Desert & Xeriscape Front Yard Ideas
A desert or xeriscape front yard replaces thirsty lawn with drought-tolerant plants, gravel and stone. It saves water, suits hot and dry climates, and can look far more striking than grass.
Try this style on your yardDesert & Xeriscape Front Yard: before & after
Same house, same angle. Only the landscaping changes.
Before
AfterWhat makes a desert xeriscape front yard
Plants
- Agave, yucca and sotol (desert spoon)
- Barrel cactus and prickly pear
- Red yucca, penstemon and desert marigold for color
- Palo verde or mesquite for light shade
Materials
- Decomposed granite ground cover
- River rock and large boulders
- Flagstone paths and steppers
- Drip irrigation instead of sprinklers
Features
- Dry creek beds that handle rare heavy rain
- Plants grouped in clusters with open gravel between
- Little or no lawn
- Boulder groupings as focal points
Design tips
Group plants, don't dot them
Plant in clusters of three or five with open gravel between groups. Single plants scattered evenly across rock tend to look sparse.
Use boulders for structure
A few large boulders partly buried in the ground give a xeriscape instant weight and look far more natural than lots of small rocks.
Add color with flowering natives
Red yucca, penstemon, desert marigold and salvia bring color and pollinators, so the yard doesn't read as all gray and green.
Check local rebates
Some water utilities, especially in the Southwest, offer rebates for replacing lawn with water-wise landscaping. Check with your local provider before you start.
See a desert xeriscape design on your own yard
Upload a photo and we’ll preselect the front yard and desert xeriscape style for you. New accounts get 3 free designs.
1. Upload a photo of your yard
2. What are we designing?
3. Pick a style
Your redesigned yard will appear here.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between xeriscape and zeroscape?
Xeriscape means water-wise landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. It isn't just rock: good xeriscapes are planted, while 'zeroscape' usually means gravel with few or no plants.
Does a desert front yard work outside the Southwest?
The look works in many dry or sunny climates, but plant choices change. In colder or wetter areas, ask a local nursery for hardy, drought-tolerant alternatives.