Southern Rockies is an ecoregion of high elevation, steep rugged mountains extending from southern Wyoming, through Colorado, and into northern New Mexico, characterized by coniferous forests, a severe mid-latitude humid continental climate, and public lands used for forestry, mining, tourism, and recreation.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Southern Rockies
CEC Level III Code
6.2.14
CEC Level II Code
6.2 Western Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Southern Rockies, CEC 6.2.14 |
| Geographic Range | The Southern Rockies Ecoregion is a high-elevation, mountainous region covering much of central Colorado and parts of southern Wyoming and northern New Mexico, with small outliers in eastern Utah. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Southern Rockies experience a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate, transitioning to subarctic at high elevations, characterized by warm to cool summers, severe winters, and mean annual temperatures ranging from -4°C to 11°C with an average annual precipitation of 588 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The Southern Rockies feature high elevation, steep rugged mountains with both linear ranges and complex masses of peaks, characterized by elevations ranging from 1,550 to over 4,390 masl, and middle to high elevations that have been glaciated. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation of the Southern Rockies is characterized by coniferous forests with elevational banding, ranging from grass and shrub cover at the lowest elevations to alpine low shrubs and krummholz at the highest peaks. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Southern Rockies fauna includes large mammals like elk, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, along with predators such as wolverine, Canada lynx, and cougar, and various birds and fish including the golden eagle and cutthroat trout. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation of the Southern Rockies is characterized by coniferous forests with elevational banding, ranging from grass and shrub cover at the lowest elevations to alpine low shrubs and krummholz at the highest peaks.
The Southern Rockies fauna includes large mammals like elk, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, along with predators such as wolverine, Canada lynx, and cougar, and various birds and fish including the golden eagle and cutthroat trout.
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 shelter as temperatures swing | Plant/maintain early-blooming natives; leave some leaf litter and stems until consistently warm |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting sites for emerging bees | Add a mix of spring flowers; keep a small patch of bare, well-drained soil; avoid disturbing nesting areas |
| Summer | Continuous nectar/pollen; water sources during dry spells | Plant mid-season “workhorse” flowers; provide a shallow water dish with stones; avoid all pesticide use |
| Late summer / fall | Late-season fuel for overwintering; seeds and shelter | Plant late bloomers; reduce deadheading; leave stems/seed heads; avoid fall “clean-up” that removes habitat |
| Winter (or dormant season) | Protected places to overwinter (in soil, stems, leaf litter) | Leave stems standing; keep some leaves in garden beds; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to help pollinators as they emerge.
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season flowers that carry the garden through peak activity.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often asters/goldenrods-type plants) that provide crucial end-of-season fuel.
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
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
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.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small 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.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
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.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
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 for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
