Dry Jungle
Mark Morrison of Zerascapes makes a compelling case for less is more when it comes to garden watering.
PHOTOGRAPHY Emma Van Dordrecht • STORY Elizabeth Clarke
Beautiful gardens bring structure and beauty to exterior spaces and are shown to reduce stress while boosting happiness and creativity. For centuries, they have been fastidiously planned and manicured, but of late gardens are taking on a less formal styling. A more organic approach incorporating desert plants blends outdoor spaces with nature, creating lush and low-maintenance eco-friendly gardens, proving that environmental responsibility can produce stunning and liveable outdoor spaces.
“In Western Australia, we live in a semi-arid climate, yet we’re fixated on thirsty roses, gardenias, Japanese buxus balls, hedges and lush green lawns,” says horticulturist and landscaper Mark Morrison. “People are becoming more water-wise and realising how expensive it is to keep this style of garden thriving. It just takes one of Perth’s hot summers, your reticulation dies, and you can lose your entire garden.”
Mark runs boutique landscaping business Empire Landscapes and discovered xeriscaping eight years ago after researching designers and nurseries in the US. His destination retail nursery Zerascapes in North Fremantle introduces a new generation of garden lovers to the joys of xeriscaping, translated from Greek as “dry-scaping”. Originating in Arizona, it is a landscaping method that rewilds our gardens with environmental awareness.
Originally a mecca for succulent plant enthusiasts, Zerascapes has also moved into full-service pot and garden design and installation. Mark’s Zerascapes gardens and pot installations are peppered all over the western suburbs, even on the streets of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove, well-known for their classical ornamental gardens.
“I like to push boundaries when it comes to water conservation,” Mark says. “At the height of summer, ornamental gardens need watering multiple times per week, while a dry garden might need only a hand-water every fortnight due to their fleshy leaves that hold extra water. They’re in their element during the hottest months and suited perfectly to Perth’s harsh conditions.”
With the great Aussie lawn requiring weekly mowing, weeding and watering, homeowners can struggle to keep grass green and thriving, especially in summer. Mark says while grassy areas are necessary for families and pets, plant species such as Pig Face, Dymondia, or Echidna Grass can be alternatives better acclimatised to the environment. “You save money on water, automatic lawn irrigation, [and] eliminate chemicals and pests,” Mark says. “In winter and spring, it even brings in birdlife.”
He cultivates most of his plants over 10 acres (4.05 hectares) in the Perth Hills. “We can’t import plants from overseas, and bringing them over from the eastern states is expensive. We often buy seeds or plants from avid collectors that produce pups [the little succulents that sprout up around the base of the parent plant] that we propagate.”
Xeriscaping is a style expressed in different ways. For some, it’s grouping plants for ease of efficient watering; for others, it’s creating landscapes with artfully placed rocks, pebbles, and layers of vibrant cacti and succulents. “It’s a great option for people downsizing to apartments and townhouses, too,” Mark says. “We design and install arrangements in courtyards and balconies, ideal places for feature pot installations.”
The world of succulents is wide and wonderful, from pink-tipped echeverias and kalanchoe orgyaslis (copper spoon) to many agave species. While some plants can be pricey, their longevity makes them cost-effective. “Some plants can live for up to 30 to 40 years, and the money saved on water and maintenance is huge – it can be tens of thousands of dollars over that plant’s lifespan,” says Mark.
In the future, he envisages Perth gardens flourishing with succulents as they do in the US. But for those hopelessly devoted to buxus balls, hedges and rose bushes, Mark says succulents can also be blended for a perfectly balanced garden with a modicum of maintenance.
“Some succulent varieties are incredibly lush and suit an ornamental garden, like a large feature aloe or a mix of crassulas and kalanchoes alongside roses and hedges,” he says.
“It’s important to experiment, but once you enter the world of desert plants, it’s pretty hard to turn back.”
— Mark Morrison, Zerascapes
Let’s dig in! Mark shares these 4 tips to ensure a budding success:
01.
When arranging succulents, position tall species at the rear of the garden, then medium, and shorter plants in the foreground. Carefully consider each species’ growth size, textures and colours for a beautifully balanced landscape design.
02.
Choose pots with varying heights and always arrange in groups of three. Choose plants with contrasting colours and textures, and consider draping succulent varieties for taller pots.
03.
Be careful not to over-water your succulents. Potted arrangements need only a light hand-water once to twice a week at the height of summer, and garden areas once every 10-14 days.
04.
If you travel and are away from home for lengthy periods, look for plants like the aloe kumara plicatilis, Agave blue glow, Euphorbia ingens and Agave potatorum, all available at Zerascapes, that require watering only once every 3-4 weeks and look striking in a potted arrangement.
Visit Zerascapes Nursery
Coventry Parade, North Fremantle
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