Simple & Stunning Desert Landscape Ideas for a Modern Look
Posted by Jason Wyrwicz on Dec 12th 2024
Looking for a simple yet stunning look for your outdoor space that, at the same time, won’t require that much maintenance? Then desert landscape might be the perfect solution for you - this design idea involves using drought-resistant plants, as well as mediums like gravel and stones to create beautiful looks that transport you into another space, taken straight from a movie.
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However, how it looks is just one of the advantages of this design. Since the plants are drought-resistant, they can be watered once every week or so, making the space very low maintenance - and since it doesn’t use much water, it’s also very eco-friendly, among its other advantages.
How do you create one in your backyard? It’s actually really simple, and we’ll walk you through it in this article. We’ll also provide you with visual aid, sharing with you some of our favorite desert landscape ideas.
Why Choose Desert Landscaping?
There are plenty of reasons why desert landscaping is a good choice, but we’re going to focus on three of them.
Low Maintenance
Desert gardens don’t need that much care, which makes them a perfect choice for anyone who wants a nice arrangement for their backyard or front yard, but does not have enough energy or time to take care of plants that require regular care and watering.
Plants typical for a desert landscape are known to be drought-resistant - after all, access to water is limited in desert conditions, which means that they can go significantly more time without water than other types of plants. With them, you don’t have to worry about coming back home from vacation and instead of a beautiful garden, you only see the remains of what it once used to be. You don’t have to scratch your head thinking who would be willing to house-sit and come over to water your plants.
It takes a lot of stress off your hands while still leaving you with a modern yet classy-looking outdoor space.
Good Number of Color Options
When you talk about desert landscape, the first thing most people have in mind is an arrangement made of brown plants only - and while there’s no doubt that brown is a common color, it’s not the only one. There are actually plenty of color options available to those willing to do a little bit of research. Some of our favorites include:
- Sedum - Sedum is a very easy to grow succulent that rewards its carer with an abundance of star-shaped flowers in various colors, from green and yellow to burgundy, purple, pink and white.
- Opuntia - Opuntia is a plant that not only looks pretty, but also has a number of benefits, as the species has long been used as a food source as well as in folk medicine. They are known for their gorgeous appearance, with flat, segmented stems and flowers that grow on top of it, and that later develop into edible fruits.
- Desert marigold - Just like regular marigolds, desert marigolds are known for their eye-catching yellow flowers. They are, however, adapted specifically to desert conditions, providing your desert garden with a bright splash of color.
These are just a few options - there are many more. From greens and yellows to pinks and purples, you can find several colorful plants that will suit your desert landscape.
Increase in Property Value
Any type of landscape increases property value. Just think about it - if you had two houses to choose from, both with the same amount of rooms and very similar design, but one of them was a bit more expensive and had a beautifully taken care of desert landscape while the other’s backyard was left alone for years, which one would you choose? Probably the first option, despite the fact that the second one is cheaper.
Essential Elements of Modern Desert Landscaping
To create desert landscaping, you need to have a few elements.
Drought-Tolerant Plants
Of course, we cannot have a garden without plants. We already mentioned a few that will work great for any desert landscaping project, whether we’re talking about backyard or front yard desert landscape ideas, but here are some more examples.
| Plant | Scientific name | Appearance | Thrives in |
| Agave | Agave | Pointed leaves and tall flower spikes | Zone 7 and above |
| Desert purple sage | Salvia dorrii | Silver-green leaves with purple flowers | Zones 6 to 10 |
| Firecracker penstemon | Penstemon eatonii | Narrow green leaves and bright red tubular flowers | Up to zone 8 |
| Organ pipe cactus | Stenocereus thurberi | Cylindrical stems covered in sharp spines | Zones 9 to 11 |
| Pink Muhly Grass | Muhlenbergia capillaris | Feathery plums that turn pink during fall | Zones 6 to 9 |
| Pencil Cactus | Euphorbia tirucalli | Green cylindrical stems resembling pencils and yellowish flowers | Zones 9 to 11 |
| Linear Leaf Yucca | Yucca linearifolia | Long, narrow and pliable leaves with tall flower stalks covered in white flowers | Zones 7 to 10 |
When choosing which plants to add to your desert garden, you should carefully assess how much space you have - many plants that thrive best in such conditions are very tall, reaching as far as 12 feet tall, and that’s only those we mentioned. There are some that can grow as tall as 60 feet, although it would take a while for them to get to that height.
Rocks, Gravel and Sand
It wouldn’t be desert landscaping if it didn’t involve sand. Depending on what look you’re going for, rocks, gravel and sand will all make great additions to your outdoor space design and make it appear more modern. Each of them has its own set of pros and cons, so it’s completely up to you.
For example, while sand is easily accessible, it might not be a good idea for places that get a lot of wind. Gravel is long-lasting and can help if your garden gets a lot of weeds, but at the same time, it usually comes with a higher price tag than sand. Finally, rocks are a very versatile material, as aside from decoration and potting medium, they can be used to create, for example, pathways. However, they also are quite expensive and can be hard to place.
