Water Efficiency
Landscape with Water-efficient or Native Plants
What Is It?
Water-efficient plants are trees, perennials, ground covers, shrubs, and bulbs, which require less water, fertilizer, maintenance or other special care once they are established. Many native plants fulfill these criteria since they have adapted over a period of time to flourish in local climate conditions.
Benefits
Using native, water efficient plants can reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, minimize weed growth, avoid water runoff, improve air quality, improve water quality, and reduce maintenance costs. In addition, because native, water-efficient plants co-evolved with native species, they provide vital habitats.
Resources
- Grow Native Massachusetts
- New England Flower Society: Bring Native Plants into Your Landscape
- Natural Resource Conservation Service: Water Conservation in Your Backyard
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst: North American Plants for New England Gardens
- EPA: What to Plant
- EPA: Water-smart Landscapes
A Sample of Providers
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: National Suppliers Directory
