Dear Geoff,

Thanks for contacting the Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener Help Desk with your question about what to plant at 7000 ft in Palmer Lake and give this area a prairie like  appearance. I think in a wild landscape it can be a nice addition to have some native plants that flower, have differing shades of green or different leaf shapes, colors or textures.

I'm going to attach a link to some information you might find helpful when considering what to plant:

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/flowers-for-mountain-communities-7-406/ -Flowers for Mountain Communities

I'm also going to include an article from the Colorado Native Plant Society which gives some more valuable information about plants and grasses good for Colorado. Once the native plants are established, they tend to need little water other than what our climate in Colorado would provide. 

https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Suggested-Native-Plants_0408.pdf - Suggested Native Plants for Gardening and
Landscape Use on the Front Range of Colorado

I hope this information helps you with the question about what to plant.  If you should have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us again. 

Sincerely,

Sue

Master Gardener