Topic
City-by-city xeriscaping guides for the West and Southwest: local climate and soil, hardiness zone, plants that thrive there, and the water utility rebates available.
26 guides
Bay Area summers are nearly rainless from foggy San Francisco to hot San Jose. California natives, microclimate tips and the lawn rebates from EBMUD, Valley Water and BAWSCA.
Portland gets 37 inches of rain a year, but barely an inch falls in July and August combined. Plants that handle soggy winters and dry summers, plus Portland's rebates and rules.
Houston gets more than 50 inches of rain a year, then bakes through July and August. Gulf Coast natives, heavy-rain design and the city programs that help you use less water.
Bend gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation and a frost-free season of roughly 105 days. Tough high-desert plants, the city's $3/sq ft turf rebate and fire-smart design.
At nearly 7,000 feet, Santa Fe gets about 13 inches of precipitation, a short frost-free season and a summer monsoon. Native plants, city water rules and rebates for high-desert yards.
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.
Denver invented the word xeriscape. The local guide: Zone 5b/6a conditions, Front Range plants that thrive on 14 inches of rain, 2026 rebate status, Denver Water's drought rules, and HOA law.
Las Vegas pays more to remove lawn than anywhere in America: $5 per square foot from SNWA, plus $2 more for LVVWD customers. The local guide to Mojave plants, watering days and HOA law.