Cool Tones for a Hot Texas Landscape

When we first arrived at this property, it was a sea of inland sea oats, which if you know about this native Texas plant, is lovely in a grouping with lots of movement, seasonal color changes, and plenty of character. But in this case, it had completely taken over, and didn’t feel in touch with the backyard or the rest of the landscape. 

The backyard had beautiful layered planting around the pool, with silvery greens, dusty purples, and a soft Southern California feeling. It was calm and sophisticated, while the front of the house felt disconnected from it. We kept the basic structure of the front yard and reconsidered the plant palette. We wanted to carry some of that cooler, softer color story forward, but we also needed the planting to make sense for Southwest Austin.

This particular site sits on the Edwards Plateau, where limestone soils, intense sun, heat, and long stretches of limited rainfall are part of the landscape. Those conditions influence the design from the beginning, especially when we are choosing plants that need to hold up through a Central Texas summer. 

Blue-gray agaves and yuccas gave us the color connection we wanted from the backyard, along with strong form that remains visually present during dry periods. Grasses brought in softness and movement, while limestone boulders tied the planting back to the house and to the geology that defines so much of this part of Texas.

This kind of thinking is even more important in a year like this one. Austin's Camp Mabry received only 0.40 inches of rain during August 2026, while the average daily high temp for the month was 102.1°F.

For us, drought-conscious design is about making those realities part of the design process early. A resilient landscape should still feel composed, layered, and beautiful when conditions get difficult. And dry gardening, or xeriscaping, can absolutely still be lush. It can be architectural, and feel soft all at once. Even the high and dry Edwards Plateau is a savanna, not a desert. A landscape design always works out better when the plants in them are happy living right where you put them.