Michelle Pfeiffer’s Garden Was a Masterclass in Using Low-Water Plants to Add Texture
Forget grass, the gardens of the future are much more resilient. As climate change creates warmer, drier climates across the globe, sustainably minded gardeners are turning to plants that can survive a range of conditions, and given that Extreme weather has been a mainstay of California life for a bit longer, gardens from this region provide the perfect inspiration.
Today, we’re turning to the planting of plants that never need watering at Michelle Pfeiffer‘s former home in Santa Monica. The actress’s Spanish-style villa features a California succulent garden. It contains blue chalksticks (like these gorgeous succulents from Amazon), tree aeonium, foxtail agave, and copper pinwheels. These expert picks present a low-maintenance alternative to the traditional lawn.
Pebble mosaic stepping stones and decomposed granite hardscaping tie the look together, making it intentional and stylish.
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Michelle Pfeiffer’s former home in Santa Monica
(Image credit: barry King via Alamy)
To unpack the lessons embedded in Michelle Pfeiffer’s heatwave tolerant plants, Homes & Gardens spoke with gardening experts for their best tips on low-maintenance, climate-resilient gardening. We also curated an edit inspired by the plants we see in her California outdoor space. Below, you’ll find everything you need to plant your own gorgeous succulent garden.
Recreate Michelle’s Look at Home
Jade Succulent is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub native to South Africa. Its spindle-shaped leaves are tipped with distinctive crimson markings, and it produces small, star-shaped white flowers with a delicate pink blush.
Help your succulent plants thrive with a fast-draining soil mix like this one. It is formulated with lime, perlite, peat moss, coarse sand, and composted pine bark to support healthy growth.
The Snake Plant is one of the easiest plants to care for, combining striking looks with exceptional resilience. Its tall, upright leaves feature alternating bands of dark and light green, creating an architectural presence in your garden.
This fertilizer is a nutrient-rich blend designed to support healthy succulent growth. It makes up to 32 gallons of feed when mixed with water and is best applied during the spring and summer months.
This is a stylish, low-maintenance plant loved for its hardiness and striking appearance. I love how its tall leaves display attractive patterns of alternating dark and light green bands, adding texture and interest.
Getting started on your own succulent garden is easy with this generous pack of 20 plants. It lets you experiment with a variety of succulents, helping you discover which varieties you like best for your own drought tolerant planting.
The first step to building a drought resistant garden that thrives like Michelle’s is carefully planning your plant choices.
Jane Fairlie, horticultural expert at Barratt London advises: ‘Succulents are an excellent option. Often described as cactus-like but without spines, they are highly tolerant of dry conditions and require minimal watering. Popular examples include the Jade plant, which features fleshy oval leaves and is sometimes associated with good luck and prosperity and Aloe Vera, which also has practical uses as its sap can help soothe minor burns.’
‘Sansevieria and Zebra plants are also low-maintenance choices, with upright, architectural foliage and a reputation for being particularly easy to care for,’ adds Jane.
Just because these varieties are low-maitenance doesn’t mean they don’t require any care whatsoever. Especially when you are not watering, it is crucial that you are feeding your succulent garden. Jane states: ‘Plants require nutrients to grow and remain healthy, particularly during spring and summer when growth is most active. A weekly feed is recommended during this period.’
(Image credit: barry King via Alamy)
Furthermore, Michelle Pfeiffer’s gorgeous hardscaping is good for more than aesthetics. It helps support a healthy biome that encourages plant growth. Noah Mabey, Senior Gardener at Thornbridge Hall, explains: ‘Wildlife can struggle to find fresh water during long periods of warm weather, so putting out a shallow dish of clean water can make a real difference.’
He advises: ‘I like to add pieces of tufa stone, gravel or marbles so bees, butterflies and other insects have somewhere safe to land while they drink. Birds will also appreciate a larger bowl of clean water nearby.’
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