21 Xeriscape Plants for the Water-Wise Garden

Grow these beautiful xeriscape plant to economize water and reduce garden maintenance .

Xeriscape plants need little to no supplemental piddle in a landscape , and generally are undemanding when it come to maintenance . But xeriscape does n’t mean your yard has to expect like a desert . Depending on the plants you choose , a xeriscape garden can be lush , colourful , and vivacious . The list of xeriscape plants below includesdrought - tolerant perennial , shrubs , Grass , succulent , and more that will fill your landscape painting with gloss .

What Is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is a case ofgarden intention that requires little to no extra waterother than innate rain . Although it tends to be most popular in waterless realm , xeriscape gardeningworks anywhere that experience droughtbecause it ’s about making smart alternative when designing , selecting plant , and like for piss - wise garden . It ’s crucial not to confuse this construct with zeroscaping , which uses few ( or zero ) flora . A zeroscape is in the main gravel , large stone , dirt , and other non - living elements , postulate “ zero ” water .

Xeriscape horticulture is all about conserving water supply and boil down landscape painting maintenance . It wascoined in 1981 by Denver Waterand includes seven principle :

Best Xeriscape Plants

Depending on your annual rainfall and summer and winter temperatures , not all of these works may be desirable . And because a plant that ’s idealistic for one neighborhood may be too rambunctious or invasive in another part of the nation , always correspond local recommendations before adding any plant to your garden .

Blazing Star

There are more than 40 unlike species ofblazing star , native from Ontario down through Texas . Many are quite drought tolerant , with some , such as Texas blazing star ( Liatris mucronata ) , surviving on less than 10 inches of pelting per year . Most have upright purple flower spikes , although ‘ Floristan White ’ dumb blazing ace ( Liatris spicata ) is occasionally uncommitted at garden centers . They lay out in sizing from 1 - 6 fundament marvellous , although most are 2 - 4 feet magniloquent . Most blaze principal grow considerably in full sunshine , although they can support light shade .

Lantana

Lantana(Lantana camara ) is a fast - grow recurrent inUSDA Hardiness Zones8 - 11 and a heat - loving annual where it is not winter brave . It ’s covered in numerous cluster of peak range from white and amber to pink , purple , violent , and even multicolor throughout the warm season . Plant it in full Dominicus and well - drained soil for the best flowering display .

Alliums

genus Allium , also called blossoming onions , are available in amultitude of sizes and colors , although pink / purple is most common . For model , nodding onion plant ( Allium cernuum , show here ) is a North American native with downwardly - facing , fragile wan pinkish flowers . Most alliums require full sun and well - enfeeble soil to thrive in the landscape painting . Hardiness vary reckon on metal money , but most will rise in Zones 4 - 8 .

Yarrow

Yarrow(Achilleaspp.)is a popular perennial for drought - tolerant and xeriscape gardens . Achillea millefoliumis native throughout most of the United States and has white or off - white flowers . However , Achillea millefolium can be institute in shades of yellow , pink , orange , ashen , and red . develop this plant in full sun and cut it back to the solid ground once it has bloom to encourage another round of blossoming .

Blue Grama Grass

Denny Schrock

The horizontal seed heads of blue grama grass ( Bouteloua gracilis ) impart a singular horizontal grain to the belated summer and autumn garden . Blue gramma grass grass is aboriginal to North America and grows about 2 foot improbable . It does upright in fast - drain ground in full sun to wakeful shade , and is hardy in Zones 4 - 9 .

Daffodil

Although the cheery yellow or white leaping flowers ofdaffodils(Narcissusspp . ) may wait soft , these plants are in reality very drouth - tolerant . In fact , they do well constitute in an area that rest dry during the summer . stiff soil can make the bulbs to rot . Tryplanting Narcissus pseudonarcissus bulbsunderneath trees that lose their leave in winter . By the meter the new leaves emerge on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , the daffodils should finished blooming , and the antecedent of the Tree will help keep the soil around the bulbs ironical .

Texas Mountain Laurel

Texas passel laurel ( Dermatophyllum secundiflorumsyn . Sophora secundiflora ) is a small to mid - sized evergreen plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with clusters of fragrant purple flowers that resemblewisteria . Hardy in Zones 8 - 11 , it is an excellent choice for gardeners throughout the South and the West Coast . It can tolerate less than 10 inches of pelting annually but will perform better with extra urine . Regardless , it will survive on rain alone .

Agave

Victoria Pearson

agave add structural elegance to a xeriscape . They browse from less than 1 foot magniloquent and across-the-board , to massive . Agave havardianacan originate up to 4 pes wide-eyed . Most agave are only inhuman stout to Zone 7 . However , some are faithfully hardy to Zone 5 , provide they are juiceless throughout winter . Agave can be develop in pots , although tumid specimen become very heavy and challenging to tug around .

prefer a planting location for agaves cautiously to avoid too much proximity with the exceptionally acute needles at the end of the leaves . They can well deflate clothing and gloves . Some gardeners prefer to clip off the needles for prophylactic reason .

pink mexican sage salvia leucantha

Credit: Ed Gohlich

Lady Banks’ Rose

Lady Banks ’ go up ( Rosa banksiae ) is a large , rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 infantry recollective . little double flowers cover the industrial plant in leaping ; livid and white-livered forms are useable . Lady Banks ’ surface will fly high even in vivid summer heat and drought weather condition . aboriginal to China , this excellent rose is thornless and see specially stunning drape on a large fence or across the top of a brick wall .

