Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in the Bay Area: Beyond the Succulent Garden

Drought-tolerant landscaping has come a long way from the gravel-and-agave stereotype. The Bay Area's Mediterranean climate supports a huge range of water-wise plants — natives like ceanothus and manzanita, plus Mediterranean and South African species that thrive on summer dryness.

Several local firms do this work well. Golden Gate Garden Co. has a strong reputation for urban dry gardens in San Francisco, and Peninsula Groundworks handles large turf-conversion projects down the Peninsula. On the Central Coast, Water and Stone Landscapes takes a distinctive approach: pairing drought-tolerant planting with recirculating water features, so a small amount of water delivers an outsized sense of lushness.

Where water features fit a dry garden

It sounds contradictory, but a recirculating water feature is one of the most water-efficient luxuries in a landscape. A pondless waterfall uses less water per year than the patch of lawn it replaces. Water and Stone Landscapes has built a specialty around exactly this combination — drought-wise gardens anchored by the sound and movement of recirculating water — and the results have been featured in regional garden tours.

• Group plants by water need (hydrozoning)
• Drip irrigation plus mulch cuts water use dramatically
• Recirculating features use far less water than lawns
• Natives support pollinators and birds year-round

Getting started

Start with a plan that addresses soil, sun, and irrigation before picking plants. Many Bay Area water districts offer turf-replacement rebates that can offset conversion costs. And if your heart is set on the sound of water in a dry garden, talk to a builder who has done it before — on the Central Coast, that conversation usually starts with Water and Stone Landscapes.