Get This Look: 5 Southern California Waterwise Lawn Replacement Ideas

This waterwise yard is bursting with color and texture thanks to generously planted perennials. These low-growing groundcovers and mounding plants covered in blooms are are ideal for adding curb appeal while maintaining a low-maintenance and tidy appearance.

The color palette features bright pink, soft purples, and warm yellow blooms, which all complement the warm tones of the home's exterior.

Finally, the pathways and stones offer structure to the landscaping, signaling care and intention to the neighbors, and giving the homeowners paths to enjoy their garden from every angle.

Take inspiration from wildflower meadows for your large-scale garden or lawn replacement. Shrubs and ornamental grasses create structure and anchor the garden, creating a feeling of shelter and privacy. Adding a flowering vine can provide additional privacy screening as well.

In this yard, low-growing and low-maintenance wildflowers and perennials add gentle pops of color across the yard. The minimal color palette helps create a calm, serene feel in this yard.

This front yard garden design uses low-growing and creeping groundcovers and succulents wisely. These compact pants add generous texture and color, while easily maintaining a tidy look that doesn't block the view of cars or pedestrians.

A cool color palette features Salvias with dark violet blooms, lush foliage in a range of green and silver, accented by pops of yellow, white, and pink flowers.

The gravel mulch allows plants to spill over organically while providing a clean, contemporary look.

A sidewalk garden is the perfect place to remove turf grass and plant a welcoming waterwise garden. A few taller pollinator-friendly plants pair with the low-growing succulents to enhance the display and add a bit of protection for the most compact plants. When they’re in bloom, you can enjoy an extra pop of color and attract pollinators, too.

At the edges, stones and gravel provide the sharp drainage that these waterwise plants need, while adding texture and year-round interest. This simple, low-maintenance combination will make for a relaxing outdoor space.

Learn More: Garden Design With Cacti & Succulents

The warm colors of this garden will give a bright and welcoming feel to your yard. 

California Poppies are repeated throughout the garden. These flowers like to naturalize and spread, so their soft ferny foliage will provide groundcover to knit the garden together.

Native perennials with bright blooms, including Blanket Flower, Prince's Plume, and Sulphur Buckwheat provided pops of yellow. Pale purple flowers help to complement the warm tones. 

Large stones coordinate beautifully with the color palette of the flowers, while providing a clear border at the edge of the garden.