In the Pacific Northwest, we have the Great Plant Picks program to help gardeners (and the retailers and growers serving them) identify outstanding plants that perform well and are ideally suited for the region. This program is operated by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden, located in the Seattle area, and every year, fresh new picks are added to the program.

In the Rocky Mountain region, they have something similar. It’s called Plant Select®, and it is a cooperative program of Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Garden. Its purpose is to identify outstanding selections for the Rocky Mountain region.

With that in mind, Plant Select recently announced 10 new recommended perennials, grasses and shrubs for 2014, including three Plant Select Petites — small stature plants that haven’t yet gained wide exposure, but are well suited for rock gardens and other tight and rugged spaces. All 10 selections are suitably hardy for the region. Click through to check ’em out.