Amenity Collection

The Amenity Collection is comprised of traditional garden plants of the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Region, such as lilacs, daylilies, peonies, roses and bulbs. These are plants that aren’t necessarily specific to any one growing region or genera, and are found throughout Denver Botanic Gardens.

Amenity plants are showcased with the express purpose of serving the local community, including plant societies, professionals in the green industry, educational institutions and the general public. One aim of the collection is to demonstrate ways to combine local plant palettes for different situations and needs, using a wide spectrum of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. Another is to demonstrate the growth cycle of new cultivars and hybrids suitable for a semi-arid steppe climate, while providing information on good cultural practices and aesthetically pleasing design.

Predominant taxa among this collection include hybrids and cultivars of daylilies (Hemerocallis), irises (Iris), peonies (Paeonia), roses (Rosa), lilacs (Syringa), dwarf conifers, viburnums (Viburnum) and lavender (Lavandula).