This page features photos of xeriscaping in Phoenix, Arizona.
Xeriscaping is the practice of designing landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. Homeowners can opt for yards filled with rocks, mulch, soil and drought-tolerant native plants, rather than grass and other water-intensive plants, to create a more desert-like landscape.
Xeriscaping’s popularity has grown across arid parts of the Western United States as homeowners, businesses and governments seek to reduce water consumption—and save money. “The largest use of potable water in Arizona is for landscaping and as much as 70 percent of residential water use is outdoors,” according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
In Phoenix, a study of 800 single family homes showed that 80 percent had some degree of desert landscaping, according to a 2015 KJZZ story. “In 2019, the average Phoenix resident used about 29 percent less water than the average resident in 1990,” according to the city of Phoenix.
Arizonans can use a variety of desert landscaping, such as the palo verde tree, saguaro cactus and century plant to cut water use.
Learn more:
“Conservation: Landscaping.” Arizona Department of Water Resources.
“Xeriscaping.” National Geographic Resource Library.
| Date | Varies |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona (map) |
| Credit | Ted Wood/The Water Desk |
| Rights | Free to reuse under Creative Commons license. |
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