The practice of designing landscapes to significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for irrigation is called xeriscaping [pronounced ZEER-a-scaping]. Without a doubt, the most important environmental aspect of xeriscaping is choosing climate-appropriate vegetation for the landscape. For example, choosing native or drought-tolerant plants that perform well in a specific garden zone without the need for a lot of coddling or babying to survive.
Add Silver Gray
Silvery plants are particularly suited for xeriscape conditions as silver, gray, or white plants have special foliage that is specifically utilized as a survival tool. Often, silver plants are intensely reflective of the sun's heat or have tiny hairs on the leaves and stems, thus the plants respire in hot and dry situations. Silver is also an under-utilized color in the landscape that can brighten drab areas and build layers in the garden, enhancing color and light across a garden. Silver, gray, and white is a powerful addition to a landscape plan.
Plants for Smaller Urban Areas
Planting in small areas or in busy urban gardens can mean you need either smaller plants or spectacular feature plants for the garden.
There are many succulents such as echeveria, sedum, agave, or cactus that are silver or gray in color and provide a lovely ground cover in a hot urban bed. Texas sage and Bush Morning Glory can develop into a medium-sized silvery shrub that truly enhances the southern garden and flowers spectacularly. Sea-holly boasts lovely silver-tones and can be grown all across the country in zones 4-9. Need a few northern garden silver xeriscape solutions? Artemisia, Lamb’s Ears, Dusty Miller, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, and Lavender ‘Anouk Silver’ all bring a big impact into a dry urban garden space.
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