Why Xeriscaping? The Case for a Landscape That Works With Your Climate
Xeriscaping isn't rocks and cactus — it's a smarter way to design a beautiful, low-water yard. Here's why it saves water, money, and weekends.
Beautiful yards. A fraction of the water.
Practical guides, plant picks, and inspiration for building a xeriscape that saves water, money, and weekends — wherever you live.
Free tools & local pros
Interactive tools to plan your xeriscape — plus a directory of vetted low-water pros near you. All free, no account needed.
Plant Finder
Filter 40+ low-water plants by your zone, sun, water, and color.
Open finder →Find a Pro
Xeriscape & waterwise installers across 20+ Western metros.
Browse directory →Zone Lookup
Find your USDA hardiness zone by ZIP in one click.
Check my zone →Savings Calculator
See the water and dollars you'd save by losing the lawn.
Run the numbers →Featured guides
Understanding USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
What USDA hardiness zones mean, how the map has shifted over a century, what it doesn't tell you about water — plus a free ZIP-code zone lookup tool.
10 Steps to Xeriscaping Your Yard
A practical, order-of-operations guide to designing and installing a low-water landscape — from your first sketch to the final layer of mulch.
Latest
regions
Xeriscaping in Denver: Plants, Rebates & Design for the Front Range
Denver invented the word xeriscape. Here's the complete local guide — the best plants for Zone 5b/6a, turf-replacement rebates, and designs built for Front Range conditions.
cost
How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost? (Real Numbers, DIY vs. Pro)
Xeriscaping costs $5–$20 per square foot professionally installed, or a fraction of that DIY. Here's the full breakdown — plus the rebates and water savings that pay you back.
plants
15 Best Drought-Tolerant Perennials That Bloom All Summer
These 15 drought-tolerant perennials deliver months of color on minimal water — with zones, bloom times, and honest notes on what each one needs to thrive.
guides
Gravel vs. Wood Mulch: Which Belongs Where in a Xeriscape
Gravel or wood mulch? Each is right — in different parts of the yard. Here's the honest comparison: water, weeds, heat, cost, and exactly where to use each.
plants
Full-Sun, No-Mercy: Plants for Your Hottest, Driest Exposure
South-facing wall, reflected heat, all-day sun, no shade — some plants don't just survive that spot, they prefer it. Here's what to plant where everything else dies.
basics
The 7 Principles of Xeriscaping, Explained
Denver Water built xeriscaping on seven principles in 1981 — and they still decide whether a low-water landscape thrives or fails. Here's each one, explained in practice.
plants
20 Pollinator Plants for a Low-Water Garden
A xeriscape can out-feed a lawn a hundred to one. These 20 drought-tolerant pollinator plants keep bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds working your yard from spring to frost.
plants
The Best Ornamental Grasses for Low-Water Yards
Ornamental grasses are the backbone of a great xeriscape — movement, texture, and four-season structure on almost no water. These are the ones worth planting.
ideas
Low-Maintenance Landscaping: The Honest Hierarchy
Every landscape claims to be low-maintenance. Here's the honest ranking — what each yard type actually demands per year, and how to buy back your weekends for real.