High Elevations

High elevations have present unique cultural needs for plants. Most importantly, plants at higher altitudes need to withstand snow and extended periods of cold. The following selections are uniquely adapted to life at higher altitudes.

Trees
Abies concolor, White Fir	to 10,000'
Calocedrus decurrens, Incense Cedar	to 8,200'
Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud P	to 5,000' (best with winter chill below 28°)
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Port Orford Cedar	to 6.000’
Chilopsis linearis, Desert Willow P/W	to 5,000’ (high desert; tolerates 10°)
Cupressus arizonica ssp. nevadensis, Nevada Cypress	to 6,000’
Lithocarpus densiflorus, Tanbark Oak	to 6,000’
Pinus coulteri, Coulter Pine	to 7,000’
Pinus jeffreyi, Jeffrey Pine	to 9,000’
Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine	to 8,500’
Platanus racemosa, Western Sycamore	to 6,500’
Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir	to 6,500’
Quercus chrysolepis, Canyon Live Oak	to 7,800’
Quercus kelloggii, California Black Oak	to 8,000’
Quercus garryana var. garryana, Oregon Oak	to 6,000’
Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow	to 7,500’
Sequoiadendron giganteum, Giant Sequoia	to 8,900’
Thuja plicata 'Emerald Cone', Canoe Cedar	to 6,000’
SHRUBS
Amelanchier pallida, Western Serviceberry	to 11,000’
Ceanothus cuneatus, Buckbrush B	to 6,000’
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides, Mountain Mahogany W	to 6.500’
Cercocarpus ledifolius, Desert Mountain Mahogany W	to 10,500’ (high desert)
Cowania mexicana, Cliffrose W	to 8,500’ (high desert)
Dendromecon rigida, Bush Poppy Y	to 5,500’
Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium,, California Mountain Fuchsia R	to 10,000’
Ericameria laricifolia, Turpentine Brush Y	to 6,000’
Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum, Sulfur Flowered Buckwheat and other subspecies and cultivars Y	to 9,000’
Fallugia paradoxa, Apache Plume	to 8,000’ (high desert)
Keckiella breviflora, Bush Penstemon W/P	to 8,000’
Potentilla fruticosa, Shrubby Cinquefoil Y	to 12,000’
Rhamnus californica, Coffeeberry P	to 7,000’
Rhododendron occidentale, Western Azalea W	to 7,500’
Ribes menziesii and Ribes nevadense, Currant(s) P	to 9,000’
Rosa californica and Rosa gymnocarpa, Roses P	to 6,000’
Salvia apiana, White Sage V/W	to 5,000’(hardy to 20° or less)
Spiraea douglasii, Douglas Spiraea W	to 6,000’
Yucca whipplei ssp. whipplei, Our Lord’s Candle	to 7,500’
WILDFLOWERS (ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS)
Achillea millefolium, Yarrow P, R, W	to 10,000’
Aquilegia formosa, Scarlet Columbine R	to 10,000’
Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum, Western Wallflower Y	to 8,000’- 12,000’
Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy	to 6,000’
Iris innominata, Del Norte County Iris Y	to 6,000’
Helenium bigelovii, Bigelow's Sneezeweed Y	to 8,500’
Lilium pardalinum ssp. pardalinum and Lilium lemonii, Lilies O, R, Y	to 9,000’
Linum lewisii, Blue Flax B	to 10,000’
Mentha arvensis, Field Mint V/W	to 7,500’
Mimulus cardinalis, Scarlet Monkey Flower R	to 7,500’
Mimulus guttatus, Creek Monkey Flower	to 7,500’
Oenothera elata ssp. hookeri, Hooker’s Evening Primrose Y	to 9,500’
Penstemon davidsonii, Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii and Penstemon heterodoxus	to 12,000’
Thalictrum fendleri, Mountain Meadow Rue G/W	to 9,500’
GRASSES
Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama	to 8,000’
Muhlenbergia rigens, Deer Grass	to 7,000’
Sporobolus airoides, Alkali Sakaton	to 6,500’
WATER-LOVING PLANTS
SEDGES
Carex amplifolia	to 7,200’
Carex pachystachya	to 10,500’
Carex praegracilis	to 8,100’
RUSHES
Juncus patens, Spreading Rush	to 4,800’
Juncus xiphoides, Wiregrass	to 6,300’
HORSETAIL
Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine, Horsetail	to 9,000’