Downtown Flower Project

45,000 flowers & plants

About 45,000 flowers and greenery are planted each summer by Parks staff.

270 different species

Unique varieties of flowers are planted every season, from Osteospermum Zion Orange Burst and Calibrachoa Cabaret Strawberry Parfait to Rockapulco Rose Double Impatiens and Nicotiana Saratoga AppleBlossom.

Funding

The Downtown Flower Project is funded through a partnership between the City of Fort Collins Parks Department and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

Where do the flowers come from?

Flowers are sourced locally from nearby greenhouse Plantorium. A few common species of flowers included in displays are Dahlias, Petunias, Coleus, Calibrachoa, Petchoa, Zinnia, Strawflower, Canna, Verbena and Gomphrena.

Did you know?

The Parks Department collaborates with Colorado State University’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture team to select the best varieties of plants. Each season, staff from the Parks Department visit the nearby Annual Flower Trial Garden and choose flowers that grow optimally in Colorado’s climate.

How do we design the flower beds?

The Horticulture Team follows the design principle “Thrill, Fill and Spill” in each flowerpot:

• "Thrill" indicates the larger, showstopping plants in the center of the pot.
• "Fill" points to the plants that help fill out the center and provide structure for the overall design.
• "Spill" showcases the plants that make up the edge of the design and expand past the perimeter of the flowerpot.

Hazel Dell Mushrooms compost

The Parks Department mixes Hazel Dell Mushroom Compost into each and every flower bed in the Downtown area. The compost is derived from a mushroom substrate, primarily hardwood sawdust.

Nuance cacao husks

Smell something chocolatey in Downtown Fort Collins? It might be the mulch in the flower beds! Each bed is filled with a mixture of cacao husks, which act as a fantastic, all-natural fertilizer.

Eliminating waste

Almost all plants you see in Downtown Fort Collins are grown in an Ellepot. Ellepots cut back on plastic and are a completely natural and biodegradable container for growing seedlings into the beautiful plants you see today.

Also, all plastic trays and containers that are used for plant delivery are returned to Plantorium after initial planting.

~20,000 lbs of compost

At the end of the flowering season, approximately 20,000 pounds of plant material is composted each year.

Efficient process

The Parks Department's expertise in water efficiency results in a healthy and thriving plant environment in Downtown Fort Collins. Our team focuses on the development of soil structure and health, fertilization process, and daily care via deadheading, pruning and weeding – plus providing plants with the appropriate water they need to thrive in the Downtown Fort Collins environment!

Drip irrigation

All in-ground flower beds throughout Downtown Fort Collins have been converted to a drip irrigation system, which delivers water directly to the roots of the plant, eliminating overspray and reducing water loss.