Category Archives: Dry Landscaping

Xeriscaping Part III

Part three of our article series explores a fascinating concept:  edible xeriscape plants.  Yes, you read that correctly.

Xeriscape Plants That You Can Eat Part I: Cacti

Xeriscaping Can Be Beautiful | (928) 356-8167
Xeriscaping Can Be Beautiful | (928) 356-8167

As we said in an earlier article, most people think of a cactus when they think of xeriscaping plants.  They’re spiny and have pretty flowers, however, but can you eat them?  Absolutely. So, let’s start there. A lot of people know that the fruit of the prickly pear cactus is edible, and that it is made into a lot of different products including candies, jelly, and even wine. The pads are used to make nopalito, which is often eaten for breakfast.

What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that the fruit of the saguaro cactus is also edible.  The fruit are a bright red, ripen in June, and are harvested by many local tribes, including the Tohono O’odham.  A cactus garden can include a saguaro cactus, however, be prepared to pay a bit for one.  A saguaro cactus doesn’t grow arms until it is 50-75 years old. And even a small saguaro can be about $200.  Cacti, however, aren’t the only plants that pop up in xeriscaping.

Xeriscape Plants That You Can Eat Part II: Herbs, Fruits, and Veggies

Many herbs  thrive in hot and arid climates like Arizona, so they’re perfect for xeriscaping.   Marjoram, oregano, thyme, basil and rosemary are just some of the herbs that do well here.  Hmm.  Anyone want some nopalito parmesan?

There are a lot of veggies you can grow as part of your xeriscape landscape design including onions, garlic, radishes, broccoli, and cabbage.  Okra grows well here, as do canteloupes as well.  But what about the fruit?

Well for one thing, figs grow very well in Arizona.  So do Asian pears, loquat, and persimmons. The most surprising xeriscape fruit that grows here are blackberries.  So as you hopefully have seen, xeriscaping is so much more than just a cactus and a yucca.

This concludes our three part series on xeriscaping.  Be sure to read part one and part two as well.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Xeriscaping Part II

Part two of our series on xeriscaping explores the types of plants that you can use.  Be sure to read part one of this series as well.

What Xeriscape Plants to Use in Dry Landscaping

Call for Xeriscaping Advice | (928) 356-8167
Call for Xeriscaping Advice | (928) 356-8167

Most people  don’t know what xeriscape plants to use.   Or they often think that their only choices are cacti or plants such as yucca.  While these are obvious choices, there are a surprising  number of plants that you can use from ground covers all the way up to trees.  Some plants are indigenous to Arizona, while others come from climates that are very similar.  Sand verbenas for example are a lovely flower that can come in vivid yellows or rich lavenders.

Aloe vera is often mistaken for a cactus, however, it is actually a type of succulent and it  is found all over the world.  Aloe is a unique plant as it is ornamental plant with medicinal qualities.   Why do you think that so many sunburn treatments are made with aloe vera, the same with so many lotions.  Aloe vera has beautiful flowers that a lot of pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees love, and as it is a succulent, it can thrive in places like a xeriscape garden. Another type of plant that works well in dry landscaping surprisingly are lilacs.  Lilacs are very drought tolerant, and bloom once a year.

Dry Landscaping at it’s Best

In our last article, we discussed the economic benefits of planting a dry landscape, however, if you’re savvy on your plant choices, you will be able to create a beautiful garden spot and not use a huge amount of water to do it.  There’s no such thing as plants that don’t need water, however, you can get drought tolerant plants that allow you to stretch watering farther. The Arizona Department of Water Resources has a booklet of over 19 pages of xeriscape plants that you can find at most local nurseries.

There are lot of choices out there.  Sometimes they can be bewildering.  If you need help, call in a landscaping expert.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com