Xeriscaping: Drought-Resistant Plants

Xeriscaping means creating a landscape with plants that withstand dry weather.  It's good for the environment since it's a great way to save water.  Also, if you live somewhere prone to drought conditions where they limit your water usage, you won't have to see your garden wither away.

For instance, if you live in an area that is very dry, don't plant something that requires lots of water.  My incessantly parched squash did great after a soggy and muggy summer here in Massachusetts, but probably wouldn't fare quite so well in a place with a dry climate such as Los Angeles.  Another benefit of xeriscaping is that it's gardening for the forgetful!  Forget to water your garden for a few days?  No problem!

Lawns can be big water wasters, and needlessly so.  Part of xeriscaping can be eliminating lawns, cutting down on how much lawn you actually have, or using grass types that require less water.  (See Sean's post about the different types of grass here.)

There are lots of beautiful alternatives to lawns and lots of vegetables that can be included in your xeriscaped yard.

Herbs often do quite well in dry conditions.  A few herbs that are hardy through droughts are lavender, marjoram, yarrow,  oregano, thyme, and rosemary.   

Some fruits and veggies that do well in dry conditions are peas, okra, sweet potatoes, muskmelons, and watermelons. 

Fruit trees don't need a lot of water, either.  Apple trees, jujubes, and peach trees can thrive during droughts.

Another idea is to plant things earlier in the season, before the weather turns too dry.  Lettuce, radishes, onions, spinach, cabbage, and beets can be planted earlier so that they are all finished by the time droughts are likely.  These can often also be planted later in the season, after drier weather.  Try to also plant things together that have similar water needs, so you don't waste water when it comes time to water them.

As for flowers, Better Homes and Gardens has a slideshow with some pretty pictures of drought-tolerant perennials that you can plant in your garden. 

Once you've got your xeriscape garden all put together, don't forget the tips to reducing your water consumption in your garden even more!