Hardiness Zones
The Best Xeriscape Plants for Zone 6
Zone 6 winters bottom out between −10°F and 0°F: cold enough to demand hardiness, mild enough to unlock plants zone 5 can't keep. The best zone 6 drought-tolerant plants, with verified ratings.
The field guide
Latest guides
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Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in Albuquerque (High Desert Guide)
Albuquerque pays $3 per square foot to replace turf with xeriscape in 2026. The high-desert guide: Zone 7b plants for 9 inches of rain, the Water Authority's rules, and Rio Grande design.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in Boise & the Treasure Valley
Boise gets about 11.5 inches of rain a year, yet the Treasure Valley is mostly bluegrass. The local guide: Zone 6b/7a steppe plants, 2026 rebate status, watering guidance and foothills design.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in Colorado Springs
The Colorado Springs xeriscaping guide: hail-tough plants for Zone 5b/6a at 6,000 feet, Colorado Springs Utilities' watering rules and 2026 programs, HOA law, and Pikes Peak design notes.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in Los Angeles & Southern California
LA pays $5 per square foot to replace lawn in 2026. The local guide: California natives that bloom on winter rain, LADWP's rebate rules and watering days, HOA law, and fire-wise design.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in Phoenix: Desert-Adapted Done Right
Phoenix pays $2 per square foot to remove grass in 2026, and Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler and Glendale run their own programs. The local guide to Sonoran plants, shade-first design and the rules.
Regional Guides
Salt Lake City Xeriscaping & Utah’s “Flip Your Strip”
Salt Lake City residents can get $3 per square foot to replace lawn in 2026. The local guide: Wasatch Front plants for Zone 6a–7b, park-strip rules, Utah's HOA law, and the drought status.
Design Ideas
Backyard Xeriscaping: Ideas for Living, Not Just Looking
15 backyard xeriscape ideas built for living: gravel patios, fire pits, shade, play space, raised veggie beds, privacy shrubs and habitat, all on a fraction of a lawn's water.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in San Diego
San Diego has one of the best succulent climates in the country and a $2 per square foot turf rebate. The local guide: coastal vs. inland planting, rebate rules, watering limits and HOA law.
Regional Guides
Xeriscaping in St. George & Southern Utah
St. George pays up to $3 per square foot to replace lawn in 2026. The local guide: Zone 8b Mojave-edge plants, the district's rebate rules, summer watering hours, new-home lawn limits and HOA law.
How-To Guides
Converting Sprinklers to Drip: Step by Step
Convert a sprinkler zone to drip using the valves and pipe you already own: retrofit options, head-by-head steps, pressure and filter specs, and how to reprogram the controller.
Design Ideas
Desert Landscaping Ideas That Aren't Boring
14 desert landscaping ideas beyond the beige gravel rectangle: blooming cactus beds, sculptural silhouettes, layered texture and night lighting, for both hot low deserts and cold high deserts.