It's not every day that I can label drought-tolerant planting the most stunning part of a home, but not every property is Charlie Puth’s former Beverly Hills abode.
Designed in 1965 by celebrated architect Rex Lotery, the estate is a celebration of mid-century modern beauty, featuring a unique façade that combines stone, concrete, glass, and redwood. There are endless things to say about the home's exterior space, but I will always return to the drought-tolerant planting, seen through the cacti, that beautifully envelops the home.
The durable benefits of low maintenance drought-tolerant plants need no long explanation, but Charlie's home portrays them in a new light. They're not only functional, but visually stunning, creating a resort-like aesthetic that complements the mid-century modern style of the home. The result is truly stunning.
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Premium quality and sustainably sourced, the Euphorbia cactus is a striking multi-column plant from the highlands of India and Pakistan, growing up to 7 feet tall. It thrives indoors or outdoors, adding sculptural beauty to pots, landscapes, the Charlie way.
Handcrafted in Indonesia from natural rattan, this chair blends bohemian charm with a sculptural, rounded silhouette. Fully assembled with angled legs for stability, its flowing backrest and armrests create an inviting, comfortable design that taps into the same mid-century modern look that Charlie has mastered,
Expert-selected and delivered at peak freshness, these vibrant plants arrive in eco-friendly, winter-protected packaging They're easy to care for indoors or outdoors, they purify the air and boost well-being while making a stunning statement in the process.
As Charlie's space reminds us, there are more aesthetic benefits to landscaping with succulents and cacti than you might initially expect. Dr. Amy Karpati, the senior science advisor at Teatown Lake Reservation, agrees and shares her advice for following his example.
'Selecting drought-tolerant plants for the home landscape is a sustainable choice that allows for better conservation of community water resources and cost savings for homeowners,' she says.
'When searching for drought-tolerant plants for the home landscape, always look to species that are native to your region. These will be the plants that have co-evolved with local environmental conditions and therefore need less care and special treatment after establishment.'
Dr.Karpati notes that cacti and succulents, like Charlie's, are popular in desert regions, but it may be better to look for alternatives in cooler climates.
Examples of drought-tolerant native perennials for the northeast US include butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), narrowleaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), and anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). These are all well-suited to sunny, medium to dry soils. In the Midwest, species characteristic of native prairie ecosystems are excellent choices,' she comments.
Lastly, after planting, it's important to prioritize aftercare.
'Keep in mind that any new plantings need extra watering in the beginning in order to grow their root systems, but become resilient once established,' she says.
'Not only will these colorful plants add aesthetic beauty and visual interest to your home, they also help support an ecological community that includes songbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife.'
