Do xeriscapes use only native plants?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question Do xeriscapes use only native plants?

Answer Not really. The term xeriscape usually conjures up images of bone dry, lawn-less landscapes made up of rocks and a monoculture of spiny plants. For some reason, the state of New Mexico pops in my mind. The word xeriscape was actually invented in the early 1980s in Colorado. It was a merger of the Greek word xeros (meaning dry) and the word landscape.

Xeriscape landscaping (or xeriscaping) has seven principles. They are planning and design, soil analysis, practical turf areas, appropriate plant selection, efficient irrigation, use of mulches and appropriate maintenance.

Fortunately, these steps are already part of the design process. A good landscape design will be one that has numerous functions. Water conservation is simply another function that a well designed landscape can accomplish.

If you are using water in your landscape now (via irrigation), simply ask yourself “where is the bulk of that water being used?” Take that answer and use it to guide your new design decisions. I’m sure you will find xeriscaping is a lot easier than you expected.

There is nothing magical about using native plants in a landscape. After all, every plant is native to somewhere. Some of the most vigorous and invasive plants in North Carolina are not native to North Carolina.

Some folks merely want everybody else to know they are installing a water conserving landscape. The best way to make such a statement is with a desert garden (even though we do not live in a desert). When the neighbors see cacti, yucca and tumbleweeds, they will know a xeriscape has been installed. By the way, tumbleweeds are not native to the United States. They came from Russia (http://www.desertusa.com/mag01/may/papr/tweed.html).

The best advice for “appropriate plant selection” is to install plants that grow well in your area. Keep in mind the most vulnerable time for any plant is going to be during the first two years after installation. Even a cactus can die during that timeframe. Most plants will have to be watered during those first two growing seasons. If you pick well suited plants and follow the other common sense principles, after the first two years you should have a xeriscape.

If you want some super information about xeriscaping, then visit this website http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1073.htm If you do not have internet access, then call me at (910) 893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org

Ironically, the word landscape came from the Dutch word landschap (land + schap which means ship). Landschap was the portion of land that a person could see from a single view from the water.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County