Low-Water Landscaping for Craftsman-Style Homes

Craftsman Landscaping Traditions

• In its heyday, the Craftsman-style landscapers were most concerned with “bringing modern life closer to nature,” according to the Craftsman Perspective website. This involved using native plant species whenever possible. Many Craftsman homes also displayed vine-covered pergolas on their grounds to connect the house to nature. Other period-specific landscaping techniques include muting house angles through shrub placement, choosing a variety of plants for year-round color and texture, and placing trees strategically to manipulate light.

Trees

• Drought-tolerant trees require little water once established, a process that usually takes one or two years. Deciduous trees lose their foliage in the winter but often offer the fluttering leaves perfect for the Craftsman-friendly light interplay. Several species in the maple genus tolerate drought; these include chalkbark, freeman, Norway, red and sycamore maples. These mid-sized trees also offer colorful, fall foliage. Green and white ash trees tolerate drought, as do the gingko, honeylocust and several oak species, including bur, chestnut, nuttall, pin, scarlet, white and willow. Evergreen trees keep their foliage year-round. Many pine species tolerate drought, including Austrian, Bosnian, loblolly, mugo, pitch and Swiss stone. Other drought-tolerant evergreens include Alberta spruce, American holly, Eastern redcedar, live oak and Southern magnolia.

Shrubs

• When planted at the corners of a Craftsman home, shrubs help to soften angles. Drought-tolerant evergreens offer year-round foliage and color. Craftsman Perspective recommends azaleas for Craftsman landscaping; drought-tolerant species include the Florida and flame azaleas, both deciduous shrubs that thrive in shady sites. Other deciduous choices include burkwood and maple-leaf viburnum, and Japanese, Korean or red barberry. Recommended Craftsman-compatible evergreen shrubs include threespine and wintergreen barberries, awabuki, Laurustinus and pragenese viburnum, all notable for their colorful winter berries.

Vines

• Flowering vines play an important role in Craftsman landscaping, especially when growing on a pergola, trellis or across the front of a house. Recommended drought-tolerant species include clematis, which grow in a range of colors, and wisteria, which blooms with fragrant, white and purple flowers. Chinese wisteria tolerates drought the best. Other drought-tolerant choices include Carolina jessamine, climbing roses, Confederate jasmine and Virginia creeper.

Perennials

• Choose perennials that bloom at different times for season-long color. Drought-tolerant spring bloomers traditionally planted around Craftsman homes include the shade-loving columbine, blue larkspurs and the tall, spiky blue wild indigo. For summer color, plant 5-foot-tall great bellflower, tiny perennial flax and delicate iris. Fall bloomers include the 5-foot-tall red, orange and yellow sneezeweed.