Xeriscape: Water-Smart Landscaping

Xeriscape is a type of landscaping that conserves water and protects the  environment. The term xeriscape means water-conserving, drought-tolerant  landscaping. Xeriscape is pronounced "zer’-ah-scape.

Xeriscape landscaping in Florida, (or any other area) does not mean tearing out the lawn and utilizing only rocks, gravel and desert plants such as cacti, euphorbia, and agaves. Rather, properly approached, a xeriscape will allow one to use a wide variety of plants, but insists on common-sense measures that will help to conserve water.  Some examples are grouping plants with similar water requirements together, reducing the use of lawn grass, (lawn grass is one of the largest users of water in the landscape and one of the largest foes in the battle to conserve water) and, especially, using indigenous plants.

Native plants, by definition, are adapted to the local climate and seasonal weather patterns, and often require far less water and maintenance than exotic plant varieties.  As an example, in Florida, there is a pronounced dry season and wet season, both of which last for extended periods of time.  Due to these seasonal weather patterns, native plants have adapted to the seasonal changes and thrive throughout the year ,with little attention from the homeowner.  As a bonus, this leaves the homeowner with more time to do what they want as they are not slaves to their landscaping.

In a properly xeriscaped landscape, Carapace Rock Science, Inc. products can play an integral and important role. Planting areas bordered or surrounded by our rocks are not only aesthetically pleasing, but reduce the total amount of plant varieties that are needed, plus they can assist in minimizing areas of open lawn. In addition, the use of rock groupings, planter edging made from boulders and the use of stepping stone pathways can provide borders between plants with different water requirements and can keep prolific breeders within their designated areas. 

For more information on xeriscape, visit the South Florida Water Management District website, http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards/

Another excellent website containing detailed information for environmentally friendly Florida landscaping is http://www.floridayards.org/index.php

The premier manufacturer of state of the art artificial fake faux man-made fabricated manufactured or hand crafted hollow concrete rocks boulders waterfalls rock panels and solid stepping stones

A small list of water tolerant plants, all excellent for xeriscapes are located below.  All of these plants thrive in southern Florida and many of these plants are considered native:

TREES Bald Cypress Dahoon Holly Geiger Tree Gumbo Limbo Ironwood Live Oak Southern Magnolia Sweet Bay Magnolia Myrsine Paradise Tree Pigeon Plum Red Bay Red Maple Sea Grape Silver Buttonwood Simpson’s Stopper Slash Pine Southern Red Cedar Trumpet Tree PALMS & CYCADS Sargent’s / Buccaneer Palm Cabbage Palm Coontie Paurotis / Everglades Palm Sago Palm Queen Sago Royal Palm Saw Palmetto Thatch Palm Sago Palm Coontie Paurotis/Everglades Palm Queen Sago Royal Palm Saw Palmetto Thatch Palm CACTI AND AGAVES Prickly pear Coastal prickly pear Spanish bayonet Adam's needle Blue Agave Bear-grass

SHRUBS Beautyberry Cocoplum Coral Bean Crinum Lily Firebush Florida Privet Holly, Stokes dwarf Jamaica Caper Marlberry Necklace Pod Walter’s Viburnum Wax Myrtle White Indigo Berry White Stopper Wild Coffee Wild Coffee, Dwarf ACCENT GRASSES, VINES AND GROUNDCOVERS Bougainvillea Coral Honeysuckle Cordgrass Corky-stemmed Passion-Flower Fakahatchee Grass Florida Gama Grass Lantana, Trailing Liriope Mondo Grass Purple Love Grass Railroad Vine Sea Oats ANNUALS/PERENNIALS/WILDFLOWERS Beach Sunflower Black-Eyed Susan Blanket Flower Lantana, Pineland Lantana, Wild Pentas Porter Weed Sea Oxeye Daisy Spider Lily Tickseed FERNS Boston Fern Leather Fern Swamp Fern Macho Fern

The premier manufacturer of state of the art artificial fake faux man-made fabricated manufactured or hand crafted hollow concrete rocks boulders waterfalls rock panels and solid stepping stones