Does xeriscaping increase home value? No published study we could find isolates a price premium for xeriscaping itself. The evidence that does exist points one way, though. Good landscaping raises what buyers think a home is worth: 5–11% in a seven-state study. Realtors estimate landscape upgrades recover roughly their full cost at sale. And in western metros, low-water yards are now the norm in new construction and HOA communities. A well-designed, well-kept xeriscape gets those benefits. Bare rock and weeds don't.
Here's what each piece of evidence actually measured, and what it means for your yard.
What the research shows
Good landscaping raises perceived value by 5–11%
The most-cited study on landscaping and home value is Behe, Hardy, Barton and colleagues, published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture in 2005. The researchers showed 1,323 people in seven states photographs of the same house with different front landscapes. They varied three things: the type of plants, the size of the plants, and how sophisticated the design was. Participants "perceived that home value increased from 5% to 11% for homes with a good landscape." Design sophistication mattered most, then plant size, then plant type.
Two caveats matter. This measured perceived value, not closing prices, and it didn't test xeriscapes specifically. What it does show is that buyers reward a yard that looks designed. That argues for investing in the design of a xeriscape, not in what it's made of.
Realtors put landscape cost recovery at about 100%
The National Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of Landscape Professionals publish a Remodeling Impact Report on outdoor features. In the 2023 edition, landscape professionals estimated what each project costs, and realtors estimated how much of that cost a seller would recover at sale:
| Project (2023 NAR/NALP) | Estimated cost recovered at sale |
|---|---|
| Standard lawn care service | 217% |
| Landscape maintenance | 104% |
| Overall landscape upgrade | 100% |
| New patio | 95% |
| Tree care | 87% |
| Irrigation system installation | 83% |
The "overall landscape upgrade" in the report is a $9,000 project: a natural flagstone walkway, two stone planters, five flowering shrubs, a 15-foot tree and bark mulch. That's close to what a modest xeriscape front yard includes. The report also found that 97% of realtors say curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer, and 92% have suggested sellers improve curb appeal before listing (report PDF).
Notice that the top two items are maintenance, not construction. A tidy yard pays back more than a fancy one.
In the desert Southwest, low-water yards are the norm
A Phoenix study in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (Martin, Peterson & Stabler, 2003) found that more homeowners described their front yard as a desert design than as an oasis or lawn design, especially in HOA neighborhoods with CC&Rs. It also found that roughly 70% of homeowners preferred a design with at least some lawn, and that ease of maintenance and aesthetics were the two traits they valued most.
Since then, local rules have moved further. The Southern Nevada Water Authority's board approved a resolution in December 2021 prohibiting irrigated grass in new residential developments, and local jurisdictions adopted code changes to implement it (SNWA). In markets like that, a thirsty lawn is the unusual feature, and a good xeriscape simply matches what buyers are used to.
What the research doesn't show
- A universal xeriscape percentage. We found no peer-reviewed study that measures a sale-price premium for xeriscaping specifically. Any listicle quoting "xeriscaping adds X%" is likely borrowing general landscaping figures.
- That all low-water yards help. Every result above rewards design and upkeep. A weedy gravel lot fails both tests.
- That lawn-loving buyers vanish. Even in Phoenix, most homeowners in the 2003 study wanted some lawn. A hybrid design with a small, useful patch of grass and water-wise planting everywhere else is often the safest choice for resale. Xeriscape vs. lawn compares the trade-offs.
The operating-cost argument
Buyers increasingly look at utility costs, and the outdoor water bill is a big one. EPA WaterSense says U.S. residential outdoor water use "accounts for nearly 8 billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation," and that the average household "uses more water outdoors than for showering and washing clothes combined" (EPA). Phoenix Water says desert plants "lower outdoor water use by 85% compared to grass." The savings on your own bill depend on your climate and rates. Our analysis of how much water xeriscaping saves walks through the numbers.
Low water use and low upkeep are good listing points, much like an efficient furnace. Keep the paperwork.
One resale detail to know: conservation easements
Some rebate programs attach conditions to your property. SNWA's Water Smart Landscapes rebate requires a conservation easement, and the check is issued only after it's recorded. Utah's Washington County Water Conservancy District records one that restricts grass, sprinklers and water features in the converted area in perpetuity. Future buyers inherit it. In the desert that's rarely a problem, since few buyers there want to reinstall lawn, but disclose it and keep the documents with your closing file. Details for each program are in our lawn removal rebate directory.
How to build a xeriscape that helps resale
- Spend on design first. Design sophistication was the biggest driver in the Behe study. Structure, repetition and clean edges signal a yard that was professionally thought through. See front yard xeriscape ideas.
- Keep it looking planted, not paved. Aim for plant cover that reads as a garden from the street. Most rebate programs require 50% plant cover anyway.
- Maintain it. Landscape maintenance showed 104% cost recovery in the NAR report. Weeds in gravel undo the rest (how to keep them out).
- Plant trees. Shade trees take years to mature, and buyers can't buy time. Choose low-water trees suited to your zone.
- Document it. Keep before-and-after water bills, the plant list, the drip layout and any rebate paperwork.
The cost side of the math is in our xeriscaping cost guide. Ready to design? Our backyard xeriscape ideas are a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Does xeriscaping add value to a house?
A well-designed, well-maintained xeriscape adds value the way good landscaping does. Research found good landscaping raised perceived home value 5–11%, and realtors estimate landscape upgrades recover about 100% of their cost. No study isolates a premium for xeriscaping itself, and a neglected rock yard can lower appeal.
Is xeriscaping good for resale in Arizona or Nevada?
Generally yes. Desert landscaping is already the norm in Phoenix-area HOA communities, and new homes in the Las Vegas Valley can't have irrigated grass. A lush, well-kept desert yard matches buyer expectations there, while a large lawn can read as a water bill.
Will removing my lawn hurt my home's value?
Only if you replace it with something that looks unfinished. Buyers reward design and upkeep. Consider keeping a small, usable patch of lawn or a low-water alternative if your market includes families who want play space.
Do rebate programs affect selling my house?
They can. Some programs, including SNWA's and Washington County's in Utah, require a recorded conservation easement that limits grass in the converted area going forward. Disclose it to buyers and keep the paperwork.
What landscaping adds the most value?
In the NAR/NALP 2023 report, routine lawn care (217%) and landscape maintenance (104%) had the highest estimated cost recovery, followed by an overall landscape upgrade (100%) and a new patio (95%). Upkeep matters as much as the upgrade itself.
