Colorado Plateaus is a dry, mid-latitude steppe ecoregion characterized by rugged tableland topography, uplifted and deeply dissected sedimentary rock, and a mix of sparse vegetation, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and various wildlife, with common activities including ranching, mining, recreation, and tourism.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Colorado Plateaus
CEC Level III Code
10.1.6
CEC Level II Code
10.1 Cold Deserts
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Colorado Plateaus, Colorado Plateau, Colorado Plateaus ecoregion |
| Geographic Range | The Colorado Plateaus region is located between the Southern Rocky Mountains on the east and the Wasatch Range to the west, occupying most of eastern and southern Utah, western Colorado, and small portions of northern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Colorado Plateaus ecoregion has a dry, mid-latitude steppe climate characterized by hot, low-humidity summers, cool to cold, dry winters, and a mean annual precipitation of 298 mm, ranging significantly with elevation. |
| Terrain Profile | The Colorado Plateaus are characterized by a rugged, uplifted, eroded, and deeply dissected tableland of sedimentary rock with benches, mesas, buttes, cliffs, canyons, and salt valleys, where elevations range from about 900 m to over 3,000 m. |
| Vegetation Cover | The Colorado Plateaus vegetation primarily consists of sparsely vegetated low elevation basins with blackbrush and saltbush, transitioning to Wyoming big sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and higher elevation areas of Gambel oak and Douglas fir. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Colorado Plateaus are home to a variety of animals, including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, coyote, and diverse bird species like the sage grouse and pinyon jay, along with unique fish like the Colorado pike minnow. |
Eco snapshot
The Colorado Plateaus vegetation primarily consists of sparsely vegetated low elevation basins with blackbrush and saltbush, transitioning to Wyoming big sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and higher elevation areas of Gambel oak and Douglas fir.
The Colorado Plateaus are home to a variety of animals, including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, coyote, and diverse bird species like the sage grouse and pinyon jay, along with unique fish like the Colorado pike minnow.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe places to warm up and nest | Plant/maintain early bloomers; leave some leaf litter and stems; provide a shallow water dish with stones |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and undisturbed soil | Plant a mix of spring flowers; keep some bare, well-drained ground; avoid mulching every inch |
| Summer | Heat-resilient flowers; water access; shade/shelter | Prioritize drought-tough natives; water plants efficiently (drip/soaker if possible); add a small “resting” area with rocks/logs |
| Late summer/fall | Late-season nectar to fuel migration and overwintering | Add late bloomers; avoid deadheading everything; let some plants go to seed |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter from cold/dry wind; protected overwintering sites | Leave stems standing; keep brush/rock piles; delay heavy cleanup until warmer weather returns |
Keystone plants
Mix early, mid, and late bloomers so pollinators always find food.
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers that wake up pollinators and start the season strong.
Heat-tough flowers that keep nectar/pollen going through the hottest stretch.
Late-season bloomers (often including shrubs and asters/goldenrods) that fuel end-of-season needs.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Blazing stars (Liatris) are upright, purple-pink wildflowers that bloom in showy spikes and are well-loved by many pollinators. They’re a strong choice for sunny gardens, borders, and meadow-style plantings.
Gilias (genus Gilia) are airy, nectar-rich wildflowers that can add quick color to sunny spots and help support a variety of pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Penstemons (beardtongues) are hardy, flower-filled wildflowers that bring bright color and steady nectar to gardens and containers, especially in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Phacelias are easygoing wildflowers in the genus Phacelia, known for their nectar-rich blooms that can bring lots of pollinator activity to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Rabbitbrush is a tough, sun-loving shrub known for its bright yellow late-season blooms that can help keep pollinators fed when many other flowers are fading.
Sagebrushes are tough, aromatic shrubs in the genus Artemisia that can anchor a dry, sunny habitat and offer shelter and seasonal nectar for a range of insects.
Wild buckwheats (genus Eriogonum) are tough, long-blooming western native wildflowers that can turn dry, sunny spots into reliable pollinator stops.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
