Rice University
Tier2-4: Xeriscaping

Rice selects native, drought-resistant plants for landscaping around campus (although such selections do not represent the entirety of campus landscaping). On the north side of campus, for example, native trees and grasses used include Mexican Sycamores, Nuttal Oaks, and Gulf Coast Muhly Grass. The Muhly Grass both eliminates the need for mowing and filters stormwater. The various green-roofs are populated by drought tolerant succulents which do not require irrigation, such as blue spruce sedum and sedum dragon's blood. In the Harris Gully Natural Area, native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs are allowed to flourish naturally without restriction, in an attempt to both preserve the original riparian woodland and biodiversity and to reduce stormwater runoff. Wildflower seeds are sown in this area every spring.