The goal of living in harmony with nature regrettably seems to be something we don’t hear about as much as we used to, especially with the unrest in the world taking precedence. In the home landscaping market, though, it’s a concept that’s beginning to gain ground.

Awareness is building around hardy, drought-resistant native plants and other green-minded approaches that appeal to potential buyers interested in sustainability, low maintenance, and reduced water costs. The reasoning is that by minimizing their ecological footprint, homeowners can have a better connection with local ecosystems and pollinators, enhance their property’s appeal, and potentially save on overhead and upkeep to boot.

That’s a lot of buzzwords, but what exactly does it mean?

Simply put, native plants, shrubs, and trees are adapted to their specific local climate and soil conditions. So they need less water and maintenance, and fewer or no pesticides or fertilizer. They also provide the ideal food and habitat for local insects, birds, and butterflies.

This can result in less effort and expense for homeowners and more positive environmental outcomes for your yard and the planet.

A New Credential Takes Root

Drought-tolerant landscaping — xeriscaping — is among the topics covered in the curriculum for the Canadian Certified Green Representative (CCGR) designation, a new professional certification for agents launched last year by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The certification is designed to help agents better understand sustainability and its impacts on real estate, says Danielle Paquette, CREA’s director of learning and development.

Landscaping “can play an important role in a home’s environmental performance and livability,” she says. “Vegetation and tree cover can contribute to biodiversity, improved air quality, storm water management, and neighbourhood cooling.”

Paquette explains that drought-tolerant landscaping relies heavily on native plants. “These types of landscapes can reduce water use while appealing to homebuyers who want lower-maintenance outdoor spaces.”

Green infrastructure can also “contribute to property value factors,” she adds.

Slow Going in Ontario

Toronto-based Remax Hallmark agent Jennifer Scaife, who has obtained the CCGR certification, feels that while there’s currently “not a wide enough appeal for eco-landscaping,” this will change as people recognize its value.

“It just needs more time to settle, much the same way that greening one’s home did,” she says. “The change, the awareness, has been a slow, hard slog.”

In Ontario, non-invasive, drought-resistant native plantings include black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, and milkweed. In BC, examples are succulents and mock orange. (While perennials return every year, making them lower maintenance than annuals, both can be used in xeriscaping.)

Although native plantings “don’t need to be tended in the way cultivated gardens do,” they can involve steep upfront costs when installed by a landscape designer, Scaife warns.

Other potential drawbacks involve ornamental grasses (found across the country) growing so tall that they wreak havoc with views and sun exposure. People with bee-sting allergies may want to avoid pollinator gardens. And if not done properly, yards showcasing native plants can look overgrown — sometimes to the point that neighbours call the city and complain.

It’s a fine line.

The level of community enthusiasm for eco-friendly gardening can be dependent on what part of the country you live in, and even what neighbourhood.

“Where I work, sustainable landscaping is not on people’s radar,” says Matt Kim, co-owner of Kenny Kim Landscaping, located in the Toronto district of North York. “But clientele somewhere like the Toronto Beaches would be more conscious of it.”

Ontario-based agent Matthew Regan, co-leader of Remax’s Regan Irish & Associates team, is not convinced. “We’re really not seeing much of this here,” he insists. “I’ve never run across a buyer looking for sustainable landscaping ….. I don’t think people are there yet.”

Like many Ontario residents, though, Regan is fully on board with landscaping that’s bee-friendly. “I’m a beekeeper. I have hives on my property … We have an obligation to protect pollinators.”

Be aware, however, that buyers may not give dollar-for-dollar back in landscaping upgrades made by the seller, he says.

One of the reasons interest in this type of landscaping is lagging behind in Ontario may be because the province is nowhere near as susceptible to extreme, large-scale water scarcity as locales like BC and California, where drought-hardy and fire-resistant plantings are increasingly preferred.

BC Leads The Way

In BC, “this is no longer a niche conversation,” says Faith Wilson, who operates a Vancouver brokerage affiliated with Christie’s International Real Estate. “The issue here often feels more immediate because climate resilience, drought, heat, and water management are already part of everyday planning.”

Vancouver has long had lawn-watering restrictions and promotes “green rainwater infrastructure,” she continues. “The conversation in BC is often not just about being environmentally-minded. It’s also about being practical and future-ready.”

To this end, turf is increasingly seen as a maintenance liability there, with regional guidelines encouraging replacing high-maintenance lawns with native, drought-tolerant plantings.

“It can absolutely enhance a home’s value, not always in a simplistic dollar-to-dollar way, but in terms of buyer appeal, marketability, and perceived quality,” Wilson says. “Eco-friendly landscaping creates a powerful first impression. A home that looks beautiful, uses water more responsibly, and feels connected to its environment stands out.”

Kelowna’s Dry Reality

More people are having these conversations, concurs Shannon Stone, co-founder of Remax Kelowna Stone Sisters in BC.

“Landscaping that isn’t eco-friendly won’t usually make or break a deal,” she says. “But interest in sustainability is quite high here.”

With its semi-desert climate, Kelowna is among the driest cities in Canada, making water usage costly. There’s also been a lifestyle change since the pandemic.

“We live in our homes differently now,” Stone observes. People are leaning more toward patios, stonework, and outdoor living spaces that are easy to care for, with the outside an extension of the indoors.

“We’re no longer needing big grass spaces large enough to play football on,” says Stone. “People want to be out there enjoying life, not cutting the lawn and dealing with plants.”

Growing Interest : Eco-Landscaping Slowly Takes Root in Canadian Real Estate by Susan Doran | REM Real Estate Magazine