Habitats:

Some plants bloom only in special, very limited habitats; others tolerate a variety of growing conditions. The following thirteen categories describe the habitats of Colorado:

Tundra: Land above tree line characterized by a short growing season, intense sun and wind, thin soils, very high snow fall and high rain fall, and low growing sedges, grasses, dwarf shrubs, and herbs.

Scree: Fields (often extensive) of small, loose, slab rock. Common below tree line and very common above tree line. Pockets of endemicwildflowers where soils accumulate.

Woodlands: Areas forested with Spruce, Fir, Pine, Aspen, Oak, Juniper, Douglas Fir.

Wetlands: Wet meadows, fens, seeps, etc.

Streamsides: Moist areas along streams.

Openings: Small to large clearings in various vegetation zones. The openings are caused by soil conditions, fire, wild animals, or man .

Meadows: Grass, shrub, and wildflower-filled large open areas with few, if any, trees.

Rocks: Areas of large rock in canyons or mountains.

Canyons: Deep and long depressions with walls of cliffs and slopes. Pinyon Pine, Juniper, and Sagebrush are common.

Shrublands/Grasslands: Arid lands characterized by shrubs, grasses, and a lack of trees.

Prairies: Low elevation, gently rising and falling lands of grasses, wildflowers, and few trees.

Disturbed areas: Roadsides, mined areas, timbered lands.

Semi-deserts: Shrublands, grasslands, Pinyon-Juniper woodlands, or sand and gravel relatively barren lands.