The document provides plant recommendations for a xeriscape landscape, focusing on plants that require little water once established. It recommends considering the soil, light, and moisture conditions in different areas of the landscape. Native plants are a good starting point but must match the site conditions. Several drought tolerant perennials, bulbs, herbs, grasses, and annuals are listed as options. Proper planting and mulching is emphasized to help plants thrive with less watering.

1. Xeriscape
Bedding Plants
Maureen McCracken
T he right plant in the right place is an important guideline for any garden, but even more so in a Xeriscape. This
simple, yet powerful concept—plants should be matched to the growing conditions in the garden—results in
healthier plants, requiring less maintenance. In a Xeriscape, this is imperative to attain the low water use objective
of this landscape style.
Before choosing plants, it is important to know the soil conditions, natural moisture and light exposure for the planting
bed. Once environmental constraints are determined, plants that fit those requirements can be identified. Mini
microcosms usually exist within a landscape, where light, moisture and even soil conditions may be different. There may
be full sun in the front yard and full shade in the back. Therefore, it is important to group plants with similar soil, light
and water needs for the maximum water savings, even within one yard.
Choosing the right bedding plants can be fun, but also daunting, as there are so many plant groups and selections to
consider.
Native plants are usually a good place to start, since by definition they are a natural fit to the area. However, even within
native plants, light and moisture needs must be considered. Some good choices for a Xeriscape include:
Bellflower, Campanula
Blanket Flower, Gaillardia
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
Green-and-gold, Chrysogonum Virginian
Joe-pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum
Lily Turf, Liriope muscari
Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon japonicus
Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata
False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina racemosa
Spiderwort, Tradescantia
Many bulbs are drought tolerant because they are dormant in the summer. An added bonus for many bulbs is their
ability to spread and naturalize, thus providing many years of enjoyment, even in a Xeriscape:
Daffodils, Narcissus
Crocus, Crocus
Ornamental Onion, Allium
Herbs that come from arid climates are good choices for a dry, sunny location:
Oregano, Origanum vulgare
Rosemary, Rosemaryinus officinalis
Sage, Salvia officinalis
Thyme, Thymus vulgaris
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
There are many beautiful ornamental grasses that need little to no supplemental irrigation once established:
Blue Fescue, Festuca glauca
Maiden grass, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'
Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana
Wild Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium

2. The number of perennials available is huge. In this plant group it is also very important to consider the light and
moisture requirements of each plant, as there is a large variation. The following perennials are some that are drought
tolerant and should grow well in the proper location within a Xeriscape:
Artemisia, Artemisia absinthium
Bugleweed, Ajuga Reptens
Daylily, Hemerocallis
Hollyhock, Alcea rosea
Iris, Iris cristata
Pincushion Flower, Scabiosa caucasica
Rose Campion, Lychnis coronaria
Shasta Daisy, Chrysanthemum
Sedum, Sedum
Sunflower, Helianthus
Many annuals thrive in full sun. Avoid those that require a lot of water. Annuals to consider in a Xeriscape include:
Ageratum, Ageratum Houstonian
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Cockscomb, Celosia cristata
Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus
Creeping Zinnia, Zinnia linearis
Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria
Globe Amaranth, Gomphrena globosa
Marigold, Tagetes erecta
Moss rose, Portulaca grand flora
Petunia, Petunia x hybrida
Salvia, Salvia splendens
Spider flower, Cleome hasslerana
Statice, Limonium
Verbena, Verbena
Zinnia, Zinnia elegans
Plant all bedding plants at the right time of year, and then mulch, mulch, mulch! Next, sit back and enjoy your
Xeriscape, knowing it is good for the environment and good for your pocketbook. MM
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An Extension Master Gardener Volunteer since 2006, Maureen McCracken is an avid
gardener, and also a Master Composter with Mecklenburg County, NC. Maureen
credits her love of flowers and horticulture to her grandmother, who loved all plants and
maintained a multi-use cottage garden with flowers, shrubs, fruits and vegetables.