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Design Through the Decades - Phoenix, Arizona - 1990s Landscaping

December 19th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Design Through the Decades - part 60

As mentioned in an earlier post on 1990s exterior architecture, new home construction was fast and furious in the 1990s, and home lots shrunk in size. That meant there was not much room for landscaping for these Phoenix homes.

It is difficult to get excited about 1990s landscaping when there is only room for one tree and two bushes out front. Homebuilders offered free landscaping packages for front yards. Homeowners had the choice of either a mesquite tree, a ficus tree, or queen palms. For bushes, they got pink oleander, natal plum, yellow lantana, and/or red yucca. Maybe a patch of grass out front, but mostly it was gravel rock with the color choices of tan, tan, or tan. Landscape design was minimalist in the 1990s.

The typical 1990s Phoenix home had a mesquite tree out front. The purple flowering shrub is a Texas sage bush, which was popular in 1990s landscaping.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Another Phoenix home with a mesquite tree. There’s a red yucca (aka hesperaloe) to the left of the tree.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Queen palms dominated landscaping designs in the 1990s. Bougainvillea, oleander, and ruella bushes accent this 1996 Phoenix home.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

A 1990-built Scottsdale home with queen palms and a rosemary bush in the foreground.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

More queen palms and a hibiscus bush out back at this Scottsdale home.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Ficus nitida trees were very common in the late 1990s. This 1997 Phoenix home has a ficus tree to the left. A blooming bougainvillea bush is on the right.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Ficus trees in a back yard of a 1998 Phoenix home.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Mexican fan palms could be used in 1990s landscaping as long as at least one queen palm was also used.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

1993 Phoenix home with Mexican fan palms in back. Mesquite trees to the left.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

This 1999 Phoenix home decided to buck the trend and not have any trees out front, opting instead for blue agave and dwarf oleander.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

A rare Phoenix home with grass out front.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

This back yard with minimal landscaping was seen in the majority of 1990s Phoenix back yards.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades

Homeowners sometimes planted winter rye grass to maintain green lawns year ’round as seen at this 1997 home. The obligatory queen palm is present.
1990s landscaping Phoenix homes Design Through the Decades