate.
- Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry)
- This berry plant is located in dry rocky slopes. These berries are used to make jams and jellies and are high in Vitamin C. Raspberries can help prevent gum disease.
- Prunus Pensylvanica (Pin Cherry, Choke Cherry)
- This berry plant is two different species. The pin cherry is found in the east and the choke cherry is found in the west. The berries of this plant are the only edible parts and the other parts of the plant are poisonous.
- Mahonia Repens (Oregon Grape)
- This berry plant grows on the ground foothills in higher elevations. The berries on this plant are used in jams and jellies. This plant should be avoided by pregnant women for it contains berberine.
- Sambucus Pubens (Red Elderberry)
- This berry plant grows in moist open areas in the mountains. This plant is used to treat the flu, colds, fevers and other ailments. Most of the plant is mildly poisonous but can be cleansed by cooking it.
- Streptopus Amplexifolius (Clasping Leaved Twisted Stalk)
- This berry plant is located is moist areas and under Aspens. This plant has orange and red berries. Too many of these berries can cause laxative effects. The leaves of this plant is used for teas and treating illnesses.