The field guide
Page 2 of 7
Fall is a strong season to plant tough xeric perennials, grasses and shrubs if you finish on time and keep new roots watered through a dry winter. The timing and plant list are below.
Xeriscaping typically cuts outdoor water use 30–50% or more. A five-year utility study measured 55.8 gallons saved per square foot each year. Here's what to expect where you live.
Ten penstemons for dry gardens, from Rocky Mountain and firecracker penstemon to Plant Select's Mexicali hybrids, with zones, sizes and the lean-soil care that keeps them alive.
Smother turf under cardboard and wood chips, then plant a xeriscape into the soil it leaves behind. Here's how to do it, how long it takes, and when to skip the cardboard.
Winter watering on dry, snowless stretches, what to cut back and what to leave standing, mulch, drip and sprinkler shutdown, and heavy snow on shrubs.
El Paso averages under 9 inches of rain a year, more than half of it in the summer monsoon. Chihuahuan Desert plants, El Paso Water's rules and rebates, and Texas HOA rights.
Northern Colorado gets 15 to 21 inches of precipitation a year, plus hail, wind and clay. The plants, rebates and watering rules that matter in Fort Collins, Boulder and Loveland.
Reno gets about 7 inches of precipitation a year, cold winters and hot, dry summers. Great Basin plants, TMWA's watering days, HOA rights and fire-smart design for the Truckee Meadows.
Sacramento's rain nearly all falls between November and March, and summers are hot and bone-dry. Plants, the $2.50/sq ft city rebate, and watering rules for the Central Valley.
Tucson gets about 10.6 inches of rain a year, split between winter storms and the monsoon. Plant for it, harvest it, and let Tucson Water rebates cover part of the cost.
These 15 drought-tolerant perennials deliver months of color on minimal water, with zones, bloom times, sizes and a care tip for each one.
Xeriscaping costs $5–$20 per square foot professionally installed in 2026, and far less DIY. Total project ranges by yard size, what drives the price, and how rebates and water savings pay you back.