What Is Drought-Tolerant Landscaping?

Drought-tolerant landscaping includes plants that do not need much water to thrive. Also known as water-wise landscaping, this type of gardening has become more popular and even mandatory in regions that experience little or sporadic rainfall. Some regions and cities impose fines or offer rebates and incentives to homeowners who replace their thirsty lawns and gardens with water-wise plants, and hardscapes. Read on to learn more about drought-tolerant landscaping and its benefits.

What Does Drought-Tolerant Mean?

Drought-tolerant refers to a plant's ability to survive and even thrive in prolonged dryness that typically causes crops or other plants to become parched and die due to lack of rainfall and supplemental water. Drought-tolerant plants are naturally able to survive these periods of environmental dryness. 

Benefits of Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

Many areas of the United States suffer from drought, including Georgia, Texas, and California and other countries, such as Australia. As a result, mandatory water rationing and incentives for water-wise landscaping that requires minimal to no irrigation have increased. Many homeowners are eliminating thirsty turf grass and introducing native, drought-tolerant plants and more hardscaping, such as patios, gravel pathways, and decks.

The benefits of drought-tolerant landscaping include:

• Water bill savings: You do not need to water your plants or grass as much or as often. Switching types of lawn grass can also result in less demand for watering.
• Minimal maintenance costs and labor: Drought-tolerant landscaping eliminates lawn mowing, seeding, fertilizing, weeding, installing irrigation systems, and other maintenance to sustain a "perfect" lawn. The use of pesticides is also reduced since drought-tolerant native plants resist most pests and diseases.
• Unique landscape designs: There is an abundance of beautiful and colorful drought-tolerant plants to make your landscape stand out.

Drought-Tolerant Native Plants

Plants that are native to a particular region are typically the most drought-tolerant. Native plants grow naturally in the region where they originally evolved which means they have adapted to the environment, support the surrounding ecosystem, and require little maintenance or water.

Many plants found in garden centers are imported from other locations or countries. Check with local university extension offices, master gardeners, and native plant organizations to find out more about the native plants in your area. For example, if you're in a specific part of Northern California, such as San Joaquin, look for native plants such as lupine, artemisia, yarrow, and poppy—but every county's native plants differ.

Drought-Tolerant vs. Drought-Resistant

Plants with relatively low water requirements or well adapted to an arid climate are often described as drought-tolerant or drought-resistant. However, the terms drought-tolerant and drought-resistant mean different things. Drought-tolerant landscaping and plants can grow or thrive with minimal water or rainfall and drought-resistant plants are more resilient and survive much longer without water.

Other Terms for Drought Tolerant

Xeriscape and xeriscaping are terms used to identify a landscaping style that uses drought-tolerant plants to help conserve water. Water-wise refers to landscaping with plants that grow well in a garden that manages water sensibly. You also may hear of drought-tolerant landscaping referred to as desert landscaping or dry gardening.

Common Drought-Tolerant Plants

Cactus and succulents are the main examples of drought-tolerant plants. In addition, there are several other water-wise plants and shrubs to consider for a drought-tolerant or drought-resistant landscape:

• Zoysia grass
• Thyme
• Woolly yarrow
• Lavender
• Lupine
• Artemisia
• Slipper plant
• Aster
• Coreopsis
• Lamb's ear
• Fountain grass

Hardscape Ideas for Drought-Tolerant Landscapes

Drought-tolerant landscapes can create curb appeal by achieving a balanced look with softscape and hardscape elements. Adding hardscape means a yard with less maintenance and water consumption than an all-plant landscape would require.

Hardscape elements can connect your yard to your home, highlight architectural features, and emphasize natural materials and textures. Hardscape materials, such as gravel, rocks, stone, brick, wood, and pavers, can create the following elements in a yard:

• Decks
• Driveways
• Patios
• Fire pits
• Retaining walls
• Arbors, gazebos, and pergolas
• Fountains and water features
• Grill surrounds and outdoor kitchens
  
• Sitting walls and benches
• Walkways, paths, and bridges