Minimalist Hardscaping
The final elements you will need for desert landscape are hardscaping elements such as pathways and some outdoor seating, so that you have the space to sit down, wind down and enjoy the view of what you have created. Concrete, wood and stone are the most common materials used in desert landscaping.
Again, all of these have pros and cons, so consider your choices carefully. For example, concrete is a very durable material, able to withstand even extreme changes in weather conditions. At the same time, however, it retains heat, so it might not be the best idea for a location that is exposed to the sun during summer, simply because it can get too hot.
Wood is a good idea if you want a natural look, but it requires a bit more maintenance to prevent rot, so regular treatment is necessary.
Finally, we have stone - just like concrete, it is very durable and resistant to weather conditions, but compared to it, stone does not retain as much heat. However, it is usually a lot more expensive than the other two materials, and you might need professional help with installing it.
7 Stunning Desert Landscape Ideas for a Modern Look
Looking for some inspiration for your desert landscape backyard? We’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favorite simple desert landscape ideas with visuals.
Cactus Garden with Raised Planters
A cactus garden with stone pathway & gravel
In this design, you’re encouraged to use a number of different cacti varieties, especially if they range in heights. Using raised outdoor planters can help you create dimension within the garden and adds an interesting element to it.
Succulent Wall Feature
Succulent wall in a desert landscaping setting
If you don’t have that much space on the ground, but you still want to add some interesting features to it, utilizing your walls is the best way to go about it. It adds visual interest to your desert landscaping design while saving you ground space you can use for plants that would have a hard time growing on a living wall.
Fire Pit with Surrounding Gravel
Fire pit surrounded by gravel and stones
Looking to combine a space to spend time with your friends and family while still incorporating desert landscape aesthetics? Adding a fire pit into your garden and surrounding it with rocks and gravel is definitely an option to consider in that case. It will blend effortlessly within the modern desert landscape look.
Xeriscaping with Large Boulders
Xeriscaping design with high rocks, cacti and trees
Xeriscaping is nothing more than a landscaping method that minimizes the need for irrigation and desert landscaping perfectly first within this category. By using large boulders, you can not only practice the art of xeriscaping, but also add character to the space.
Modern Pergola with Desert Plants
Wooden pergola with a stone pathway leading to it
A pergola is always a good idea - although not completely shaded, it gives you some shade, making afternoons spent in the sun more enjoyable than if you were to be completely uncovered. Plus, it looks great, wouldn’t you agree?
Gravel and Cactus Pathway
Gravel pathway surrounded by cacti and other desert landscape plants
Finally on our list of modern desert landscape ideas is a gravel pathway surrounded by different desert landscape plants, consisting mostly of cacti varieties. The gravel and the spikes on the cacti fill the space with an interesting visual contrast while providing it with a number of benefits, including soil erosion prevention and weed control.
How to Maintain Your Modern Desert Landscape
Maintaining your modern desert landscape doesn’t have to be difficult. If you don’t have that much time during the day, there are a few things you can do or install within your desert landscape that can help even the busiest enthusiasts take care of it.
Low-Maintenance Watering
Even though plants typical for modern desert landscapes are drought-resistant and don’t need to be watered as much as some other plants, they still need some water. So what can you do if you don’t have time to do it yourself?
Invest in a drip irrigation system. This system delivers water to your plants at the root zone and is typically set up to run for an hour once a week, which is more than enough for desert landscape plants - in fact, many actually require watering once every two to three weeks.
Another good idea for using a drip irrigation system alongside rainwater is collecting it. Get a metal barrel and place it somewhere away from sight but where it will be exposed to rain, so you have a source of water for your plants even without installing a pump.
Prune Your Plants, But Not to Often
Both cacti and succulent plants, which you are most likely to use in your desert landscape, require occasional pruning - once you see that your plant is getting too tall, you can trim it using pruning shears or a sharp knife to encourage further growth. You should also prune dead or damaged parts of the plant before the damage spreads to the rest of the plant.
Prevent Soil Erosion
Gravel is the best option for preventing soil erosion. As we mentioned, it has pros and cons, but this definitely falls within the pros category. Gravel acts like a barrier, protecting soil and preventing it from draining away.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, desert landscape is not that hard to achieve, but the results are still definitely worth it. With its low maintenance, eco-friendliness, good number of color options and the fact that it adds property value to your home, desert landscapes are a perfect choice for anyone who wants to impress their guests with a stunning outside without having much time to care for it.
However, desert landscape is not the only solution. Planters also work well in such conditions, especially when accompanied by a self-watering system - especially if you don’t have that much space to begin with. With planters, you can play with heights, colors, shapes and more, creating a fun yet stunning arrangement. Browse through our selection of planters and find the ones that suit your outdoor space the best!
Resources:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Plant Hardiness Zone Map
https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ - Arizona Municipal Water Users Association - Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert
https://www.amwua.org/landscape-plants - Low-Water Landscaping Tips by Gardening Know How
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/xeriscap... - Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Native Plants of the Southwest
https://www.wildflower.org/collections/ - American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) - Sustainable Landscaping Resources
https://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes.aspx - National Wildlife Federation - Native Plant Finder
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder
