Word of the Day
: May 24, 2020xeriscape
playWhat It Means
: 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)
xeriscape in Context
After the severe drought led to local water restrictions, some residents began to look into xeriscape for more easily maintainable yards.
"This perennial has evergreen leaves from 2-3 feet in length while the flower stalks can rise up to 5 feet with coral-colored tubular flowers. It's drought-resistant, and the flowers can attract hummingbirds. This one would be great for xeriscape or low-maintenance gardens." — Tom Ingram, The Tulsa (Oklahoma) World, 29 Feb. 2020
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.
