Dry Bones
As the U.S. gets hotter and drier, it makes sense to incorporate drought- resistant landscaping in new-home developments.
Scroll through the eight options below to view some landscaper-favorites to consider:
As the U.S. gets hotter and drier, it makes sense to incorporate drought- resistant landscaping in new-home developments.
Scroll through the eight options below to view some landscaper-favorites to consider:
Larrea tridentata
(Creosote bush) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 7
Climate Zone: 7
A tough evergreen shrub found throughout the flatlands of the arid west, this durable shrub provides a solid foundation to the landscape with yellow flowers throughout the year.
Cercidium floridum
(Blue palo verde) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 7
Climate Zone: 7
Low-branching and multi-trunked, this native Arizona tree grows to 30 feet tall and wide, with profuse clusters of golden yellow blossoms and blue-green branches.
Glandularia Gooddingii
(Gooding verbena) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 6
Climate Zone: 6
Gooding verbena is a mounding ground cover with lavender flowers. It readily reseeds so new plants fill bare spots each spring.
Olea Europaea
(European olive) Region: West
Climate Zone: 8-10
Climate Zone: 8-10
The handsome European olive tree has silvery evergreen leaves and great character and comes in fruiting and nonfruiting varieties.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Forester’
(Feather reed grass) Region: Mid-Atlantic
Climate Zone: 4-8
Climate Zone: 4-8
With feathery flower spikes, this ornamental grass is ideal as a background plant or as a sculptural accent with ground covers.
Pistacia chinensis
(Chinese pistachio) Region: West
Climate Zone: 6-9
Climate Zone: 6-9
A small accent tree, Chinese pistachio’s leaves turn beautiful shades of orange and red in the fall. It is considered both a shade and ornamental tree, as its spreading canopy blocks sunlight.
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’
(Giant hyssop) Region: Mid-Atlantic
Climate Zone: 5-10
Climate Zone: 5-10
A blue-flowering perennial that blooms for four to six weeks, this two- to three-foot-tall plant attracts butterflies and is used as a tall accent in the perennial border.
Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
(Firewords goldenrod) Region: Southeast
Climate Zone: 4-9
Climate Zone: 4-9
This colorful perennial with sprays of small yellow flowers tolerates seasonally dry soils and deer leave it alone. It is used in perennial borders in full sun.
Larrea tridentata
(Creosote bush) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 7
Climate Zone: 7
A tough evergreen shrub found throughout the flatlands of the arid west, this durable shrub provides a solid foundation to the landscape with yellow flowers throughout the year.
Cercidium floridum
(Blue palo verde) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 7
Climate Zone: 7
Low-branching and multi-trunked, this native Arizona tree grows to 30 feet tall and wide, with profuse clusters of golden yellow blossoms and blue-green branches.
Glandularia Gooddingii
(Gooding verbena) Region: Southwest
Climate Zone: 6
Climate Zone: 6
Gooding verbena is a mounding ground cover with lavender flowers. It readily reseeds so new plants fill bare spots each spring.
Olea Europaea
(European olive) Region: West
Climate Zone: 8-10
Climate Zone: 8-10
The handsome European olive tree has silvery evergreen leaves and great character and comes in fruiting and nonfruiting varieties.
Pistacia chinensis
(Chinese pistachio) Region: West
Climate Zone: 6-9
Climate Zone: 6-9
A small accent tree, Chinese pistachio’s leaves turn beautiful shades of orange and red in the fall. It is considered both a shade and ornamental tree, as its spreading canopy blocks sunlight.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Forester’
(Feather reed grass) Region: Mid-Atlantic
Climate Zone: 4-8
Climate Zone: 4-8
With feathery flower spikes, this ornamental grass is ideal as a background plant or as a sculptural accent with ground covers.
Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’
(Giant hyssop) Region: Mid-Atlantic
Climate Zone: 5-10
Climate Zone: 5-10
A blue-flowering perennial that blooms for four to six weeks, this two- to three-foot-tall plant attracts butterflies and is used as a tall accent in the perennial border.
Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’
(Firewords goldenrod) Region: Southeast
Climate Zone: 4-9
Climate Zone: 4-9
This colorful perennial with sprays of small yellow flowers tolerates seasonally dry soils and deer leave it alone. It is used in perennial borders in full sun.
