History

• The word "xeriscape" emerged in 1981 to describe a movement toward designing landscapes with plants that conserved water, according to Bart C. O'Brien's "Xeriscaping: Sources of New Native Ornamental Plants."
  
  

Principles

• The principles of xeriscaping center around making a home's landscape design, plants, materials, watering methods and maintenance plan fit a particular area's natural horticulture.
  
  

Low Water Requirements

• Lawns with xeriscaping have low water requirements and are drought-tolerant. Some examples include native grasses (such as buffalo grass) and non-native grasses (such as red fescue and even Kentucky bluegrass).
  
  

Types of Plants

• You can add appropriate trees and shrubs to your xeriscaping. Some varieties include the Scotch pine, American plum and lilac. Choose flowers like baby's breath, day lily and purple coneflower.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Some people term xeriscaping as "zero-scaping," because they mistakenly believe that lawns with xeriscaping contain nothing but cacti and rocks. Proponents of xeriscaping say that lawns and plants can be lush and colorful while still being environmentally appropriate and sustainable.
  
  

Benefits

• Colorado Water Wise notes that xeriscaping is especially important in the western United States, where more than half of residential water is used on lawns and landscaping. The organization notes that xeriscaping can add 15 percent to a property's value.