Bexar County, TX Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Bexar County sits where the Edwards Plateau, South Texas Plains, and Blackland Prairie ecoregions meet, so native plant palettes are broad. Texas Property Code 202.007 prohibits HOAs from banning xeriscape and drought-resistant landscaping, though they may reasonably regulate placement, coverage, and aesthetics. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and San Antonio Water System promote species such as Texas sage, blackfoot daisy, Gulf muhly, flame acanthus, cenizo, and Texas live oak as regionally appropriate. SAWS offers the WaterSaver Landscape Coupon for converting turf to native beds, helping homeowners replace thirsty St. Augustine lawns with low-water options. Unincorporated Bexar County has no native-plant mandate, and San Antonio does not require native species, but the UDC allows native alternatives to parking lot landscape requirements. Invasive species such as nandina, tree of heaven, and Chinaberry are discouraged. Pollinator corridors along the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone benefit local endangered species like the golden-cheeked warbler.