Little Bluestem

trivial bluestem(Schizachyrium scoparium)is a modest - sized ( 2 - 3 feet magniloquent , 1 - 2 feet broad ) ornamental pasture that ’s native to the continental United States . It forms tight , just clod . Once established in the garden , it seldom , if ever , require excess water . It abide good and look lovely throughout winter in area with moderate snow . bring down it back to the flat coat in late spring to tolerate the new growth to come out .

Texas Sage

Texas sage(Leucophyllum frutescens ) is a mid - sized shrub , make 6 - 8 foot tall and 4 - 6 feet wide . This plant , also called cenizo , thrives in hot and dry weather condition but can not tolerate wet soil . It can be sheared into a stately hedge or shaped into a ball . The pinkish / purple flowers shine burnished against the unique silvery - green to - grey-haired folio people of color , which provides an exciting contrast in the landscape in Zones 8 - 10 .

Salvia

There is asalviafor almostevery coloring material in the rainbow . Some are develop as seasonal annual flowers , and others are perennials . Many , such asSalvia greggii , grow like miniature flowering bush and can bear dry , rough soils in full sun . Others have attractive leaves and beautiful flower , include Mexican bush sage ( Salvia leucantha , shown here ) and pineapple salvia ( Salvia elegans ) .

Southern Wax Myrtle

Southern wax myrtle ( Myrica ceriferasyn . Morella cerifera ) grow 6 - 12 feet tall or more , and has attractive olive - dark-green foliation . distaff plant produce pale - gloomy berry in winter . Left unpruned , this works develops a billow cloud - like form . ‘ Don ’s Dwarf ’ is , as the name intimate , a compact form , growing 2 - 6 foot tall and panoptic . It can tolerate drouth but will execute good in region that pick up regular rain .

Muhly Grass

Rob Cardillo

There are many types of muhly grasspopular with xeriscape gardener , including pink muhly ( Muhlenbergia capillaris , show here ) , rose muhly ( Muhlenbergia reverchonii ) , and Lindheimer ’s muhly ( Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ) . These three , as well as many others , are aboriginal to North America . The cold robustness of muhly grasses range from Zone 5 ( go up muhly ) to Zone 7 ( pink muhly and Lindheimer ’s muhly ) . Pink muhly features a profuse amount of pinkish plume each summer . Rose muhly looks exchangeable but is shorter and able to maturate in somewhat wetter conditions than pink muhly . The bloom of Lindheimer ’s muhly are less open and airy but no less beautiful . They are closer to white with a tinge of garden pink .

Lavender

Matthew Benson

Lavender(Lavandulaspp . ) is often maturate as an aromatic herb but it ’s also a heat - loving , drought - resistant superstar in theornamental gardenwhere its attractive flowers fall . Many dissimilar lavendersare useable to gardener , but all require full sun and well - drained dirt . Hardiness varies depending on specie but most are hardy in Zones 5 - 9 .

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon holly(Ilex vomitoria)is a native evergreen plant character of holly that can be prune as a formal hedge or left to grow of course into a liberal , upright evergreen shrub or low Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . It handle full sun , part shade , drought , and moist grime . It can be develop in full tone , although the growth will be less dense . distaff plants producered Charles Edward Berry that run birdsand other wildlife . It is tight growing , up to 2 - 3 feet per twelvemonth , and can be used as a screen or hedge . ‘ Pride of Houston ’ is a noteworthy female flora with thousands of red Berry each time of year .

Purple Lovegrass

empurpled lovegrass ( Eragrostis spectabilis ) is a North American native weed that grows in sandy and bundle soils . In late summertime , the blossom panicles uprise above the low foliage , creating waves of purple clouds floating above the plant . It is hardy in Zones 5 - 9 . It is standardised in appearance to pinky muhly pasturage but stay on shorter .

Red Yucca

Better Homes and Gardens

Despite its uncouth name , red yucca(Hesperaloe parviflora)is not a true yucca . Tall flower stalks with coral - red flowers swing over the coarse grass - like foliage . The leaves are greyish - blue to green , giving the garden an interesting rigid texture . Grow red yucca in full sun andwell - drained soil . This xeriscape plant is brave to Zone 5 as long as the roots stay ironical throughout wintertime .

Four O’Clocks

on-key to their name , the fragrant flowers offour o’clocks(Mirabilis jalapa ) open in the previous afternoon , and once in a while earlier on cloudy days . They are remarkably drought kind but are not reliably hardy if temperatures get below freezing . They bring out a pile of germ , however , and will reappear the following fountain . The most common variety has bright pink blossom , although there are also orange , white , chickenhearted , and red selection .

Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus

The word “ cactus ” may make you believe of bristled plant , butspineless prickly pear(Opuntia ellisiana ) is an exception . It has all the architectural beauty of prickly pear cacti without the vicious pointy parts . It is intrepid to Zones 7 - 10 , and the white-livered flowers are a bonus . Grow prickly pear cactus in a tight - draining area , such as agravel garden .

Yucca

Yuccasmay look they would only come through in a desert , but some types are hardy down to Zone 4 . They will not , however , grow in wet soil , or especially frigid , moist soil in winter . This make them idealistic for the xeriscape garden . ‘ Color Guard ’ yucca ( shown here ) has light-green leaves edged in yellow , take it a dramatic focal point in the garden .