What is Xeriscape Gardening?

Imagine relaxing in your yard and enjoying lush and colorful plants that show off their blooms spring, summer and fall. Next, imagine the freedom-and conservation-that comes with watering those plants only a few times a month. With Xeriscaping, you can have both a beautiful and water-wise garden.

Xeriscape, a term coined by the Denver Water Department in 1981, combines "landscaping" with the Greek "xeri," meaning dry. But dry does not mean dull. The best and most magical of metro areas gardens feature popular low-water plants that deliver beauty and tranquility, while saving on our most precious resource: water.

Xeriscape gardening is a simple principle of gardening that uses low water plants.  Most all local greenhouses mark their plants as low-water plants, and several great books are available to help the beginner, as well as the expert wanting to learn even more. [Click here] for a sampling.

Xeriscape gardening differs from regular gardening in that it is much more than just low-water gardening, it is smart water gardening. We live in a semi-arid desert and when we choose to Xeriscape garden we choose to use water in a responsible and productive manner.

Many non-native, and exotic plants that people buy require more water and attention than some of the native species of Xeriscape plants need. They are also much more susceptible to changes in temperature and more prone to disease. Therefore using plants that are native to this region and can thrive in our altitude is a wise decision for anyone looking to improve the appearance of their yard and cut down on water consumption

The Parker Water and Sanitation District believes in encouraging people to Xeriscape as an alternative to traditional landscaping. One way we do this is through our Xeriscape Garden contest. Our annual Xeriscape Garden contest allows various homeowners enter their gardens to win prizes such as gifts certificates to local nurseries.

Xeriscape Books

Birchfield, Emerson R.
The Flowering of Denver
Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO 1989

Brenzel, Kathleen
Sunset Western Garden Book
Sunset Publishing, Menlo Park, CA 1995

Coates, Margaret
Perennials for the Western Garden
Pruett, 1976

Colorado Nursery Association
The Rocky Mountain Perennial Plant Guide
Denver, CO 1995

Springer, Lauren
The Undaunted Garden
Fulcrum Publishing Company, 1983

Xeriscape Plant Guide
Fulcrum Publishing, 1996