xeriscape

noun

xeri·​scape ˈzir-ə-ˌskāp  ˈzer- 

often capitalized

: a landscaping method developed especially for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques (such as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation)

Did you know?

Xēros is the Greek word for "dry" that is the base for a handful of English words related to mainly dry printing (xerography) and dry, or xerophilous, habitats and their plants. In the early 1980s, the Greek adjective was used to name a type of landscaping practiced primarily in the arid western regions of the United States. (The Water Department of Denver, Colorado, is credited with the coinage.) Xeriscape, as it is called, uses plants that require little water as well as techniques that efficiently use water and reduce evaporation.

Examples of xeriscape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 1-acre Paradise Green lot has a guest casita, patios, a pool, sports courts, xeriscape gardening, and an outdoor fireplace; Scottsdale's Old Town is 15 minutes by car. —The Week Staff, theweek, 13 Aug. 2024

Surprise: xeriscape installation in new homes, automatic irrigation controller. —The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2023

There are options for everything from dynamic desert xeriscapes to seasonally vibrant rain swales, and even unique ones to make your cottage garden sing with more sustainability. —By sunset, Sunset Magazine, 14 Apr. 2023

That’s xeriscape landscaping, sounds like a fantasy, right? —Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 5 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!