From Guest Blogger Emma Sturgis: The Four Best Plants To Landscape With For A Dry Climate

Landscaping your property in dry climates isn’t limited to gravel and cactus. Where there isn’t much rainfall, you must redefine your creative ideas to a selection of plants that do well on less moisture. You have more options than you may think.
California Lilac

This genus of plants is native to North America, and includes many varieties growing from Canada to Guatemala. However, for drier areas you want species that are native to the southern West Coast. These California varieties do well on very little water and produce beautiful blue and purple flowers that last all through the hot summer.

California Lilac tend to have short, slightly cupped, glossy leaves that can feel tacky to the touch. The flowers grow in dense bunches, and may also show pink or whitish variations. They have a pleasant odor that can be a little strong in some species. A suitable example is the Desert Ceanothus, which grows into a many-branched shrub a little over six feet in height.
Mediterranean Sage

It’s also known as African sage and is native to North Africa and the Near East, making it ideal for dry climates. Some varieties produce thousands of seeds per plant and are inedible to livestock, so they are often known as an invasive weed which can spread quickly. However, when properly cultivated and managed, this sage can make for excellent landscaping.

The plant grows to about three feet in height. The lower leaves have serrated edges and grow to a foot in length. The plant is a biennial, which means it only flowers every other year. But when it does, it’s covered in stunning blue, red, and purple blooms. During summer these blooms produce two-lipped, whitish-yellow flowers in a candelabra-type cluster.
Lavender

There are many different species of lavender. They are native to Eurasia as far as southern India. Related to the mint family of plants, they are known for a pleasant odor. In appearance, they tend to be a subtle combination of greenish silver hues that produce whorls of long, tubular flowers in delicate shades of blue, purple, pink, and sometimes yellow.

All lavenders grow best in light, sandy soils with plenty of sun and little if any fertilizer. Most varieties grow out to be quite bushy, so you should plant them about two feet apart. These are hardy plants that can be pruned to any shape or height you want. Hybrid dry-weather variations are also sold. It’s always a good idea to seek out advice from someone with a horticulture degree, like a masters in horticulture online. They are trained in conserving water in the landscape, which can open more possibilities.
Catmint

These are flowering plants also known by their scientific genus, Nepeta. There are a great many species native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, many of which have been introduced to the wild in North America. They’ve become known as catmint because they have an effect on domestic cats similar to catnip, but are more closely related to the mint species of plant.

Catmint has gray-green leaves that produce tubular flowers in blue, light purple, pink, and white. Both the leaves and the flowers have a pleasing aroma. The foliage of some varieties can include gold or chartreuse flecks of color. Common garden varieties grow to about three feet tall and two feet across. Catmint is highly resistant to drought and rarely eaten by pests, either insect or animal.

Landscaping in dry climates simply requires different tastes. Instead of thinking lush, green foliage, consider some of these alternatives that can be artfully arranged for some amazing color displays.