Though our recent rainfall has been a blessing, our hot, humid and mostly dry summer is now upon us. And in North Texas, that can quickly mean an end to lovely green landscapes. These seasonal drought conditions can either damage or kill plants relatively quickly. In order to protect their investment, this forces many homeowners to increase their need to water. Not only is that costly but drains our valuable resources. In recent years, this has forced many area communities to place rigorous water restrictions on businesses and homeowners alike.

Now more than ever, there is a need to include more drought tolerant plant material into the landscape. However, using drought tolerant plantings does not mean your landscape has to consist of cactus, sand and a rock garden. Landscape Designers and Architects are creating beautiful landscapes while using beneficial native and drought tolerant plants. Because these plants, shrubs and trees come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes you can have a beautiful landscape without sacrificing color or beauty.

These plants have several advantages over traditional plantings. They tend to be more resistant to pests and disease. They are great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to our gardens. By incorporating more of our native plants or those that thrive during dry spells, you will conserve water and reduce maintenance costs. But perhaps the best advantage is that they allow us to have more time to enjoy our landscapes with our family and friends.

Here are just a few plants that you might try incorporating into your landscape:

Next: View more plants!